By: Robert Serreyn
Question? Please explain shall not be remembered in Ezekiel 3:20?
(Ezekiel 3:20) Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Answer:
Verses 18 & 19 are SPEAKING TO the Unsaved
Verses 20 & 21 are SPEAKING TO the Saved who are BACKSLIDDEN(not living for or doing the will of Christ).
V20 is SPEAKING ABOUT backslidden Christians WHO REFUSE to share the gospel to the lost (hast not given him warning).
these same christians WHO REFUSE ( commit iniquity / sin) to live for and do the will of the Lord WILL ALLOW (I lay a stumblingblock before him) the effects or consequences of sin to take place (he shall die).
The Lord LAYS OUT HIS WARNING to all who attempt to live for self rather than for him.
(James 1:14,15) But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (15) Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
(Galatians 6:7) Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
(1 Corinthians 6:19,20) What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (20) For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
There are christians BECAUSE OF there wanting to be Popular and Liked by the majority of the people that they work with, socialize with, and befriend, they because of…
– FEAR: What people might think or say.
– SHAME: Because of their poor testimony.
or
– POPULARITY: They want to be liked.
WILL NOT take a stand for Christ.
(Proverbs 29:25) The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
Question… So what did the the Lord MEAN BY his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered?
Answer: All of a christian’s deeds(righteousness) that he or she had NOT DONE for Christ WILL NOT be remembered by man,
The Bible states in…
(James 2:17,18) Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. (18) Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
People CANNOT SEE if you are a christian or not (hence the the warning in v20).
ONLY BY your words,actions, and deeds can a person see what you claim to be.
NOTE: A person CAN BE a christian and yet have a HORRIBLE TESTIMONY where nobody would believe that person was saved, God DOES NOT take lightly the poor testimonies of his children (believers – John 1:12) ESPECIALLY if it causes a lost person to remain unsaved for God DESIRES ALL people to BELIEVE ON CHRIST and accept by faith alone, his payment on the cross for their sins.
(2 Peter 3:9) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
REPENTANCE = Change Of Mind from what man thinks what gets you to heaven to trusting alone in Christ as saviour the ONLY WAY to heaven.
(John 14:6) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
V20 is A WARNING to the christian that their testimony must line up with their words, actions, and deeds if they want to be an effective witness to the lost, most of the time the only bible that a lost person will read IS THE CHRISTIAN and they will base everything that christian does in reflection on what he or she thinks the bible teaches, and God WILL HOLD the christian ACCOUNTABLE for their testimony.
(Romans 14:12) So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
(2 Corinthians 5:10) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.
-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8
-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24
-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9
“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23
IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH