WE HAVE A CHANCE

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

“Son of man, say to the Israelites, ‘This is what you are saying: “Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live?”’ Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’”

“Therefore, son of man, say to your people, ‘If someone who is righteous disobeys, that person’s former righteousness will count for nothing. And if someone who is wicked repents, that person’s former wickedness will not bring condemnation. The righteous person who sins will not be allowed to live even though they were formerly righteous.’ If I tell a righteous person that they will surely live, but then they trust in their righteousness and do evil, none of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered; they will die for the evil they have done. And if I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ but they then turn away from their sin and do what is just and right—if they give back what they took in pledge for a loan, return what they have stolen, follow the decrees that give life, and do no evil—that person will surely live; they will not die. None of the sins that person has committed will be remembered against them. They have done what is just and right; they will surely live.”

“Yet your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But it is their way that is not just. If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, they will die for it. And if a wicked person turns away from their wickedness and does what is just and right, they will live by doing so. Yet you Israelites say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But I will judge each of you according to your own ways.”

Ezekiel 33:10-20

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

There is a chance for the sinner.

It’s a true message that is at the heart of our devotion today from the Old and New Testament.

First let’s look at the Old Testament side of things as we look at our scripture passage from Ezekiel 33:

“Son of man, say to the Israelites, ‘This is what you are saying: “Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live?”’ Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’”

“Therefore, son of man, say to your people, ‘If someone who is righteous disobeys, that person’s former righteousness will count for nothing. And if someone who is wicked repents, that person’s former wickedness will not bring condemnation. The righteous person who sins will not be allowed to live even though they were formerly righteous.’ If I tell a righteous person that they will surely live, but then they trust in their righteousness and do evil, none of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered; they will die for the evil they have done. And if I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ but they then turn away from their sin and do what is just and right—if they give back what they took in pledge for a loan, return what they have stolen, follow the decrees that give life, and do no evil—that person will surely live; they will not die. None of the sins that person has committed will be remembered against them. They have done what is just and right; they will surely live.”

“Yet your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But it is their way that is not just. If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, they will die for it. And if a wicked person turns away from their wickedness and does what is just and right, they will live by doing so. Yet you Israelites say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But I will judge each of you according to your own ways.”  Ezekiel 33:10-20

What’s the first thing God wants His people to know in this passage?

“As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.”

Yes, the Lord brings correction to address the transgressions of His people but He doesn’t delight in seeing anyone dying from wickedness. This is why He gives Israelite sinners a chance in this passage. All they were required to do is to turn away from their evil ways and return to His righteousness. He said so Himself:

“If I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ but they then turn away from their sin and do what is just and right—if they give back what they took in pledge for a loan, return what they have stolen, follow the decrees that give life, and do no evil—that person will surely live; they will not die. None of the sins that person has committed will be remembered against them. They have done what is just and right; they will surely live.”

Of note here is that a person’s sins would be forgotten by God and not be held against them if they made the right choice, the choice to repent and do what is just and right instead. Instead of dying, they will live.

Now fast forward to the New Testament and perhaps the best known verse in the whole Bible:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

What does God want us to know?

His attitude hadn’t changed since the days of Ezekiel. He did not wish for His people to perish from their sins and so He provided a way for them to be saved, surrendering His Son Jesus as an atoning sacrifice to pay the price mankind deserved. Jesus, the Lamb of God, took away the sins of the world on the cross and made the way for all people to find deliverance and salvation from sin as long as they believed and trusted in Him as Savior.

Through this message today, we’re reminded that just like the Old Testament Israelites, God forgets the sins of His people here in present times and provides a chance for redemption as long as they make the right choice, the choice to receive Jesus as Savior while trading in their wickedness for His righteousness, to do what is right and just vice what is wrong. If they do this, then they will live instead of dying, not just now but forever.  

It’s what we call the good news of the Gospel.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark
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