Ezekiel 18:1-32  The Soul Who Sins Shall Die

[Study Aired May 27, 2024]

Introduction

Today’s study concerns the changing of the law by the Lord to make people accountable for their own sins instead of the sins of their fathers. Whenever there is a change in the law, there is resistance to the change as we naturally resist change. The people of Israel thought that the way of the Lord is not just in regard to people bearing their own sins. They preferred the situation where the fathers’ sins are borne by their children. As a result of their resistance to change, the people of Israel were surely going to be judged. The chapter concludes by giving us insight into the benefits of the Lord’s judgment.

The Changing of the Law

Eze 18:1  The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,
Eze 18:2  What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge? 

The proverb “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are on edge” became a regularly used proverb in Israel because of the following scriptures:

Exo 20:5  Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 
Exo 20:6  And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Exo 34:6  And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 
Exo 34:7  Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

In these verses, the Lord was demonstrating to the people of Israel that their iniquities have consequences on their children. As you can see, the Lord gave this rule when He was delivering the ten commandments to Moses. This means that this rule was an integral part of the Law of Moses. As we are aware, the purpose of the Law was to expose sin, but the Law did not have what it takes to change our behavior. Therefore, the rampant use of this proverb suggests to us that the people of Israel have resigned themselves to the fact that they cannot help themselves in hurting their beloved ones (children) through their actions.

Rom 7:7  What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”  

Rom 7:21  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 
Rom 7:22  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 
Rom 7:23  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 
Rom 7:24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. 

Deu 5:28  And the LORD heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and the LORD said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken. 
Deu 5:29  O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever!

Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children upon the third and fourth generation signifies that when we are dominated by our old man or the flesh, we are not different from our fathers. In other words, we are not different from the people of Israel in terms of their propensity to disobey the Lord since we are all of the flesh or the old man. The number three means becoming spiritually mature through the process of judgment. This implies that it is as we go through the process of judgment to become spiritually mature (third generation) that the iniquity of our fathers (the old man) is no longer relevant in our lives. The fourth generation mentioned symbolizes that the whole of the Lord’s elect have to go through suffering as a result of the deeds of our old man, which is the iniquity of our fathers. There is no exception to bearing the consequences of our actions as the Lord’s elect of every generation. 

Gal 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 
Gal 6:8  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Eze 18:3  As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel. 
Eze 18:4  Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. 

These verses give us glimpses to the change of the Law which became effective when Jesus, the reformer, came on the scene. Here we are made aware that everyone will bear his or her own sins. That is to say that everyone who eats sour grapes will have his own teeth set on edge.

Act 3:20  And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 
Act 3:21  Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. 

Jer 31:29  In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children’s teeth are set on edge. 
Jer 31:30  But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.

Who is a Righteous Man?

Eze 18:5  But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right, 
Eze 18:6  And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour’s wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman, 

The verses here show us the characteristics of a righteous man or woman or simply, the Lord’s elect. According to verse 6, a righteous man must not eat at the mountain shrines. 

Isa 57:7  Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice.

In a negative sense, mountains or hills represent the place where the people of Israel perform their idolatrous acts against the Lord. In this case, the mountain represents Babylon where we imbibe false doctrines in our pursuit of another Jesus. It is in Babylon that we pay attention to the great swelling words of vanity of man’s wisdom and tradition. Not eating on a mountain therefore means that as the Lord’s elect, we have been delivered from Babylon and have come to know the truth of the Lord’s words. As a result, we are able to test the spirit to see if it is of the Lord.

2Pe 2:18  For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 
2Pe 2:19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 
2Pe 2:20  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 

Lifting up our eyes to the idols of the house of Israel signifies harboring idols of the heart which came about as a result of our sojourn in the house of Israel or Babylon. Not lifting our eyes to the idols of the house of Israel therefore signifies the destruction of the idols of our hearts which we imbibed in Babylon.

Eze 14:3  Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them? 
Eze 14:4  Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;
Eze 14:5  That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.

According to the word of the Lord, a wife symbolizes the church. A neighbor, on the other hand, refers to the people of Israel as shown in the following verse:

Lev 19:18  Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

Jesus made it clear to us that our neighbor is the one who has shown mercy to us. In other words, our brothers and sisters in Christ who acknowledge the mercy the Lord has shown to us. 

