SoneSSi 3 god iS JuSt - Clover Sitesstorage.cloversites.com/maysvillebaptistchurchinc/...righteousness does not refer simply to good deeds a person might do. Rather righteousness refers

SeSSion 3

god iS JuSt

34 S E S S I O N 3© 2014 LifeWay

The PointGod is always just.

The Bible Meets LifeWhen we are wronged by others, our typical response is to call for justice.

However, when we are the ones who have committed the wrong, we cry for

mercy. We demand fairness, but we define fairness based on what we want. God

is fair in the sense that His justice holds everyone equally accountable for their

actions. God is completely just, but He is also merciful, showing mercy to those

who choose to turn to Him.

The PassageEzekiel 18:21-24,30-32

The SettingThe prophet Ezekiel ministered during some of the darkest days of Israel’s

history: the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by the Babylonians and the

subsequent exile of the people. Chapter 18 addresses the responsibility of all the

people to respond to the message of the Lord. God is just and does not allow

the righteousness or unrighteousness of one person to dictate another person’s

relationship with Him. Everyone is responsible for their own sin.

B i B l e S t u d i e S f o r l i f e 35© 2014 LifeWay

Ezekiel 18:21-24, 30-32 (HCSB)

21 “now if the wicked person turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is just and right, he will certainly live; he will not die.

22 none of the transgressions he has committed will be held against him. he will live because of the righteousness he has practiced.

23 do i take any pleasure in the death of the wicked?” this is the declaration of the lord gOD. “instead, don’t i take pleasure when he turns from his ways and lives?

24 But when a righteous person turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, committing the same detestable acts that the wicked do, will he live? none of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. he will die because of the treachery he has engaged in and the sin he has committed.

30 “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.

31 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?

32 for i take no pleasure in anyone’s death.” this is the declaration of the lord gOD. “So repent and live!”

What does the Bible say?


GEt iNtO thE StUDyDISCuSS: Question #1 on page 29 of

the PSG: “When it comes to fighting

for justice, who is your favorite char-

acter?”

enHAnCeMent: Use Pack Item 3,

“Belief,” to remind group members of the

major theme for this study.

GuIDe: Direct group members to “The

Bible Meets Life” on page 30 of the PSG.

Introduce the theme of the session by

reading or summarizing the text—or by encouraging group members to read on

their own.

GuIDe: Call attention to “The Point” at the top of page 30 of the PSG: “God is

always just.”

ACtIvIty (oPtIonAL): Help group members connect with the concept of justice

by providing them with a small example of injustice. Show a quick clip from a movie (or

read a brief excerpt from a book) in which characters are treated unfairly.

PRAy: Transition into the Bible study by confessing to God that our world is filled with

injustice. Ask Him to provide wisdom and understanding as you study the reality of His

justice and what it means for our lives.

5 minutes

Notes

B i B l e S t u d i e S f o r l i f e 37

thE POiNt God is always just.

© 2014 LifeWay

Notes

Ezekiel 18:21-23

21 “Now if the wicked person turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps

all My statutes, and does what is just and right, he will certainly live; he will

not die. 22 None of the transgressions he has committed will be held against

him. He will live because of the righteousness he has practiced. 23 Do I take

any pleasure in the death of the wicked?” This is the declaration of the Lord

GOD. “Instead, don’t I take pleasure when he turns from his ways and lives?

ReAD: Ezekiel 18:21-23 on page 31 of the PSG. Read the text out loud or ask a

volunteer from the group to do so.

GuIDe: Call attention to the key words “justice” and “repentance” on page 32 of

the PSG. Help group members understand why repentance is necessary in light of

God’s justice.

ACtIvIty (oPtIonAL): Consider printing out a picture of “Lady Justice” (see

page 32 of the PSG) as you explain the concept of justice mentioned above. Pass

the picture around the group to help participants understand and apply the

reference to it in the PSG.

