(Ezekiel 36:21-23) “But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations where they went. 22 Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went. 23 I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord,” declares the Lord God, “when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight..."
Being all-knowing, God knew that Israel would remain obedient as a nation, and so from the Israelites would have to come the One to accomplish the task. God's Son would come from their descendants, specifically from king David's line, in order to qualify as the rightful earthly king, as well as to be 100% man - 100% God, in order to live without sin, and pay the price for sins - in this way providing a way for the Holy Spirit to live within us as our security and our guide - when we believe in Jesus...
(Ezekiel 36:24-27) "For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land. 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.
Just as some of the Israelites had faith in the LORD in the Old Testament times, some of the Israelites became Christians while Jesus was here in earth. And there are some Israelites who become Christians now. But the nation of Israel still has to be living in obedience in order for the Abrahamic covenant to be fulfilled. To do that - they need their perfect King. Because they rejected Jesus the first time, He will come again at the end of the Tribulation. As they see the "signs" - the judgments of the Tribulation - they will be crying out for their Messiah - and then they will recognize and they will accept their Messiah as their King. Then Jesus will lead them into the kingdom of heaven with their covenants fulfilled...
(Ezekiel 36:28-38) "You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God. 29 Moreover, I will save you from all your uncleanness; and I will call for the grain and multiply it, and I will not bring a famine on you. 30 I will multiply the fruit of the tree and the produce of the field, so that you will not receive again the disgrace of famine among the nations. 31 Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and your abominations. 32 I am not doing this for your sake,” declares the Lord God, “let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel!” 33 ‘Thus says the Lord God, “On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places will be rebuilt. 34 The desolate land will be cultivated instead of being a desolation in the sight of everyone who passes by. 35 They will say, ‘This desolate land has become like the garden of Eden; and the waste, desolate and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited.’ 36 Then the nations that are left round about you will know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted that which was desolate; I, the Lord, have spoken and will do it.” 37 ‘Thus says the Lord God, “This also I will let the house of Israel ask Me to do for them: I will increase their men like a flock. 38 Like the flock for sacrifices, like the flock at Jerusalem during her appointed feasts, so will the waste cities be filled with flocks of men. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”’”
Being all-knowing, God knew that Israel would remain obedient as a nation, and so from the Israelites would have to come the One to accomplish the task. God's Son would come from their descendants, specifically from king David's line, in order to qualify as the rightful earthly king, as well as to be 100% man - 100% God, in order to live without sin, and pay the price for sins - in this way providing a way for the Holy Spirit to live within us as our security and our guide - when we believe in Jesus...
(Ezekiel 36:24-27) "For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land. 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.
Just as some of the Israelites had faith in the LORD in the Old Testament times, some of the Israelites became Christians while Jesus was here in earth. And there are some Israelites who become Christians now. But the nation of Israel still has to be living in obedience in order for the Abrahamic covenant to be fulfilled. To do that - they need their perfect King. Because they rejected Jesus the first time, He will come again at the end of the Tribulation. As they see the "signs" - the judgments of the Tribulation - they will be crying out for their Messiah - and then they will recognize and they will accept their Messiah as their King. Then Jesus will lead them into the kingdom of heaven with their covenants fulfilled...
(Ezekiel 36:28-38) "You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God. 29 Moreover, I will save you from all your uncleanness; and I will call for the grain and multiply it, and I will not bring a famine on you. 30 I will multiply the fruit of the tree and the produce of the field, so that you will not receive again the disgrace of famine among the nations. 31 Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and your abominations. 32 I am not doing this for your sake,” declares the Lord God, “let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel!” 33 ‘Thus says the Lord God, “On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places will be rebuilt. 34 The desolate land will be cultivated instead of being a desolation in the sight of everyone who passes by. 35 They will say, ‘This desolate land has become like the garden of Eden; and the waste, desolate and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited.’ 36 Then the nations that are left round about you will know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted that which was desolate; I, the Lord, have spoken and will do it.” 37 ‘Thus says the Lord God, “This also I will let the house of Israel ask Me to do for them: I will increase their men like a flock. 38 Like the flock for sacrifices, like the flock at Jerusalem during her appointed feasts, so will the waste cities be filled with flocks of men. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”’”
So Jesus does what the Israelites could not. Just as Jesus saves us because we cannot save ourselves. What I'm also observing is this - we should be ashamed of sin. I've seen this where someone has confessed and apologized for something, and the other person will say, "That's okay. You shouldn't feel bad about that." And I'm thinking - yeah you should!
(Ephesians 4:30-32) Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
So that's a good thing that we feel bad about sinning. And then when we have confessed and apologized - NOW we no longer should feel bad about it (whether or not the person forgives us). We have done what we should. Not only do we have the Bible to guide us, but we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within as (if we are Christians), not just to prick our consciences when we've done wrong, but to help us stay on the right track...
(John 14:25-26) “These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you."
(Ephesians 4:30-32) Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
So that's a good thing that we feel bad about sinning. And then when we have confessed and apologized - NOW we no longer should feel bad about it (whether or not the person forgives us). We have done what we should. Not only do we have the Bible to guide us, but we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within as (if we are Christians), not just to prick our consciences when we've done wrong, but to help us stay on the right track...
(John 14:25-26) “These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you."
No comments:
Post a Comment