KNOWING GOD IN HIS GLORY
We Are Responsible to God For
Our Sin
EZEKIEL 18
Jerry A Collins
6/10/01
SCC
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Can I blame someone else for my sin?
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Will God ignore my sin if I am more righteous?
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How does God expect me to deal with my sin?
We are regularly tempted to place blame on
something or someone else for our sin. In this instance we are just like our
first parents, Adam and Eve, who refused to accept the blame for their sin.
This way we do not have to own personal responsibility for it. One way the
world does this is by seeing sin as a consequences rather than an act. So they
argue against any connection between AIDS and sex or between children’s
problems and broken homes. If a connection can
be made you can call the behavior wrong. Of course, they do not want to
do that. The Bible teaches that sin is in the act rather than the consequence
of the sin. The act is violating God’s character as revealed to us in His Word
by disobedience. God is good by definition. Good is not a standard God keeps.
It is who God is. Anything contrary to the moral character of God is sin and
God says each of us are responsible to him for our actions. Ezekiel delivers a
message to us about our individual responsibility and accountability to God for
our sin. The key verse of the chapter is vs 20 (Read It). There are at least
five things he tells us about this.
1. GOD JUDGES EVERYBODY 1-4
A parable had been circulating among the people of
God that made the point that children were suffering because of their parent’s
sins (1-2). It was true that Jerusalem was suffering but the people thot it was
because of their parents sins and not their own! They were blaming God for
punishing them unjustly (vs 25). We should not be surprised by this because
this is our nature. We too refuse to acknowledge personal blame and deny our
own guilt in the process. God says ‘Time Out’! Those who are guilty will
receive their own deserved punishment (3-4). Now the Law had
stipulated in Exodus 20:5 that God punishes the children for the sins of the
fathers to the 3rd and 4th generations of those who hate Him. Even Ezekiel
traces God’s impending judgment back to His people’s past actions (16:15-29).
However, the point was that the effects of sin are serious and
long-lasting (Adam, Canaan, Solomon) not that God capriciously punishes the
innocent for their ancestors evil ways (Noah before the flood; Lot before
destruction of Sodom; good people before Neb’s destruction of Jerusalem; church
before wrath of tribulation). 3 things to understand about the justice of
God:
(1) God does not punish the innocent for the sins
of the guilty. If anyone you know is righteous and suffering (like Job)
it is not because of the judgment of God. Could be discipline, or test, or
effects of sins of others, or fact of cursed world or even spiritual battle
between God and Satan (like Job).
(2) God’s justice in our age is carried out at
Great White Throne and Judgement Seat of Christ where He will bring every act
into judgment (Rom 14:10-12). Our sins are paid by judgment
of Christ on cross but our works judged to determine our rewards.
(3) God is just not fair.
Justice of God is God acting consistent with His own character toward everyone.
Fairness is treating everyone the same. God promised to be just not fair. God
was not fair in choosing Abe or Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau, Joseph
over brothers, Israelites over Canaanites, you and me over those who do not
receive Christ. None of it is fair but all of it is just--God dealing with
Himself as a standard. We should do the same. Do not try to be fair with people
treating all the same but be sure to be just with people treating them from
your own, hopefully biblical, standards!
2. EVERYONE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN ACTIONS
5-18
Here we have a hypothetical family to illustrate
personal responsibility. First is a father who is righteous and follows Gods
Law with all his heart (vs 5-9). There are things he does not do (idolatry,
sexual sin, oppression, robbery, lend money all forbidden by Gods Law) and
things he does do (gives, justice between men, faithfulness to Word of God). He
is spared judgment and would not suffer for the sins of others. A model
Israelite Second we have a violent son of a righteous father 10-13. He
commits sin his father avoided. God says he will not live. His fathers
righteousness will not help him. We will never benefit from anothers
righteousness when we stand before God.
Third we have a righteous son of this violent
father 14-18. Instead of following in sin of father he walks in
righteous path of his grandfather. He will not die for his fathers sins but his
father will die for his own sin. The point is that the judgment coming was not
for the sins of someone in a former generation. We are judged by God for our
own individual sin. The judgments are individuals judgments not collective
ones.
3 ANYBODY CAN CHANGE 19-24
Here is the first of 3 objections to Gods judgment
of them. Their idea here is that part of the fathers punishment should be the
punishment of his son. Our idea today is the sins of the son should be excused
because of the sins of his father. Gods idea is neither are relevant. Both are
responsible for their own sin and their own righteousness (vs 19-20). The
good news (vs 21-22) is that a bad guy can turn from his sin keep Gods word
and live because God will not remember his sin. Why? Because of Gods character
who does not hold grudges but longs for us to forsake sin (23). The bad news
(24) a good guy can turn from his righteousness, sin, and die because god
will not remember his righteous deeds. Sin is never excused by God!
4. IT IS IMPORTANT HOW YOU FINISH 25-28 We have
a second objection charging God with an injustice (25). The bad news is a good
guy can turn from his goodness and die because of what he does. But the good
news is a bad guy can turn from his badness and save his own life (26-27). God
does not separate the sin from the sinner. His sin brings Gods judgment. If sin
is a life and death issue with God, it is important that we finish our lives
well by not blaming our sin on others or deflecting personal responsibility.
Escape from judgment is possible.
5. IT IS NECESSARY TO REPENT 29-32 Answering
a 3rd objection to Gods judgment, God says the answer is repentance meaning to (1)
turn away (30) (2) Cast away (31) (3) make selves a. a new heart
b. a new spirit. Change minds and go in different direction. So life and death
depended on individual responses to God. Those rebelling would die. Those
repenting would live. God is just to demand repent!