37 lines
1.9 KiB
Markdown
37 lines
1.9 KiB
Markdown
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title = "Ezekiel 33:1–20"
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date = "2023-06-05"
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### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ezekiel33.1-20)
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Chapter 33 begins the second major section of the book of Ezekiel. Previously,
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the focus was on Jerusalem's past and the judgement that was occuring because of
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it in the present and near future (from the exiles' perspective). Now the focus
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is on the future Jerusalem, which God will restore for His people.
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The charge that Ezekiel received in chapter 3 to be a watchman who warns
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the people of coming danger is repeated nearly verbatim here. Ezekiel's
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responsibility is still to warn the people of judgement coming upon their
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iniquity, but if they do not repent, he has done all that he can. But if he
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doesn't warn them then they will still be judged, but Ezekiel would also be
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responsible for their consequences too. While I believe this is specifically
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Ezekiel's charge, and not something individual believers should be afraid will
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be applied to them, collectively, we, the Church, ought to be more mindful
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of our responsibility to preach the Gospel to a dying world.
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[Romans 10:14](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Romans10.14) is as true now as it
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was when Paul wrote it.
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Verses 10–20 are likewise a restatement of chapter 18, wherein the Lord offers
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forgiveness to contrite hearts that have done wicked things but now seek to
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do righteousness. Additionally, a good person who turns from those ways to do
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evil will not be saved by his previous actions. The Israelites had accused the
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Lord of being unjust for treating people this way, but the Lord isn't talking
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about someone who constantly flip-flops back and forth between righteousness
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and wickedness. No, the Lord is looking at those whose lives are transformed.
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Sinners can be kind and loving, and saints still sin on the regular, but true
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heart transformation, we know, comes from the blood of Jesus.
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* * *
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Your justice is pure and altogether righteous.
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