Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc27/v28800

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 5KB | 91 lines

28805
 #22-24 The unbelief of man shall not make the promise of God of
 none effect. The parable of a tree, used in the threatening, is
 here presented in the promise. It appears only applicable to
 Jesus, the Son of David, the Messiah of God. The kingdom of
 Satan, which has borne so long, so large a sway, shall be
 broken, and the kingdom of Christ, which was looked upon with
 contempt, shall be established. Blessed be God, our Redeemer is
 seen even by the ends of the earth. We may find refuge from the
 wrath to come, and from every enemy and danger, under his
 shadow; and believers are fruitful in him.
28808
 * God has no respect of persons. (1-20) The Divine providence is
 vindicated. (21-29) A gracious invitation to repentance. (30-32)

 #1-20 The soul that sinneth it shall die. As to eternity, every
 man was, is, and will be dealt with, as his conduct shows him to
 have been under the old covenant of works, or the new covenant
 of grace. Whatever outward sufferings come upon men through the
 sins of others, they deserve for their own sins all they suffer;
 and the Lord overrules every event for the eternal good of
 believers. All souls are in the hand of the great Creator: he
 will deal with them in justice or mercy; nor will any perish for
 the sins of another, who is not in some sense worthy of death
 for his own. We all have sinned, and our souls must be lost, if
 God deal with us according to his holy law; but we are invited
 to come to Christ. If a man who had shown his faith by his
 works, had a wicked son, whose character and conduct were the
 reverse of his parent's, could it be expected he should escape
 the Divine vengeance on account of his father's piety? Surely
 not. And should a wicked man have a son who walked before God as
 righteous, this man would not perish for his father's sins. If
 the son was not free from evils in this life, still he should be
 partaker of salvation. The question here is not about the
 meritorious ground of justification, but about the Lord's
 dealings with the righteous and the wicked.

28828
 #21-29 The wicked man would be saved, if he turned from his evil
 ways. The true penitent is a true believer. None of his former
 transgressions shall be mentioned unto him, but in the
 righteousness which he has done, as the fruit of faith and the
 effect of conversion, he shall surely live. The question is not
 whether the truly righteous ever become apostates. It is certain
 that many who for a time were thought to be righteous, do so,
 while ver. #26,27| speaks the fulness of pardoning mercy: when
 sin is forgiven, it is blotted out, it is remembered no more. In
 their righteousness they shall live; not for their
 righteousness, as if that were an atonement for their sins, but
 in their righteousness, which is one of the blessings purchased
 by the Mediator. What encouragement a repenting, returning
 sinner has to hope for pardon and life according to this
 promise! In verse #28| is the beginning and progress of
 repentance. True believers watch and pray, and continue to the
 end, and they are saved. In all our disputes with God, he is in
 the right, and we are in the wrong.

28837
 #30-32 The Lord will judge each of the Israelites according to
 his ways. On this is grounded an exhortation to repent, and to
 make them a new heart and a new spirit. God does not command
 what cannot be done, but admonishes us to do what is in our
 power, and to pray for what is not. Ordinances and means are
 appointed, directions and promises are given, that those who
 desire this change may seek it from God.
28840
 * A parable lamenting the ruin of Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim. (1-9)
 Another describing the desolation of the people. (10-14)

 #1-9 Ezekiel is to compare the kingdom of Judah to a lioness. He
 must compare the kings of Judah to a lion's whelps; they were
 cruel and oppressive to their own subjects. The righteousness of
 God is to be acknowledged, when those who have terrified and
 enslaved others, are themselves terrified and enslaved. When
 professors of religion form connections with ungodly persons,
 their children usually grow up following after the maxims and
 fashions of a wicked world. Advancement to authority discovers
 the ambition and selfishness of men's hearts; and those who
 spend their lives in mischief, generally end them by violence.

28849
 #10-14 Jerusalem was a vine, flourishing and fruitful. This vine
 is now destroyed, though not plucked up by the roots. She has by
 wickedness made herself like tinder to the sparks of God's
 wrath, so that her own branches serve as fuel to burn her.
 Blessed be God, one Branch of the vine here alluded to, is not
 only become a strong rod for the sceptre of those that rule, but
 is Himself the true and living Vine. This shall be for a
 rejoicing to all the chosen people of God throughout all
 generations.