Israel Exalted, Accountability for Sin.

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 17:22-18:18

 

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the ^[a]gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(NKJV)

 

Today is Easter Sunday, or as many refer to it, Resurrection Sunday. It is a time of celebration because the Lord who suffered a brutal death by crucifixion for the sins of humanity has risen from the grave, demonstrating victory over sin and death. Please join in the celebration today and invite others to come and hear about the resurrected Christ so they can join in the celebration. My prayer is that many will come to know Jesus as their savior today.                                                                                                                             

 

Ezekiel receives another word from the Lord, this time saying He will take one of the highest branches of the high cedar and plant it on a high and prominent mountain (Ezekiel 17:22). The high mountain on which the twig is planted is in Israel (Ezekiel 17:23). All the trees of the field shall know that the Lord brought down the high tree to exalt the low tree. The Lord dried up the green tree so the dry tree could flourish (Ezekiel 17:24).

 

The word of the Lord continues with the following Parable, “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge (Ezekiel 18:1-2).” The Lord Commands Israel to no longer use this proverb because all souls belong to the Lord with the soul that sins destined to die (Ezekiel 18:3-4). The passage then presents another parable that begins with a man who is just, living in obedience to God’s commands (Ezekiel 18:5-9). The parable then presents the son of the just man who chooses to live in disobedience to the commands of the Lord destined to die in his own sins (Ezekiel 18:10-13). The parable then considers the son of the unjust man who considers the ways of his father and chooses not to do likewise who shall not die for the iniquities of his father but is destined to live (Ezekiel 18:14-18). The moral of this parable is that each person is responsible and will suffer the consequences of their own sin.

 

This passage has two interpretations,

1. The exaltation of Israel through the coming Messiah (Ezekiel 17:22-24) – In Ezekiel 17:1-21, Ezekiel wrote the parable of the eagles and the vine, reminding Israel of God’s protection of Israel while in exile and not to go to Egypt to escape exile. In Ezekiel 17:22-24, Ezekiel receives a word from the Lord about the Lord cropping off a tender young twig from the highest branch of the high cedar and planting it on a high and prominent mountain in Israel. This speaks of the Son of God coming from the high cedar of heaven to be with man, and sacrificing Himself on Calvary, atoning for the sins of humanity (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:8). This is Israel’s exaltation and purpose.
2. Every person chooses to obey or reject God’s Word (Ezekiel 18:1-18) – The fall of Adam and Eve brought the curse of sin upon all humanity, a curse only lifted through the death,  burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 10:9-10). However, while each person inherited the nature to sin from their ancestors Adam and Eve, everyone is responsible and must repent of their own sins. Everyone must also decide whether to live in obedience to the Word of God or reject it. This is why the Lord instructed Ezekiel to tell Israel to abandon the parable that children are on edge from the sour grape of sin eaten by their fathers (Ezekiel 18:2). Instead he instructs them that each generation decides to live in obedience or rejection of the Lord (Ezekiel 18:4-18)   

 

The common belief among many is that with God the morally right are in and the sinner is out. While sin does separate one from a relationship with God, our works of righteousness are useless in providing salvation (Isaiah 64:6). Instead, Salvation is a gift of God’s grace and not one’s works of moral righteousness (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 6:23). However, for a gift to become useful in one’s life, one must open and receive the gift. The gift of salvation is received by one humbling themselves to God and confessing their belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 10:9-10). With God, the humble are in and the proud are out. One claiming salvation based upon his or her good works has pride in his or her good works and needs to humbly surrender to the grace of God demonstrated on the cross to receive salvation.

 

If you are reading this and believe your good works will save you, have drifted from your faith in Jesus as your savior, or have never prayed for forgiveness from sin and to make Jesus the Lord of your life, I invite you to pray with me now,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post.