Luk 10:29  But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? 
Luk 10:30  And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 
Luk 10:31  And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 
Luk 10:32  And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
Luk 10:33  But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
Luk 10:34  And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 
Luk 10:35  And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
Luk 10:36  Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 
Luk 10:37  And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. 

Defiling our neighbor’s wife therefore refers to anything that we do to unveil the nakedness of the church or our brothers and sisters. This means that not defiling our neighbor’s wife means not doing or saying anything evil against our brothers and sisters. We, as the Lord’s elect, must not defile our neighbor’s wife.

James 4:11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. (ESV)

As the Lord’s elect, we are not to have sexual relations with a woman during her period. A woman in her period signifies Babylon or the churches of this world in relation to the shedding of blood of the Lord and his messengers. In other words, if we are to worship the Lord acceptably, then we must leave Babylon.

Luk 11:49  Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute: 
Luk 11:50  That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; 
Luk 11:51  From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation. 

Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 
Rev 18:5  For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

Eze 18:7  And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment; 

In verse 7, we are required not to oppress anyone but return what we took in pledge for a loan if we are to be the Lord’s elect. The first time the word “oppression” was used in the Bible, it has to do with how Pharaoh and the people of Egypt have set taskmasters over the people of Israel to cause them to work hard for Egypt’s benefit. The oppression in verse 7 is also qualified by the fact that a righteous man returns what a borrower has given as security for a loan and does not rob anyone. In other words, we should not take advantage of anyone irrespective of the position the Lord has placed us. 

Exo 3:9  Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.

Exo 3:7  And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

As the Lord’s elect, we are not to oppress anyone for our benefit. This oppression is clearly seen in the churches of this world (Babylon) where many are working hard for the benefit of the pastors of these churches. Many shepherds of the Lord in the churches of this world have become robbers of the people the Lord has placed over them through extortion in the name of tithes and offerings.

Verse 7 also tells us that those who are righteous give bread to the hungry and cover their nakedness with a garment. Giving bread to the hungry means feeding the Lord’s people with the truth of the word of the Lord. It is the truth of the Lord’s words which covers our nakedness as we are given the garment of righteousness. Unfortunately, this was not what happened to us during our time in Babylon where the shepherds feed themselves.

Eze 34:2  “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord GOD: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep?
Eze 34:3  You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. 

Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen (garment) is the righteousness of saints.

Eze 18:8  He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man, 
Eze 18:9  Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD.

A righteous man does not lend to people at interest or take profit from them. That is to say that we do not take advantage of people to exploit them financially. As indicated, this is what we see in Babylon where the Lord’s people are exploited financially in the name of the Lord.

Jas 5:4  Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. 
Jas 5:5  Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. 

To withdraw our hands from iniquity means we are being judged and as a result we are learning righteousness. Putting our hands to iniquity is therefore not an attractive option for the elect as the old man is diminishing and the new man is gaining ascendency in our lives. As Paul stated, the training the Lord is taking us through in this life helps us to judge fairly between two parties and therefore prepares us to judge the world and angels in an age to come. 

1Co 6:2  Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 
1Co 6:3  Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 

In verse 9, we are told that a righteous man or the Lord’s elect follows the Lord’s decrees and faithfully keeps His laws. This is because as we are being judged in this life, we are learning righteousness and therefore making it easier to obey the Lord’s commandments. 

Isa 26:8  Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. 
Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. 

1Pe 4:1  Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 
1Pe 4:2  That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

In conclusion, if we live by the standards set here in Ezekiel 18:5-9, then we are the Lord’s righteous man and therefore we shall surely live. To be living here means that we shall be spiritually alive as we serve the Lord in this life. In other words, we shall be the Lord’s overcomers!! We must take note that the walk of the elect with the Lord is a process. That means it takes time for us to live according to the Lord’s standards. Let’s take confidence in the fact that the Lord who has called and chosen us will see to it that we overcome. It is not about our efforts. He who has called us is faithful!!

Rom 9:16  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 

Eze 18:10  If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that doeth the like to any one of these things, 
Eze 18:11  And that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour’s wife, 
Eze 18:12  Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination, 
Eze 18:13  Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him. 

These verses show us our lives before the Lord came to us, even though we are His sons who are called and chosen before the foundations of the world by the Lord who is righteous. Verses 10 to 13 show us that we were born in sin, and as a result, we manifest the deeds of the flesh until the Lord came to us with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness. In verse 13 we are told that we shall surely die and that we shall suffer the consequences of our lives in the flesh. That is to say our blood shall be upon us. The Lord’s coming to us is to judge us so that we learn righteousness. 

