Gospel expectation in Ezekiel 18

At Shepherd's Fellowship of Greensboro, we believe that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God and that all of it is "profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work" (1 Timothy 3:16b-17). Because we hold a high view of Scripture - its perfection, profitability, and place in the life of the believer individually and church collectively - we read through an Old Testament passage and a New Testament passage as part of our weekly Sunday morning meeting. Every week, the Scripture is profitable, but some weeks it is more profitable than others. For instance, a passage that clearly speaks of the Gospel and its implications is going to be more edifying to the believer than, say, 1 Chronicles 9.

This past Sunday we were blessed with a very rich passage from Ezekiel. I would recommend that you read the entire chapter of Ezekiel 18 before finishing this post.

Did you read it? Good.

First, a little background. After the Exodus from Egypt, before Israel was allowed to enter the Promised Land, God delivered His Law to the people of Israel to act as their national moral and legal code. This covenant was a two-sided covenant: the people were bound to obey the Law, and God determined to dispense blessings for obedience and judgment for disobedience. When Moses first revealed the Law to Israel, "All the people answered with one voice and said, 'All the words that the LORD has spoken we will do'" (Exodus 24:3). However, we all know that the people of Israel did not do all the things that the Lord had spoken. Collectively, they fell under the judgment of God. Although there was a remnant of righteous persons within Israel, the nation as a whole became apostate.

In light of the conditional covenant that God made with Israel, it is not surprising that God would would promise blessing and judgment on an individual level in Ezekiel 18: "If a man is righteous and does what is just and right... he shall surely live, declares the LORD God. If he fathers a son who is violent, a shedder of blood, [etc.]...he [the wicked son] shall surely die." (vv. 5-13). God likewise promises that if a wicked man fathers a righteous son, that man will be judged for his wickedness, but the son would live for his righteousness. The point is that each person would be judged based on his individual actions, not the actions of his ancestors.

This is not in and of itself Good News. The soul who sins shall die. Which one of us has perfectly done what is just and right? Which one of us has never committed idolatry (which is much broader than bowing down to a wooden figure)? Which one of us has always acted in integrity in every aspect of life? I know that I have not, and I don't have to go out on a limb to say that you have not either. This passage ought to drive the natural man to hopelessness because he cannot fulfill God's righteous requirements.  However, there is One Son of Man who did fulfill that Law of God perfectly, and that Man is Jesus Christ.

You see, the nation of Israel became like the unrighteous man, collectively engaging in idolatry, sexual immorality, and every kind of injustice. But that unrighteous Israel fathered Jesus Christ, a righteous Son. That Son perfectly fulfilled the Law of God. Unlike His father Israel, Jesus Christ deserved to live because of His righteousness.

But herein lies the Good News for us. Christ, the righteous, died. He died so that we, although unrighteous and despicable to God, would be imputed with the righteousness of Christ. We are wicked sons, and righteousness cannot be inherited - it must be imputed. In his death, Christ took our wickedness upon Himself, and in His resurrection, He gave us His own righteousness and life. This is good news. Ezekiel said, "The soul who sins shall die." Christ says, "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). Now we must recognize our own sinfulness and look to Christ to be our righteousness. Unlike the Israelites at Mt. Sinai, we must say, "All the words that the Lord has spoken, HE has done."