Highland, as we closed our series on generational sin last Sunday, this is the final post. We will soon begin our series working through I Thessalonians from start to finish.
For the last 6 sermons, we have been sea-sawing back and forth between Ezekiel 18 and Exodus 20 to get a better grasp on generational sin. In Ezekiel 18:1-4, we see the people of God under Babylonian rule and they, rightfully, are upset because they see their life in bondage as God’s punishment for their prior generations’ sin. But, the “sour grapes” mentioned are the fruits borne of sin, not the offering of our Lord; He just spells out the outcome and consequences of sin, but He desires each of us to walk according to His ways. The Lord makes clear the benefits of a life lived in agreement with Him, He also spells out the consequences of a life lived that is not in agreement with His heart and His Word. Be assured, He is love and His ways lead to life but, in His love, He will not obligate us to obey Him.
Ezekiel’s Correction of Their Misguided Mindset, Ezekiel 18:1-4
“The word of the LORD came to me: “What do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel: The fathers eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge?
As I live” — this is the declaration of the Lord GOD — “you will no longer use this proverb in Israel. Look, every life belongs to Me. The life of the father is like the life of the son — both belong to Me. The person who sins is the one who will die” (Ezekiel 18:1-4).
About the sour-grapes statement: The Israelites were allowing this saying to circulate throughout their days. This saying/proverb picked up a lot of traction because it’s based on how they felt about God’s Word, but their feelings were not based on truth and they were misguided by their feelings.
What the statement means: The proverb means that the sons and daughters who were in captivity felt that they were having to pay for their past generations’ sin. When you see someone eat something sour, then as you observe, typically, onlookers will whence and recoil at the thought of being offered that which is sour. Furthermore, the statement indicates that the sour grapes were an inevitable and unavoidable option, hence, the children’s teeth are set on edge, meaning that they are expecting to receive the sinfully-offensive and hostile nature of their father’s relationship with the Lord.
The Lord’s Response, Ezekiel 18:29-32
As the dialogue continues, the Lord responds and expresses His heart toward each of His people, by making clear that He delights in relationship with each and every one! He goes on to make clear that He takes no pleasure in anyone’s death, but those who repent remove their stumbling blocks which result in punishment, receiving a new heart and a new spirit - therefore, ‘repent and live!’
“But the house of Israel says, ‘The Lord’s way isn’t fair.’ Is it My ways that are unfair, house of Israel? Instead, isn’t it your ways that are unfair?
Therefore, house of Israel, I will judge each one of you according to his ways.” This is the declaration of the Lord GOD. “Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so they will not be a stumbling block that causes your punishment. Throw off all the transgressions you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death.” This is the declaration of the Lord GOD. So repent and live” (Ezekiel 18:29-32)!
Anyone who repents, declaring Jesus as Lord, will live
When one repents, they see the grotesque work of sin evidenced in their hearts. They see sin in every way (in motivations and relationships and the brokenness it produces)! They see sin as offensive toward God and they hate that they have offended Him, Who is love. Their sorrow over sin is not over being caught doing something wrong but their sorrow over sin flows from knowing that they have disappointed the heart of God.
The gospel tells us that Jesus came to save sinners. That He came and dwelt among us, living a sinless life, then willingly laid down His life to satisfy the wrath of God toward sinners; that while we were still enemies of God, He died for us. So, what the law could not do since it was limited by the flesh, God does for us, that we might live through Jesus (Romans 8:1-4).
“Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus, because the Spirit’s law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. What the law could not do since it was limited by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending His own Son in flesh like ours under sin’s domain, and as a sin offering, in order that the law’s requirement would be accomplished in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1-4).
When a sinner sees that beauty of Jesus as supreme to any version of the created beauty of this world, then they run to Him in repentance - and, by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, our hearts are renewed to share and delight within the desires of our holy God! When we obey, keeping with the fruits of repentance, the Lord mends and restores our relationships with others and sets right our relationship with His creation for generations to come!
Jesus redeems the repentant, offering a ‘spirit of adoption’ to those under the curse of sin
“For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written: Everyone who does not continue doing everything written in the book of the law is cursed. Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live by faith. But the law is not based on faith; instead, the one who does these things will live by them. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written: Everyone who is hung on a tree is cursed. The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promised Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:10-14, HSCB).
Highland, we are family. Those of us who’ve looked at the law, seeing God’s holiness and our sinfulness; acknowledging that there’s nothing we can do to rid ourselves of the curse of sin or make ourselves right with God. Jesus, Who hung on that tree for us, bore our penalty of sin due to us in His body - offering us the chance to call our Maker, “Father”, a new heart and renewed spirit to those who repent, declaring Him to be Lord. While we still deal with the residue of sin, we are no longer defined by the curse of sin. He took upon Himself the curse of sin, offering to those who repent His righteousness, that, by His spirit, we might be able to share in a heart agreement with our Heavenly Father, as sons and daughters of the Most High. The results in the mercies of God being upon us, our children, and our children’s children for a 1000 generations!
Highland. I am grateful for you.
i love you,
Rob