“REPENT AND LIVE!” (Outline)
October 3, 2010 -
PENTECOST 19 -
Ezekiel 18:25-32
INTRO: Ezekiel chapter 18 ends with the Lord’s words: “Repent and live!” Who can resist the Lord’s gracious invitation to eternal life? Yet we know that thoughtless thousands and a multitude of millions will choose death instead of life. If God wanted he could use his booming voice over the entire earth to proclaim, “Repent and live!” Or God could send angels throughout the world to declare: “Repent and live!” Instead the Lord calls on us to call out to others, “Repent and live!” This is our blessed privilege to share God’s call to forgiveness with sinners in this fallen world. “We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God” (2 CORINTHIANS 5:20). Now we may not always feel like God’s booming voice. We may not always act like angels with God’s holy message. How can we sinners declare “Repent and live!”
The Lord God Almighty encourages us in our Christian calling through his prophet Ezekiel.
“REPENT AND LIVE!” I. Repent of all sins. II. Live in God’s forgiveness.
I. REPENT OF ALL SINS
A. This was another bleak time in the history of the children of Israel. They were captives in Babylon.
1. Israel had been warned year after year by prophet after prophet. They loved wickedness.
2. Israel followed their own evil ways. They closed their ears and hardened their hearts.
3. Israel’s disobedience finally brought about God’s judgment upon them. They were unhappy.
B. Verse 25. Israel blames God for their present situation. “God is not fair. God is unjust.” Really?
1. Verse 26. Israel turned away from God. Israel rejected the Lord. God now turns from them.
2. Verse 29. Again, are God’s ways really unjust? The way of Israel is unjust and unrighteous..
C. Verse 30a. The sins of Israel were great. The Lord will also judge every individual. Sin is serious.
1. Note the words: “declares the Sovereign Lord”. God is serious. Each one is responsible.
2. Verse 31b. The Lord God Almighty wanted Israel to repent. God did not want them to die.
D. “Repent and live!” This is God’s clear call to all who would love to live rather than suffer the pangs of eternal death. Read today’s Gospel (Luke 16:19-31). The rich man decided that life on earth was far more important than eternal life. Sin blinds all too many to the grace of God’s free forgiveness. No one can escape sin. Sin affects and infects each and every one of our lives. We are born with sin as the very enemies of God. There is no escaping sin. We have no excuse before God. “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away” (ISAIAH 64:6). Even those “good things” we like to take credit for can easily become sins of pride. We know what the wind is like. Our sins sweep us away like the wind.
E. Our lives turn into a battle against sin. As believers we do know what is right in God’s sight. Our daily challenge is to do that which is pleasing to God. It is not always easy. The world would have us focus on all what is good in this life. Satan tries to tell us that being righteous is simply not worth the ef-fort. Our own sinful flesh leads us astray time and again. “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing” (ROMANS 7:18,19).
F. What are we to do to “repent and live”? Well, first, we know that we cannot rely on our own strength or ourselves. On our own and by ourselves we are lost and condemned creatures doomed to eternal torment in hell. Our only hope, which is also our sure hope, is to put our total trust and complete confidence in our gracious God. “Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD” (PSALM 25:6,7). We see our sins. We repent. We rely on the mercy of God.
“REPENT AND LIVE!"
We confess our many sins. We repent. We turn from evil. We turn to God.
II. LIVE IN FORGIVENESS
A. Israel is unhappy with their present situation. They point the blame at God and his unjust ways.
1. They were not living in the best of circumstances. They were still alive with time to repent.
2. Verse 32a. God did not desire the death of anyone, especially eternally.
B. Verse 27. This time was the time of grace for Israel. Now was their time to reflect on sins and repent.
1. Verse 28. Repentance is vitally important to the Lord. Repentance is a change of heart + life.
2. Verse 30b. The Lord God graciously declares forgiveness. Sins are forgiven and forgotten.
C. Verse 31a. Turning from evil and turning to God would mean and bring to them a new heart + spirit.
1. It is the Lord alone who changes hearts of stone into hearts of flesh (stated twice in Ezekiel).
2. God’s grace calls. God’s grace will change the hearts of Israel. “Repent and live!”
D. Look at our lives. What do we have that we can give to God for our forgiveness? We soon realize that we will never have enough money to pay for one single sin. Nor can we earn our way into heaven. Our own sinfulness totally blocks the way to eternal glory and everlasting life. Thankfully the Lord God Almighty provides everything that we need to enter into eternal life in heaven. “In him we have redemp-tion through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding” (EPHESIANS 1:7,8). The innocent blood of Jesus covers up all of our iniquities. The life, suffering, death, and resurrection of our sinless Savior saves us!
E. Israel felt the ways of the Lord were unjust. In an opposite way the ways of the Lord are unjust. For the Lord God Almighty does not treat us as our sins deserve. Instead, God sent his Son, Jesus, our Savior, as full payment for the punishment that our sinfulness earned. Is that fair and just? Hardly. Rejoice believer that the Lord treats us with his justice. For the justice of our heavenly Father is filled with love, compassion, and faithfulness. “Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (LAMENTATIONS 3:22,23).
F. God forgives our sins as a gift of his grace. As believers we know what is right. As believers we know what is wrong. As believers we have the ability to avoid evil and do what is right. God gives each of his strength to live lives of faith. God’s forgiveness changes our lives – forever. God’s forgiveness also changes our lives during our time of grace here in the present. “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age” (TITUS 2:11,12).
CONC.: Eternal life for mankind is of the utmost concern of our loving Lord. Too many today strive to have everything right here and right now. Short-term satisfaction pales in comparison to God’s eternal glory that he freely provides for every believer. The gospel (Luke) revealed that the rich man who had everything on earth had nothing in eternity. Lazarus had dogs lick his sores on earth but had everything in heaven. Eternal salvation has been bought and paid for by the blood of Christ. Jesus warns against those who preach and teach otherwise. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (JOHN 10:10). Does God want our lives to be full here on earth or in heaven? God provides the repentant believer with a full, eternal life in heaven. By grace we repent of all of our sins. In joy we live in God’s forgiveness. With joyful lives may others see (and hear) in us God’s gospel message: “REPENT AND LIVE!” Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
SERVICES: 1:00pm @ NCF Min. (Sat)/
12:00pm @ NCF Medium (Sun) / 9:30am @ Redeemer (Sun) / 7:00pm @ Hays (Sun)
Sunday radio broadcast @ 9:05am on KQNK 106.7FM or 1530AM + www.kqnk.com
PENTECOST 19 readings:
AMOS 6:1-7;
1 TIMOTHY 6:6-16;
LUKE 16:19-30
(PSALM 146)