DISCuSS: Question #2 on page 32 of the PSG: “Why does it sometimes

bother us when someone gets ‘let off the hook’?”

note: many people feel like they need to have permission before they share

personal feelings or emotions. Therefore, encourage group members to

share their emotional responses to the idea of a guilty person being “let off

the hook.”

tRAnSItIon: Verses 21-23 address unrighteous people who choose to repent.

Let’s move to verse 24, which addresses those who are apparently righteous but

choose to rebel.

StUDy thE BiBLE

TIP: Try not to offer the first answer to a question. Group members often perceive a leader’s answer as the “final word,” which can end discussion.

10 minutes


Ezekiel 18:21-23

Ezekiel prophesied in Babylon where God’s people were exiled because of their sins. Ezekiel focused

on the case of a sinner, a wicked person. How would a just God deal with the wicked? The obvious

answer is found in two prior verses in this chapter (18:4b,20a), “The person who sins is the one who will

die.” The phrase “the one who will die” is emphatic in Hebrew. The result of sin is certain death.

Yet, in 18:21, we find a different scenario being presented—not one of certain death, but rather

one of potential life. Ezekiel wrote, now if the wicked person turns from all the sins he has

committed. This statement forms the conditional part of a great theological declaration; because

of His love, God provides an escape from spiritual death. The verb rendered turns often conveys the

idea repent. In view is a full “about-face” morally, spiritually, physically, and socially with regard to one’s

actions. In order for the wicked to satisfy this condition, he must turn away from self-serving ways and

turn toward the God-given, others-serving way prescribed in the Law of Moses.

With just and right, Ezekiel paired two important terms. To be just, a person had to treat neighbors

equitably—not showing partiality or prejudice, irrespective of any external distinctions as race,

education, or gender. Even more, the just person lives to ensure the rights of others. Unlike the wicked

who lives for self-gratification, the just lives to serve others, to reflect the character of God who Himself

is just. To be right, a person deliberately had to mold his life to God’s prescribed manner of living as set

forth in His Word. Ultimately, we can adapt only with the aid of God’s empowering Spirit.

Ezekiel, however, was stressing the possibility of life in spite of one’s having been wicked. When the

wicked turns, he will certainly live; he will not die. Ezekiel then stated the full implications of life

for the wicked should they repent: none of the transgressions he has committed will be held

against him. The term transgressions referred to any deliberate misdeeds and rebellions against

God’s prescribed norms. Will be held against is literally will be remembered. The idea is that God

deliberately chooses not to remember human rebellions once people turn from their sins.

Instead of the certain death prescribed for all sinners, the wicked person who turns from sin will live

because of the righteousness he has practiced. A superficial reading of this statement might lead

to the errant view that one can save oneself by doing good works. However, Ezekiel did not intend

to suggest such an idea. The key is to understand correctly the term righteousness. In this context,

righteousness does not refer simply to good deeds a person might do. Rather righteousness refers

to specific deeds prescribed by God in His Law as normative for His people. The term carries the idea of

willfully conforming to God’s norms or standards.



© 2014 LifeWay

Notes

Ezekiel 18:24

24 But when a righteous person turns from his righteousness and practices

iniquity, committing the same detestable acts that the wicked do, will he

live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. He will die

because of the treachery he has engaged in and the sin he has committed.

ReAD: Ezekiel 18:24 on page 31 of the PSG.

DISCuSS: Question #3 on page 33 of the PSG: “How do these verses serve as

both good news and bad news?”

Note: Direct readers to consider verses 21-24 when answering this question.

GuIDe: Use the first two paragraphs from the commentary on page 41 of this

Leader Guide to prepare in advance for participants who want to talk about

whether Christians can lose their salvation.

SuMMARIze: Call attention to the key themes from page 33 of the PSG:

1. Christians possess eternal security in Christ, but that doesn’t give us a free pass

to sin without consequences.

2. The truth of eternal security should never result in taking a jaded or blasé

attitude toward holy living.

