Friday, April 30, 2010

Ezekiel 7

5 comments:

Unknown said...

"I will judge you for the way you have lived." v3

When I read verses like these I always have questions about what redemption looks like. I know there is now no *condemnation* for those who in Christ Jesus. But that does not mean that there will be no *judgement*. No trial where our words and deeds will be judged and weighed in the balance. I know that no man can through word or action attain a perfect standard of holiness, which is what God desires for us, and that we are lost souls whose only hope is Jesus Christ.

That said, I think that the Bible is a continuous neverending story about the pursuit of holiness and how God continues to tell us over and over, YOu are a redeemed person. I have taken you out of the gutter, I have adopted you into my family, I have clothed you in raiments of righteousness. Now ACT like it.

And I do believe, from verses like this that are peppered as a continuous theme through scripture that apart from what some people seem to believe (that christians will only be rewarded, not judged), that we will indeed ALL be judged for our words and actions.

I don't believe scripture says anywhere that we will not be JUDGED. Just that we will not be CONDEMNED. We will be acquitted, by the blood of the lamb.

Our actions are important. They will be rewarded or rejected when our time for judgement comes.

Other verses that came to mind as I pondered that this morning were Mat 16:27 "The Son of Man will come again with His Father's glory and with His angels. At that time, He will reward them for what they have done."

"He has been very kind and patient, waiting for you to change, but you think nothing of his kindness. Perhaps you do not understand that God is kind to you so you will change your hearts and lives. But you are stubborn and refuse to change, so you are making your own punishment even greater on the day he shows his anger. On that day everyone will see God's right judgments. God will reward or punish every person for what that person has done." Romans 2:4-6

Mat 12:36-37 "And I tell you that on Judgment Day people will be responsible for every careless thing they have said. The words you have said will be used to judge you. Some of your words will prove you right, but some of your words will prove you guilty."

I know that I have often thought, but He is speaking to the unbelievers in this verse, of course the unbelievers will be judged by word and action and found wanting, because they don't have faith in Jesus Christ for redemption. But I do find it odd that then Jesus wouldn't say to them (if he was speaking only to them) that they would be judged based on faith in his redemptive power alone. As that is the crux of the gospel. There is no other way. That makes me think that these verses about our actions and words being examined are across the board and not just for the one outside the circle of the cross.

John 5:28-29 "Don't be surprised at this: A time is coming when all who are dead and in their graves will hear his voice.... Those who did good will rise and have life forever, but those who did evil will rise to be judged guilty."

I find this verse very disturbing to my interpretational paradigm and I have to stop and think about it at length. We know we are saved by faith alone, but here it is associating "doing good" with eternal life. The only thing that I can figure is the connection that I made before, that one who is saved will grow into good works. Like an uprooted seedling that is rescued and planted by streams of water will flourish and bear fruit, so will a redeemed life be known by its fruit, its good works that in keeping with salvation? So it is not our good works that save us, but our good works will be a "proof" of our salvation?

Lots of questions... I always find this topic to be very thought provoking and gripping.

Unknown said...

I tried to edit this comment, (repost it) but it won't let me publish it. I wanted to do a little fine tuning to some of the "I believe" and other sentence structures that make it look like I am sure of this fact, because I'm not. It came across very strong when I posted it and really, all I have is questions and no firm answers. I guess what I meant by I believe, is that from what I can see in scripture, this is what I feel I SHOULD believe.... if that makes any sense. But I don't have enough clarity to be sure that's what I believe yet, just where I'm leaning. Does that make any sense at all???

Denise said...

Yes, PC makes sense! I have often wondered the same thing.

"In chapter 7, Ezekiel predicts the complete destruction of Israel. The wicked and proud will finally get what they deserve. If it seems as though God ignores the evil and proud people of our day, be assured that a day of judement will come, just as it came for the people of Israel. God is waiting patiently for sinners to repent, but when his judgment comes, "none of these proud and wicked people will survive." What you decide about God now will determine your fate then."

Jude said...

Good thoughts PC.
Another verse that comes to mindis Matt 6:19-20
"Do not store up fro yourselvestreasureson earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where theivesbreak in and steal, But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where theives do not break in and steal. "

We are redeemed by faith alone but perhaps what we do and say are the treasures which we store up for ourselves in heaven.

Ezekiel 7: Whew...what a lot of horrible images. There is not security to be found when the Lord has been angered...not in $ (19), not in the prophets (26), all will be destroyed, famine, plague, dying be the sword...God's face turned away (22). I cannot imagine the darkness and despair of such a time.

Mac an Rothaich said...

"I find this verse very disturbing to my interpretational paradigm and I have to stop and think about it at length. We know we are saved by faith alone, but here it is associating "doing good" with eternal life. The only thing that I can figure is the connection that I made before, that one who is saved will grow into good works. Like an uprooted seedling that is rescued and planted by streams of water will flourish and bear fruit, so will a redeemed life be known by its fruit, its good works that in keeping with salvation? So it is not our good works that save us, but our good works will be a "proof" of our salvation?"

That is pretty much how I have seen it and could follow and appreciate your thoughts. We must seek to follow Christ at all times and it will all follow, the change in behavior and such...