GUILT and GRACE!

“When I tell righteous people that they will live, but then they sin, expecting their past righteousness to save them, then none of their righteous acts will be remembered. I will destroy them for their sins. 14 And suppose I tell some wicked people that they will surely die, but then they turn from their sins and do what is just and right. 15 For instance, they might give back a debtor’s security, return what they have stolen, and obey my life-giving laws, no longer doing what is evil. If they do this, then they will surely live and not die. 16 None of their past sins will be brought up again, for they have done what is just and right, and they will surely live.” ~Ezekiel 33:13-16 NLT

“And as for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign Lord says to his people: I will judge between one animal of the flock and another, separating the sheep from the goats.” ~Ezekiel 34:17 NLT

“You are my flock, the sheep of my pasture. You are my people, and I am your God. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!” ~Ezekiel 34:31 NLT

As I was reading through the Bible this morning the reading plan I follow (The Life Journal Reading Plan by Pastor Wayne Cordeiro) I found myself reading through the Old Testament book of Ezekiel. This morning's readings were from Ezekiel 33 -35 and as I read through this challenging and difficult section (what parts of Ezekiel aren't) I was struck by the three verses and passages above.

In these passages from Ezekiel we have JUDGMENT balanced with GRACE… and they are tough passages to read and to place within the context of the biblical witness. NOT that this is not consistent within the text of scripture but because it is tough to read about the fury of God… of the anger of God… because we are so focused in the New Covenant era on the GRACE and LOVE of God!

SO… how are we to understand this passage in Ezekiel 33:13-16 & Ezekiel 34:13 & 31? 

Honestly, as a I pastor and a follower of Jesus Christ I want to know that I have SECURITY in my relationship with Christ… BUT here our Heavenly Father tells the people of Israel and all who would hear and read this section of the Bible that He will judge between the sheep and the goats! 

In these passages Ezekiel tells us through the prophecy given to him that God will punish the righteous for turning to sin! That He will turn against those who turn against Him!

SO... how do we balance this out with the passages that suggest that our sins are forgiven as far as the east is from the west (see Psalm 103 below)! Truthfully, as a follower of Jesus and as a pastor called to shepherd His sheep this is such a challenge to me personally and I have done a lot of soul searching on this over my years of walking in faith. 

How do we balance out the apparent discrepancies in the words of the authors? Is it just their experiences speaking OR is this TRUTH? 

Well... I guess what it comes down to for me is this... either way that we want to look at these challenges and issues... I simply think what we can take from this passage and others is simply this… God desires RIGHTEOUSNESS from His people and “IF” we strive to live in this light… seeking forgiveness for the times we don’t and living in the GRACE that comes with that… then we really should have nothing to HIDE… and nothing to FEAR! In other words when we walk in the LIGHT of God's MERCY and GRACE and strive to leave the other stuff that often pulls us or tempts us behind then we should NEVER FEAR that God is not with us OR has left us!

Seeking to live in FAITH and GRACE...

Rev Trev

* “The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. 9 He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. 10 He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. 11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. 12 He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. 13 The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.” ~Psalm 103:8-13 NLT