Friday, May 24, 2019

Year 9, Day 144: Ezekiel 18


Theological Commentary: Click Here



There are parts of this chapter that are simply astounding.  I’ll get them near the end.  Here in the beginning, it is proper to talk about the main theme of the chapter.  Each person will be held accountable to their own actions.  Live according to God, live well.  Live in antithesis to God, die well.  It’s a pretty simple chapter.



In fact, God shows both righteousness and grace in this chapter.  If a person lives in antithesis to God and repents, God will forgive the bad stuff.  That’s grace.  If a person lives with God but then turns away and denounces such life, God will hold the person accountable.  That’s righteousness.  God’s willing to forgive so long as we are willing to walk with Him and repent.  In fact, His grace is so powerful that it doesn’t even have to balance out.  So long as we come at some point to Him, we get forgiveness.  That’s grace.



While I love the concept of grace and I absolutely find grace amazing, I don’t find it astounding.  God’s grace is mind-boggling. God’s grace is unfathomable.  To be fair, God’s grace is so amazing that I find it beyond astounding.  It is incomprehensible.



What parts of this chapter are astounding, then?  The fact that people get upset at God’s grace is astounding.  I can’t believe that there are people who get angry because others aren’t held accountable for the sins of their parents.  To bring that into today’s context, I can’t believe there are people who get angry at the thought of a complete heathen turning to God at the end of their life and getting further angry at God for being so forgiving!  What are people thinking?



Are we all not saved by grace?  Who among us can stand before God and demand salvation?  Who among us can save ourselves?  All of us are undeserving!  What right does anyone have to get angry when grace is offered instead of punishment?



Human beings astound me.



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