Ezekiel 16:1-14 The Glory of Grace
Grace Claims us - 1Cor 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am:
Saves us, Eph. 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith;
Keeps us, 1 Pet. 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Helps us, 2 Cor. 12:9 My grace is sufficient for thee:
I. The Woeful Condition (v. 1-5) They were:-
A. Unclean 4 neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee
Isa. 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;
B. Unkempt For 4 thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. 5 None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born.
Ps 142:4 I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul
C. Unclothed 4 nor swaddled at all - Heb. 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
D. Unclaimed 5 but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born.
Eph. 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
E. Unqualified 5 but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born. Helpless.
II. The Watchful Compassion
A. His Coming - 6 And when I passed by thee
1 Tim 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
B. His Compassion - 8 Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; The Lord met the need
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
C. Command - 6 I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live
John 6:47 He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
D. Covering - 8 I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness
Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
E. Covenant - 8 yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD,
F. His Claim - 8 and thou becamest mine. Mal 3:17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
G. His Cleansing - 9 Then washed I thee with water;yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee,
Isa. 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD:
H. His Cure - 9 and I anointed thee with oil. Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.
III. The Wonderful Conversion - We Have Been:-
A. Cleansed 9 Then washed I thee with water;
B. Clothed 10 I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers’ skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk. Luke 15:22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him;
C. Completed 11 I decked thee also with ornaments, 2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
D. Crowned 12 And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head.
E. Consecrated 14 And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD. - Jer 31:3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
