A New Heart and a New Spirit

O. T. #1890  "

Feb. 26, 2021 "A New Heart and a New Spirit"

Ezekiel 18

But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right, ... (verse 5)

LET IT GLOW

A proverb was going around Judah that children suffered be the sins of their fathers. (Jeremiah 31:29) The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge. (verse 2) Jeremiah even wrote to the Jews in exile to straighten them out according to what God said. God had had enough of this nonsense.

 Ezekiel gives them a answer, in verse 4, Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Three hypothetical cases illustrate this principle in this chapter:

1. A righteous man will live by his righteousness (verses 5-9); but if he has a violent son, that son will certainly die for his own evil (verses 10-13).
2. If this evil man in turn has a son who does not follow his father but does what is right, he will certainly live. (verses 14-17)
3. His rotten father, however, will die for his own iniquity. (verse 18)

The person who sins is the one who will die. (verse 20)

All individuals have an equal responsibility to God. He deals with us individually.

The people of Judah believed they were being punished for the sins of their ancestors, not their own. This was not true. We can suffer from the effects of sins committed by someone else's sins. However, we can't us their mistakes as an excuse for our sins. Each person is accountable to God for their own actions.

Paul tells us in Romans 1:17 that the just shall live by faith. I found something interesting as I looked up the meaning of this word in the Greek language. Just (tsaddiyq) means lawful, righteous (man). It is the same word for righteousness, found in Matthew 5:20.

Next time we will discover what makes a person just and righteous. Ezekiel tells us in verses 5-9.

Are we considered a just and righteous person? Are our deeds just and right as we deal with others? Are we just living by faith?

LET IT GROW

On the other hand, some of the people of Judah used the blessings of God as an excuse for disobeying God. They thought that because of the righteous ancestors, they would live. But God told them they would not; they were the evil children of righteous parents, and would die. (verses 5-13)

In verse 31, God tells the exiles to Caste 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?

If anyone returned to God, repented of their idolatry and immorality, that person would live. (verses 14-18) They needed a new heart and a new spirit. They would be a remnant saved to worship God and be a witness to the pagans.

Do we know anyone who needs a new heart and a new spirit? Only Jesus can give it.

LET IT GO

Our friend who was a pastor used to sing this song: Only Jesus paid the price for me. Only His love could set me free. Nobody else could open heavens door. Just Jesus and nothing more.

Dear one, do you believe in Jesus as your Savior? He is the only way to get to heaven when you die. Have you trusted Him and asked Him to forgive your sins? He will and is waiting.