Peter Barnes | Ezekiel 18
SERMON NOTES
WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SIN
Ezekiel 18 (p.597)
1. We must accept responsibility for our own sin.
– 18:1-3; Jer.31:27-30
– people blame their parents, their school, the environment, their friends.
– there is a collective responsibility (e.g. Ex.20:5; Josh.7:1, 14-15; Dan.9:1-19; see too 1 Cor.15:33)
– But David blames himself (Ps.51:3-4)
2. Sin brings death.
– 18:4, 20; Rom.6:23; tells of three generations – a righteous grandfather (18:5-9), an unrighteous son (18:10-13) and a righteous grandson (18:14-18); each is responsible for himself
3. God delights in life through repentance.
– 18:21-23, 27, 30-32; Matt.23:37; Luke 15:10; John 3:17;
– Calvin: ‘His counsels are incomprehensible to us.’
– 18:31 and 11:19-20 – God fulfils what He demands
– we die through our own sin; we live through the grace of God.