Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that your iniquity will not become your downfall. Sermons
I. THE FIRST STEP HEAVENWARD IS THOUGHTFUL CHOICE. The chief folly of men is their thoughtlessness. They sink into mental and moral indolence. They will not investigate truth, nor ponder the demands of duty, nor forecast the future. But when "he comes to himself," he begins to reflect. "Because he considereth" (ver. 28), he turns over a new leaf. The man allows intelligence add wisdom and reason to prevail. He resolves to seek his real good. He chooses the best course, and determines to pursue it. II. WISE DECISION LEADS TO NEW ACTION. Having made an intelligent resolve, the man "turns away from his transgressions." He begins with known sins. He abandons these. That is only a sham decision which does not lead to action. The will may be a slave to feeling and appetite; in that case no real decision has been made. The soul is divided. There is strife and war within! But if the man has decided upon a line of conduct, new action will at once follow. III. ACTIONS REACT UPON THE AFFECTIONS. It is a known fact that necessary work which was at first repulsive ceases to be repulsive. We grow to love actions which are oft repeated. Especially if such actions are right in themselves, if they have a moral loveliness, if others approve them, if they produce good effects, we learn to love them. Our actions develop and strengthen our affections. The heart is benefited. The tone and temper of our spirit are improved. True, it is God that renews and purifies the heart; but he works through our own activity. He gives Divine efficacy to the means employed. IV. THE AFFECTIONS OF A MAN FASHION HIS CHARACTER. As a man's sentiments and affections are, so is he. "A new heart, and a right spirit" go together. The character follows the affections. The man that loves purity will become pure. The man that loves God will become God-like. So long as man is on earth, he never is, he is always becoming, good or bad, great or mean. Character here is in a state of fusion. V. MAN'S SUPREME GOOD IS IDENTICAL WITH GOD'S PLEASURE. God has no pleasure in the death of a sinner; he has pleasure from his ransomed life. If my heart and life are right, I afford pleasure to God, I add to his joy. On the other hand, my sin diminishes his joy. For his own sake, therefore, he will hear my prayer; he will help me in my struggles against sin. Why, then, should we die? It is unreasonable. Every argument, every motive, is against it. To continue in sin is folly, madness, suicide. - D.
Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. I. THE ASSUMPTION OF AN AWFUL FACT. Iniquity induces ruin. The term "ruin" occurs but seldom in the sacred Scriptures. It is, however, one of awful import and aspect; a word ever used in an evil sense to describe the fearful disaster which has befallen him who was the subject of it. In the text the word is employed to describe the eternal misery of the soul.1. He who is ruined has lost something of which he was formerly in possession. When an individual meets with sudden reverses of a painful character in his circumstances, and is called to sustain an extensive deprivation of property, we are accustomed to say, that such an one is ruined. But of all the loss and forfeiture which men can sustain, none can possibly be compared with that which is experienced by him who is ruined by his iniquity. 2. We apply this term to the demolition or destruction of a fabric. In hell there is nothing witnessed but ruin. Some of the finest and most noble intelligences ever formed, are there irreparably and eternally ruined. "Morning stars" which once sang for joy around the Almighty's throne are in a state of wretchedness and perdition. This ruin is:(1) Indescribably great. It is the ruin of man; a dignified, exalted, and intelligent being.(2) Incapable of reparation. Cities may be rebuilt, and the waste of ages redeemed; habitations and palaces may be renovated, and shine forth in pristine magnificence and glory; but the ruin adverted to in the text cannot be repaired. The Most High would have accomplished this for sinners while they were on "this" world, and in a state of probation; but they "set at nought all His counsel, and would none of His reproof"; therefore: Proverbs 1:25-27.(3) Punitive and painful. The ruin of a building made with hands is the ruin of unconscious, inactive, and unfeeling matter, utterly insensible of the desolation that reigns around. When man is ruined, there are inflicted pain and destruction of the most fearful description. II. THE EFFICACY OF A DIVINE ADMONITION. 1. Repentance implies the existence of that which is sinful and erroneous (Romans 3:10-12, 23). 2. Repentance comprises a consciousness of having done wrong, a conviction of sinfulness. We are so accustomed to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think, that we need pray earnestly to God to show us what we are, and to open our eyes to "behold wondrous things out of His law" (Psalm 119:18). 3. Repentance includes also sorrow for sin; a "godly sorrow" (2 Corinthians 7:10), a sorrow wrought in the heart by the Spirit of God. 4. Repentance is attended with confession of sin. This may be performed in a two-fold sense: first to God, and secondly to man. (R. Treffry.) 1. Great. 2. Irreparable. 3. Awfully painful. 4. Inevitable. II. THE MEANS BY WHICH RUIN MAY BE PREVENTED. 1. Conviction of sin. 2. Contrition for sin. 3. Confession of sin. 4. Departure from sin. 5. An earnest desire, etc. (E. R. Derby.) 1. The grounds on which it proceeds. Judgment shall be given according to our ways. 2. The exhortation — to repentance. Turn away from what is useless, hurtful, loathsome. There must be no reserve. II. AN EARNEST REMONSTRANCE. "Why will ye die?" 1. Is it because your sins are too great to be pardoned? 2. Is it because God commands you to make new hearts and you cannot do it? 3. No, the reason is, the love of sin. III. AN ENCOURAGING DECLARATION. 