It is Where You Finish, Not Where You Begin
May 29, 2019 18:25:17 GMT -5
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Post by John on May 29, 2019 18:25:17 GMT -5
Here is an important teaching from Ezekiel 18:21-32. Yes, I do believe this applies to us today. It is not about how you enter the race, but how you finish it. If you are living in sin, and have been all your life, and you feel like there is no way God will save you, I have good news. It is not too late. If you have been serving God all your life, and are thinking about turning back, don't. All the good you did in the past will soon be forgotten.
But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
If you have been living a life full of regret and fear because you have been living in sin, this is wonderful news for you. You don't have to die and go to hell. If you will repent, God will forgive you and those evil things you did in the past won't be held against you. Turn your life over to Jesus, and serve him with your whole heart and live. Here is the other side of the coin.
But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.
How many people think that just because they started out good, they are forever saved? How many deceive themselves into believing that just because they accepted Christ and began in the right way, no matter what they do, they can never fall from grace? If they believe that, they are deceiving themselves.
Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal? When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die. Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Because he considereth, and turneth away from his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?
God's ways are not man's ways. God's ways are higher than man's ways. He doesn't do things in a way that we always think is fair, but whether we feel that way or not, his ways are just and right.
Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.
But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
If you have been living a life full of regret and fear because you have been living in sin, this is wonderful news for you. You don't have to die and go to hell. If you will repent, God will forgive you and those evil things you did in the past won't be held against you. Turn your life over to Jesus, and serve him with your whole heart and live. Here is the other side of the coin.
But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.
How many people think that just because they started out good, they are forever saved? How many deceive themselves into believing that just because they accepted Christ and began in the right way, no matter what they do, they can never fall from grace? If they believe that, they are deceiving themselves.
Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal? When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die. Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Because he considereth, and turneth away from his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?
God's ways are not man's ways. God's ways are higher than man's ways. He doesn't do things in a way that we always think is fair, but whether we feel that way or not, his ways are just and right.
Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.