TOPIC:
GOD’S LOVE FOR THE WICKED
Bible Reading: Ezekiel 18:19-32
19 Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.
20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.
23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.
25 Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
26 When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.
27 Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.
28 Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
29 Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?
30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.
GOD’S LOVE FOR THE WICKED Ezekiel 18:19-32
Ezekiel responds to the questions of his hearers in v.19. Wicked people who turn away from their sins can experience God’s forgiveness, and righteous people who begin sinning will be judged (vs.21-24). People determine their end by the decision they make. Observe that this was a message of hope to the Jewish nation. If they would truly repent and turn to the Lord, He would work on their behalf as He promised (Jeremiah 29:10-14). However, if they persist in sinning, the Lord will continue to deal with them as rebellious children. God’s patience means repentance. He has no delight in the death of the wicked (v.23). True repentance begins with accepting personal responsibility for our sins and taking steps to embrace God’s love. Consider the complaints of the Jews in exile in v.25. They wanted God to deliver them on their own terms instead of repenting and seeking forgiveness. Do we also behave like this sometimes? When sinners repent and seek God, he forgives them. Notice how the message concludes: anyone who seeks the Lord, receives by faith a new heart and a new spirit. – GOD’S LOVE FOR THE WICKED Ezekiel 18:19-32
Also Read: DAILY GUIDE TUESDAY 17 AUGUST 2021 GOD IS JUST Ezekiel 18:1-18
Prayer For Missions: SENEGAL-Much of Bible translation has been done in the last 30 years. At least seven long-awaited NTs are published and several other translations are undervay. Just as vital as the work in literacy training -translations without readers are useless. Pray for the Scripture translation teams, and for widespread distribution of and response to the Scriptures. GOD’S LOVE FOR THE WICKED Ezekiel 18:19-32
Prayer: O Lord, create in me a new heart and renew your spirit within me.
Bible In One Year: Jeremiah 1-2
Memory verse for the day: But it a wicked man turns away from all the sins he has committed and keeps a my degrees and does what is just and right, he he will not die (Eze. 18:21) GOD’S LOVE FOR THE WICKED Ezekiel 18:19-32