1. "So iniquity shall not be your ruin." What a God of mercy is here! 2. "I have no pleasure," etc. Judgment is His "strange act"; He holds off from striking till vengeance can slumber no longer. (John D. Lane, M. A.) I. THE CHARACTERS THAT ARE ADDRESSED. Such as are still the subjects of an evil nature, and are still living in sin against God.II. THE DANGER THAT IS INDICATED. Iniquity is represented as inducing and exposing to ruin. We know what it is for a man to be ruined in his property — to be reduced from affluence to poverty — what it is for a man to be ruined as regards his health and constitution, and, consequently, in those enjoyments that are dependent on health. We know what it is for a man to be ruined in his character and credit, and everything that renders him respectable in society; but all the notions we can form of ruin, as referring to these external circumstances, will give us a very inadequate idea indeed of the ruin that sin induces — the ruin of the soul. The ruin of the soul implies exquisite, positive suffering, such as no language can describe — its final condemnation under the curse and wrath of God; a condemnation that cannot be repealed; a state of banishment from God's presence and the glory of His power; final and eternal banishment. It is worth while to turn our thoughts to this, and to consider how it is that iniquity induces ruin, at once so dreadful and so awful. In the first place, I would say it operates in this way, inasmuch as it naturally produces the effect I have noticed, in robbing the soul of all its excellence. Again, it induces ruin, inasmuch as it operates in separating the soul immediately from God, who is the source of felicity, the fountain of good. III. THE ONLY REMEDY ACCESSIBLE TO SINNERS IS REPENTANCE. Do not confound it, I would say, with the sorrow of the world. A man may be in grief, and may be the subject of great sorrow. This may not be repentance: sorrow it is; but, you know, there is the sorrow of the world as well as a sorrow of a godly sort. I would say, do not confound repentance with the mere fear of punishment. I would say, again, it is not a mere transitory impression of grief, on account of sin. True repentance, let me say, implies a knowledge of sin. It is the Holy Spirit alone that can give us right views on such a subject as this, and can make the Law a schoolmaster, to bring us to Christ — who can reveal to us the holiness of the law, the extent of its demands, as it applies not merely towards the actions, but to the thoughts and intents of the heart. And, in addition to this, repentance also implies the conviction of sin. The charge is fixed on his conscience, and he cannot throw it off. He feels that he is in this situation, and he cries, "What must I do to be saved?" Let me say, too, that conviction will be followed, where it is genuine, by suitable impressions and emotions. (J. Hill.) I. GOD WILL JUDGE US, EVERYONE ACCORDING TO HIS WAYS: not according to our plan of our ways, but according to His. All men will hereafter be judged according to the dispensation they have been under. Those who are under the law will be judged by the law; sin in them will be the transgression of their law. Those who are without the law — that is, without a written law — will be judged without a written law — by the law of nature written upon their hearts. But those who have been under the Gospel will be judged by the Gospel.II. IF UNDER THIS DISPENSATION WE ARE FOUND IMPENITENT SINNERS WE SHALL BE RUINED. Ah! it is a touching thing to witness what we call ruin, even in this life; to see wringing of hands, and wringing of hearts, and hopeless grief; but ruin for eternity is infinitely worse than this; for the grave will soon end earthly sorrows, but the resurrection from the grave is only the beginning of eternal ruin. III. IF WE ARE FOUND REPENTANT WE SHALL NOT BE RUINED. Repentance has a different character according to the different conditions of men; but it always implies a change of mind, issuing in change of conduct, which change of conduct must needs have respect to the dispensations of religion under which God has brought men. If the Jewish nation, in a matter that threatened national ruin, repented and turned to God, according to their law, they obtained deliverance from that ruin that otherwise was coming upon them. If Christians under the Gospel turn to the provisions under that Gospel, they turn to Christ, and they obtain eternal life through Him. Conviction of sin, and misery on account of sin, is not repentance. (T. Snow.) People EzekielPlaces BabylonTopics Affirmation, Block, Cause, Conduct, Declares, Downfall, Evil, Falling, Iniquity, Judge, Judging, Lest, O, Offenses, Repent, Return, Ruin, Says, Sin, Sins, Snare, Sovereign, Stumbling, Stumblingblock, Stumbling-block, Transgressions, Turn, Yea, YourselvesOutline 1. God defends his justice31. and exhorts to repentance Dictionary of Bible Themes Ezekiel 18:30 5052 responsibility, to God 6026 sin, judgment on 6734 repentance, importance Library Sins of Parents visitedEversley. 19th Sunday after Trinity, 1868. Ezekiel xviii. 1-4. "The word of the Lord came unto me again, saying, What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge? As I live, saith the Lord God, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel. Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall … Charles Kingsley—All Saints' Day and Other Sermons God's Curse on Sin. Divine Impartiality Considered. True Repentance Of the Examination of Conscience, and Purpose of Amendment The Theology of Grace. The Abbots Euroul and Loumon. A Startling Statement General Character of Christians. The Wicked Husbandmen. The Same Necessary and Eternal Different Relations Some Man Will Say, "So Then any Thief Whatever is to be Accounted Equal... "He is the Rock, his Work is Perfect, for all his Ways are Judgment, a God of Truth, and Without Iniquity, Just and Right is He. Jesus, My Rock. And for Your Fearlessness against them Hold this Sure Sign -- Whenever There Is... Meditations against Despair, or Doubting of God's Mercy. Concerning the Condition of Man in the Fall. "But we are all as an Unclean Thing, and all Our Righteousnesses are as Filthy Rags," Repentance and Restitution. Perseverance Proved. Sanctification. Letter ii (A. D. 1126) to the Monk Adam Links Ezekiel 18:30 NIVEzekiel 18:30 NLT Ezekiel 18:30 ESV Ezekiel 18:30 NASB Ezekiel 18:30 KJV Ezekiel 18:30 Bible Apps Ezekiel 18:30 Parallel Ezekiel 18:30 Biblia Paralela Ezekiel 18:30 Chinese Bible Ezekiel 18:30 French Bible Ezekiel 18:30 German Bible Ezekiel 18:30 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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