3. God is just in how He responds to the seemingly righteous who rebel.

DISCuSS: Question #4 on page 33 of the PSG: “Why don’t we take sin as

seriously as we should?”

tRAnSItIon: When we skip to verses 30-32, we see both a command to repent

and a hope-filled offer of forgiveness.

StUDy thE BiBLE15 minutes

4 0 S E S S I O N 3© 2014 LifeWay

Ezekiel 18:24 Commentary

In the previous passage Ezekiel dealt with the promise of life for any wicked person who repented from

his evil ways. What happens when the opposite scenario occurs? What does it mean when a righteous

person begins to do unjust and abominable things like the wicked person does? Did Ezekiel argue

against the doctrine of “once saved, always saved” by intimating a righteous person could lose his

salvation by practicing iniquity?

The answer is no. The problem lies in comparing apples to oranges. In the Old Testament, the covenant

community deemed a person righteous based on his conformity to God’s written laws. No one could

know the person’s heart, motives, or sincerity. In the New Testament, salvation is explicitly stated to be

“by grace through faith” and “not from works” (Eph. 2:8-9). In the Old Testament, covenant members

who did not conform to God’s laws or statutes threatened the security and identity of the community

itself. We find a similar phenomenon in the New Testament (Acts 5:1-11). However, the key difference

is for Old Testament members of the community of faith, death was final. They thought in terms of

maintaining God’s blessings, the greatest of which was life itself, but life lived in this world. The New

Testament concept of eternal life would have been foreign to Ezekiel’s readers.

Does this mean saved people today can get by with sin? No. Even believers will be recompensed

according to their actions (1 Cor. 3:11-15). Does this mean Christians lose their salvation when they sin?

No. Even believers are subjected to weaknesses of the flesh. As believers, we will fall short of God’s glory,

but sin will never characterize the lives of true believers. Thus, the unsaved are judged because of sin

and unbelief; the saved are judged based on faith in Christ.

Thus the key to understanding Ezekiel 18:24 is to view the verse as the opposite side of the coin of

repentance. When the wicked man turns/repents, he will live; but on the other hand, when the

righteous man turns (same Hebrew word) away from righteousness, he will die. The concept is simple,

straightforward Hebrew theology: in order to live a long life on this earth, one needed to conform to

God’s norms; death was the just reward for all who turned from righteousness to live in sin and iniquity.

No rainy day fund existed whereby past works of righteousness could cover current acts of evil.

Ezekiel employed several terms to depict the sinful life: iniquity, detestable acts, treachery,

and sin. From the standpoint of the covenant community, any person practicing such behaviors was

destined to die. Sin was viewed as a shortcut to death. In turn, death was viewed as God’s just sentence

on the wicked. God is just in how He responds to the seemingly righteous person who rebels. Every

person chooses either the way of life or the way of death; nothing could be more just.



© 2014 LifeWay

Notes

Ezekiel 18:30-32

30 “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. 31 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? 32 For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death.” This is the declaration of the Lord

GOD. “So repent and live!

ReAD: Ezekiel 18:30-32 from page 31 of the PSG.

SuMMARIze: Call attention to page 34 of the PSG; help group members walk

through the two reasons why forgiveness is an amazing gift from God:

1. When God forgives, He forgets.

2. God relieves us of guilt.

Do: Ask group members to complete the activity “What Do You Say?” on page 35

of the PSG. Allow group members to work in silence for 2-3 minutes. Then, if time

permits, encourage volunteers to share their responses.

Choose one of the following statements . How would you respond in light of what

you’ve learned about God’s justice?

“I know I’m going to heaven because I’ve done more good than bad .”

“God can’t love me because He knows what I’ve done .”

Response: ______________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

DISCuSS: Question 5 on page 34 of the PSG: “God is both just and

forgiving. How does that combination lead to a full life for those who

follow Him?”

StUDy thE BiBLE10 minutes


Ezekiel 18:30-32 Commentary

Though the sinner never deserves a reprieve, God none-the-less offers restoration. We are to respond

to God’s justice with repentance and a heart of loving devotion. In these verses, the Lord offered several

assertions. First, each person will be judged according to his ways. Ezekiel covered every scenario

possible in 18:5-20 to reinforce the point God is just and only the one who sins will die.