Eph 2:1  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 
Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 
Eph 2:3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 
Eph 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 
Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 
Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Eze 18:14  Now, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all his father’s sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like, 
Eze 18:15  That hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbour’s wife, 
Eze 18:16  Neither hath oppressed any, hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, but hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment, 
Eze 18:17  That hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live. 
Eze 18:18  As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity. 

Verse 14 shows us that our father was the devil and that through the mercies of the Lord, we were given to consider our father’s evil influence on our lives as the Lord came to us with His brightness to deliver us from committing the deeds of our father the devil. As a result, we learn righteousness every day as our old man dies daily. The devil will surely die in his iniquity and therefore shall face judgment in an age to come.

Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Rev 20:10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Resistance to the Changing of the Law

Eze 18:19  Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live. 
Eze 18:20  The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. 
Eze 18:21  But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 
Eze 18:22  All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. 
Eze 18:23  Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? 
Eze 18:24  But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die. 

In spite of the changing of the law regarding each person suffering for his or her own sins instead of the children bearing the iniquity of the fathers, many Israelites questioned this change. In verses 20–22, the Lord is therefore explaining why there should be a change in the law. There is no salvation if this law is still in force. This is because, if we are to suffer the consequences of the actions of our fathers, then even if we turn from our wicked ways and become obedient to the Lord, we shall still be liable to the sins of our fathers and therefore, the blood of Christ, which was shared for our sins, would have been ineffective. However, thanks be to the Lord that this change of the law paved a new and living way where each person must give and account for his own deeds.

Heb 10:19  Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 
Heb 10:20  By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 
Heb 10:21  And having an high priest over the house of God; 
Heb 10:22  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 
Heb 10:23  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 
Heb 10:24  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 

Eze 18:25  Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal? 
Eze 18:26  When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die. 
Eze 18:27  Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. 
Eze 18:28  Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 
Eze 18:29  Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal? 

Whenever there is a change in the law, there is always resistance to the new law. The reaction of the Lord’s people in questioning that the way of the Lord is not equal foreshadows the resistance to Christ’s work as a reformer when He came on the scene. This scenario is the same today as our brothers and sisters in Babylon resist the fact that the Lord will bring salvation to all humanity. In other words, Babylon is accusing the Lord that His way is not equal. Remember that we also in our time in Babylon accused the Lord that His way is not equal. However, through the mercies of the Lord, we were forgiven and given a new life in Christ to understand that the way of the Lord is perfect!!

Psa 18:25  With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; 
Psa 18:26  With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward. 

Psa 18:30  As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. 

The Benefits of the Lord’s Judgment

Eze 18:30  “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. 
Eze 18:31  Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? 

Our resistance to the Lord’s ways means that we shall surely be judged. As we are aware, it is the Lord’s elect who are being judged in this life. In verses 30 and 31, we are shown the benefits of the Lord’s judgment. It causes us to repent and turn from all our transgressions so that sin does not disqualify us from the prize of His higher calling. Judgment destroys our old man who is the source of our transgressions against the Lord. The death of our old man or flesh is the birth of a new man described in verse 31 as the new heart and new spirit. It is this new man which keeps us alive in Christ. 

Eph 4:22  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 
Eph 4:23  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 
Eph 4:24  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 

Eze 18:32  For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live.” 

In verse 32 we are told that the Lord does not have pleasure in the death of anyone. This implies that it is the Lord’s desire to bring salvation to all at His appointed time. 

Psa 135:6  Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.

1Ti 2:3  This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 
1Ti 2:4  who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Conclusion

This whole chapter gives us glimpses of the change in the priesthood which necessitated the change of the law which took place when our Lord Jesus Christ came as a reformer. Today, our Lord is still carrying out His reformation works in our lives as He gives us the law of the spirit of life which sets us free from the law of sin and death. He who has started this good work in us, shall see to its completion.

Heb 7:12  For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. 
Heb 7:13  For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. 
Heb 7:14  For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 
Heb 7:15  This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 
Heb 7:16  who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life.
Heb 7:17  For it is witnessed of him, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” 
Heb 7:18  For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness 
Heb 7:19  (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. 

