A new heart, a new spirit. What a joy that we not only are living, but we can live. Let’s talk about that today from the International Gospel Hour.
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Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. For 90 years, churches of Christ have proclaimed God’s Word through International Gospel Hour. You are about to listen to another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour, starting now.
Well, greetings and hello, everyone. It is our honor that you are with us again today for our studies from the International Gospel Hour. We have been on air or online since 1934, and we are going to press along with the beautiful riches of Jesus Christ.
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In Romans 15 and verse 4, Paul said, For whatever things were written for a time were written for our learning, that we, through the patience and comfort of the Scripture, might have hope. Those things written for a time in the New Testament are written that we may learn and understand, that would contribute to our patience and comfort of the hope that we have in Christ. Friends, we’re going to go back to the old things written for a time, to the book of Ezekiel today, and let’s learn some lessons from the past that will help us in the present.
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Let’s continue with our reading today from Ezekiel 18, verses 25 through 32. Yet you say, The way of the Lord is not fair. Hear now, O house of Israel, Is it not my way which is fair, And your ways which are not fair?
When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, Commits iniquity and dies in it, It is because of the iniquity Which he has done that he dies. Again, when a wicked man turns away From the wickedness which he committed, And does what is lawful and right, He preserves himself alive. Because he considers and turns away From all the transgressions which he committed, He shall surely live, he shall not die.
Yet the house of Israel says, The way of the Lord is not fair. O house of Israel, It is not my ways which are fair. And your ways which are not fair?
I mean, is it not my ways which are fair, And your ways which are not? Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, Every one according to his ways, Says the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, So that iniquity will not be your ruin.
Cast away from you all the transgressions Which you have committed, And get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit, For why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies, Says the Lord God. Therefore turn and live.
Pretty good stuff. Let’s learn from it. Friends, God’s ways are equal and fair.
His ways are set, and his word is firm. And we know what God expects of us, and we know what good things that he has done. It was a number of years ago where I was worshiping, that we set out to visit former members, those who had fallen away from the Lord’s Church.
I recall a follow-up visit, because we would note this on a piece of paper, and I recall a follow-up visit that it was said. When they visited with this young brother, he simply said, I know what is right, and when I get ready, I’ll do it. Friends, that is a telling statement.
First of all, there’s no doubt he wanted to continue living the way that he wanted to live. And when he says, I know what is right, and when I get ready, I’ll do it, he knew that his life and his choices were not right, but he preferred them that way. I believe Hebrews 11 refers to that around verses 24 or 25, a passing pleasure of sin.
And Satan makes sin look good. To my knowledge, he never got ready. He never made it right.
What a horrid thought, friends. You know, from this text, we learn mankind makes decisions. Now, please notice, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness, okay, that’s his choice.
He turns from his righteousness, and he lives an unrighteous life. We cannot blame God when God has provided all that we need. How about this?
When a wicked man turns from his wickedness, well, friends, that is his choice. He turns because he sees a better life in Christ. And man must respond, and he will respond to the consequences of his decisions, and he cannot blame God.
Think about what all God has done to redeem man. There is nothing more that God can do. Sending his only begotten son to die for us is the greatest gift ever given.
John 3.16, Romans 5, verses 6 through 10. You know, God is very clear. His ways are fair.
He does make it possible for man to make the best decisions, the right decisions, and to live a godly life which is the best life. And, for example, here he offers man to repent here in the book of Ezekiel, to turn away and to cast away transgressions and get a new heart and a new spirit. That’s better living.
And then God asks the question we want to consider for the remainder of our broadcast, Why should you die? With all that said, friends, why should one die spiritually, when there is a better life through God? Let’s go back once again to the verses of Ezekiel 18, or verses 30 through 32.
Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel?
For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies, says the Lord God. Therefore, turn and live. You know, that expression of love and concern is also noted in the New Testament in 2 Peter 3 and verse 9.
The Bible says the Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Peter is speaking of the second coming of Christ, and many times people will say, I wonder why the Lord doesn’t come on back. Maybe it’s because there are lives that he is longing to see change.
Remember, he is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. We embrace the beautiful text of the Bible of John 3.16, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Oh, my friends, if we look upon God as one who is out to get us, my, what a way to look at God!
Now, while yes, friends, we must acknowledge his goodness, and, yes, his severity, that’s Romans 11, 22, it is evident that it is our decisions that determine his decision. He is for us. He’s not willing that anyone should perish.
That’s why when I see what all God has done, and I embrace the beauty of belief that Jesus commanded, as we note in John 3, 16, in John 8 and verse 24, in Hebrews 11 and verse 6, but belief alone will not get it. The devils believe, yet tremble, James 2, 19, but my faith moves me to be as those in the Old Testament, to repent, to turn, to change my direction of life. And that’s the command of repentance that Jesus said in Luke 13, 3, that he commanded to be preached as part of the Great Commission and the preaching of the Gospel, Luke 24, 44-47, to what Peter said on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, 38, to repent, that repentance would be the command of God, Acts 17, 13, and 31, according to Paul on Mars Hill.
And then we confess our faith, as Jesus said, if we confess him before men, he will confess us before his father, Matthew 10, verse 32. Then we are able to be baptized into Jesus Christ, in order to be saved, based upon our faith, Mark 16, 16. It also remits our sins, Acts 2, 38, washes away our sins, Acts 22, 16, and places us within the church where there is the saved, Acts 2, verse 47.
And then we begin that faithful walk. We turn from the error of our ways, and we walk in the path of the ways of God. What a beautiful thought.
Friends, would you like to study this further? Would you like to examine these things on your own? We can help you, and here is our J-Web with our information for our Bible course by mail.
Our well-received Bible study course by mail is available to everyone absolutely free. Would you like to try it? All you do is call us toll-free at 855-444-6988, and leave your name, address, and just say, Home Study.
That’s it. That’s all you have to do. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, address, and type Home Study in the message box.
At your own pace, you can study the Bible in your own home. Again, it’s free. Give it a try.
And it’s from your friends here at International Gospel Hour.
Friends, we hope to hear from you soon, and there’s no need for us to die through all God has done for us. Let’s continue our studies another time. Thank you for joining me today on the International Gospel Hour.
I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, keep listening.
Thank you for listening to our broadcast today. To God goes all the glory, and we hope that our study today will draw you closer to His Word to walk in His way. To listen to it again or our other broadcasts, please visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com.