God’s second assertion was that repentance could prevent a rebellious person from being punished.

transgressions renders a Hebrew word reflecting deliberate violation of a known boundary or

willful violation of a known authority. As such, transgressions are the exact opposite of righteousness,

willfully adapting one’s life to God’s ways. Those who rebelled and refused to repent allowed their

transgressions to become a stumbling block causing their own punishment. Stumbling block

referred to an obstacle or hindrance of any kind. Punishment reinforces the idea that the retribution

people received was the harvest of the sinful seeds they sowed. Through repentance, transgressions are

removed and do not present themselves as obstacles any longer.

God’s third assertion was that a new heart and a new spirit were available for all who repented. The

important aspect of this verse is the double imperatives used. The first imperative commanded sinners

to throw off all their transgressions. The second imperative was for them to get themselves a new

heart and a new spirit. By this double command, God was issuing an invitation to life and a warning

of death. Obedience resulted in life; disobedience resulted in death. People had to choose.

God’s final assertion concerned His own displeasure with a sinner’s death. God stated, “For I take no

pleasure in anyone’s death.” The phrase in Hebrew is literally “in the death of the one dying.” The

distinction is important because it portrays life without God as “dying.” Thus, unrepentant sinners not

only face death in the ultimate sense, they are dying every day, a sort of living death.

This final assertion was underscored by Ezekiel’s statement, “this is the declaration of the Lord

God” (see also 18:3,9,23,30). This time God commanded his people to repent, a parallel to the prior

command to throw off their transgressions. The Hebrew verb once again means turn. To avoid a

living death, rebels had to repent from their sins and turn back to God. He also commanded them to

live, a parallel to the prior command to get a new heart and a new spirit. Yet, how do you command

someone to live? The use of the imperative form of the verb to live served to underscore the result of

genuine repentance. Though repent and live are both commands, they express a single directive. The

commands are synonymous with each other. The use of the double imperative placed a divine urgency

on Ezekiel’s readers. The only opportunity rebels had to repent was the present one.



© 2014 LifeWay

Notes

LiVE it OUtGuIDe: Direct group members to page 36 of the PSG in order to consider the

following responses to the reality of God’s justice:

> Choose freedom. Confess a specific sin or sinful pattern to God. Receive His

forgiveness and choose to move forward with the knowledge that He has set

you free from that sin.

> Seek justice in the world. Look for situations where justice seems to be

lacking. Use these situations as reminders to pray that God would carry out His

justice in the world.

> Close the gap between your reputation and character. Ask a fellow

believer to hold you accountable in areas where you struggle with sin. Commit

to integrity between how others know you and how God knows you.

Wrap it Up

tRAnSItIon: Read or restate the conclusion from page 36 of the PSG: “Whether

in this life or the next, God’s righteousness will triumph.”

PRAy: Conclude by affirming that God is always just. Also affirm your desire for

God’s justice to influence your actions and attitudes each day.

5 minutes

4 4 S E S S I O N 3© 2014 LifeWay

My group's prayer requests

Additional suggestions for specific groups (women, men, parents, boomers, and singles)

are available at BibleStudiesforLife.com/blog.

Your Kingdom Come

I’ll never forget our family’s first visit to Walt Disney World. My wife, Reneé, and I waited until all five of our kids were out of diapers before booking the vacation. Our youngest had turned 3, and our oldest was 16. So we bought our tickets and reserved the hotel rooms. I even picked up guidebooks on how to avoid long lines. Our first night in Orlando, Fla., we planned to visit the “Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue,” but on the way, our 6-year-old son, Pete, was hurt. As we walked to the venue, Pete saw a playground, ran to it, tripped, and hit his face on the first step.

to continue reading “your kingdom Come” from HomeLife magazine, visit BibleStudiesforLife.com/articles.

B i B l e S t u d i e S f o r l i f e 45© 2014 LifeWay

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