EZEKIEL 36.31-36 - Question Meeting

EZEKIEL 36:16-31

1. THE COVENANT

1.  The Covenant

The concept of covenant: “I will make a new covenant” [Jer.31:31].

§         בְּרִ֥ית - “covenant” [31:31], ‘legally binding agreement between two’;

§         Elements – stipulations; benefits; responsibilities.

§         בְּרִ֥ית - “make” [31:31], ‘to cut’; ‘to cut off/down’;

§         Includes the presence of blood: Gen.15; Gen.17; Gen.22; Exo.24

a.      The Old Covenant

The present condition: “which covenant they broke…” [31:32].

§         הֵפֵ֣רוּ - “broke” [31:32], ‘to violate with the result of disassociation’;

2.  The Pre-Salvation Condition

The broken covenant and the pre-salvation condition: “their doings” [36:17].

§         ~K'r>d;B - “ways” [36:17], ‘road’; ‘path’;

§         ~t'Alyli[]b - “doings” [36:17], from ‘abuse’; ‘make a fool of someone’;

a.      Wrath  

Under God’s wrath: “I poured my fury on them…” [36:18].

§         ytim'x - “fury” [36:18], ‘to be hot’; “God is a consuming fire” [Heb.]

§         Ephesians: “by nature the children of wrath” [Eph.2:3].

b.      Alienation  

Alienated from God: “I scattered them among the heathen…” [36:19].

§         #ypia'w - “scattered” [36:19], ‘to disperse’; ‘spread out’;

§         Seed: “Thou shalt fan…whirlwind shall scatter them” [Isa.41:16].

§         Departure from Jerusalem: God says, “This is my rest…” [Ps.132].  

§         Hosea: “Call his name Lo-ammi: for you are not my people” [Hos.1].

c.       Death

A condition of death: “valley full of dry bones…” [37:1].

§         Long-term: “in the open valley…very dry” [37:2].

§         Hopeless: “Can these bones live?” [37:3].

§         Paul: “quickened, who were dead in trespasses…” [Eph.2:1].

Summary

1. THE NEW COVENANT INAUGURATED

1.  The New Covenant

Promise: “a new covenant…” [Jer.31:31].

§         חֲדָשָֽׁה - “new” [Jer.31:31], ‘fresh’; ‘renew or repair’;

§         “I create new heavens and a new earth…” [Isa.65:17].

2.  Covenant Redeemer

Promise: “I will make a new covenant…” [31:31].

§         בְּרִ֥ית - “make” [31:31], ‘to cut’; ‘to cut off/down’;

§         Jesus: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood” [Luk.22:20].

§         Hebrews: “He is the mediator of the new covenant…death” [Heb.9].

Summary

This is the gospel: “Christ was once offered to bear sins of many” [Heb.9].

1. THE NEW COVENANT APPLIED

1.  Peace with God  

The first step: “sprinkle water upon you…clean” [36:25].

§         Forgiveness: “hearts sprinkled from evil conscience” [Heb.10:22].

§         Justification: “justified by faith, we have peace with God” [Rom.5:1].

2.  New Heart

The second step: “a new heart also will give you…” [36:26].

a.      New Life

A new life: “a new heart…” [36:26].

§         Dead: “I will take away your stony heart…” [36:26].

§         Life: “I will give you a heart of flesh…” [36:26].

b.      New Family

A new family: “I will put my Spirit within you…” [36:26].

§         End of alienation: “Spirit of adoption…Abba, Father” [Rom.8:15].

§         Evidence: “we know we have passed from death to life” [1Joh.3:14].

c.       New Will

A new will: “cause you to walk in my statutes…” [36:27].

§         Promise: “circumcise your heart…love the Lord your God” [Deu.30].

§         Halyburton: ‘God change!’ >>> ‘I change!’

3.  Conviction of Sin

The third step: “then you shall remember…” [36:31].

§         ~T,r>k;z>W - “remember” [36:21], ‘recollect’; ‘mention or proclaim’;

§         God – ‘remember’ is a covenant word – “God remembered his covenant” [Exo.2:24].

§         Personal sin: “your own evil ways…” [36:31].

§         Conviction: “you shall loathe yourselves…” [36:31].

Summary

§         The past – wrath; alienation; death >>> interest; attraction; guilt

§         The time > transition – peace; life & emotions; will/desire; the church

§         Particular – personal sin >>> order

§         Question - what is conviction of sin; where? When?