Rom 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 
Rom 8:3  For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 
Rom 8:4  in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 

Thank you Lord, for your wonderful plan of salvation in which you have given us a significant role to play. Amen!!

The Law of Moses Versus the Law of the Spirit – Part 14

Updated February 24, 2024

The better part of this paper has been a demonstration of the depth of the first phrase:

Phrase 1) “A change also of the law” (Heb 7:12)

We have demonstrated how Matthew 5 conflicts with the 6th and 7th commandments as well as four of the statutes and judgments. These, of course, are simply examples given by Christ to show that the entire old covenant was being fulfilled in Christ. Christ could not very well cover the 613 laws of the old covenant in one lesson. Christ cannot very well be speaking of the law of Moses when He said…

Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

…Then in the very next verse, and the rest of the entire chapter, go about changing the law of Moses, at times blatantly contradicting what the law of Moses teaches:

Mat 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Mat 5:21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
Mat 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

“Fulfilling” includes superseding, or else these two examples alone demonstrate that the Sermon on the Mount is a self-contradictory message. We have quoted the scriptures showing that the new covenant is spirit, is NOT in “the letter” (2Co 3:6).

Phrase 2) “That which is done away…”:

2Co 3:11 For if that which is done away [G2673: ‘katargeo’, “fail… vanish away” (1Co 13:8)] was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

This phrase (done away – used once as ‘put away’) is used five times by Paul in relation to the old covenant. It is used here in 2 Corinthians 3:11 and in the following entries in the New Testament:

1Co 13:10 – “When that which is perfect is come [the law of love] then that which is in part [the ten commandments and the old covenant] shall be done away.”
1Co 13:11 – “When I was a child I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child…” (Hate your enemies as opposed to love your enemies; don’t kill as opposed to don’t hate; don’t commit adultery as opposed to don’t look on a woman to lust after her, etc.) but when I became a man, I put away [Greek: katargeo) childish things”

When we put away childish things, we are no longer under the school master..

Gal 4:1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
Gal 4:2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
Gal 4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

The Greek for ‘child’ in Galatians is G3516: nepios – an infant or toddler, NOT G5207 – huios used in verse 5, which signifies an adult son. Huios in the King James is translated son, sonship and adoption. It has nothing to do with our present concept of adoption, but means a mature adult son about to take over his father’s trade. Paul says “the heir as long as he is a child [nepios] differs nothing from a servant” [a bond servant, a slave] (Gal 4:1). As a spiritual ‘huios’, adult, we are to “put away [our] childish, ‘nepios’” Old Covenant ways.

2Co 3:7 “But if the ministration of death [the old covenant (Deu 4:13)], written and engraven in stones was glorious so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory [ministration of death] was to be done away…”

Deu 4:13 And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.

Paul is saying that Moses’ face with its temporal glory which resulted from the giving of the ten commandments, is a type of the temporal old covenant “ministration of death and condemnation.” As we so often do, we have taken the type, “Moses’ face”, and made it the antitype, the reality, the ‘glory’ that comes “in the face of Jesus Christ”:

2Co 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

“Moses had a normal face before the two “tables of stone” were placed into his hands. When those two tables with the ten commandments written on them were placed in Moses’ hands, his face began to shine, but that shining and that ‘glory’ did not last very long. In that story, God is telling us that that covenant was a temporary covenant with a fading temporay glory. It was the covenant, the ten commandments, that made Moses’ face glorious, and that glory was “katargeo… done away… to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ”.

2Co 3:14 “But their minds were blinded for until this day remaineth the same [blinding] vail not taken away in the reading of the old covenant which [old covenant blinding] vail is done away [G2673: ‘katargeo’] in Christ” [the new covenant].

Summary of “Done Away”

Five times we are told that:

1. The ‘in part’ is replaced by the ‘perfect’ and the ‘in part’ was “done away.”
2. We are to “put away” childish things when “that which is perfect is come.”
3. The ministration of death written and engraven in stones was glorious and “which glory was to be done away”.
4. (If) The “ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.”
5. The veil that was put over Moses’ face to hide the glory of the old covenant remains and serves as a veil that covers the glory of the new covenant, and in so doing, hides Christ. “In Christ”, however, that veil is “done away.”

That veil typically is the adherence to the old covenant. After making all these statements concerning the old covenant, Paul says: “… we have…not handled the word of God deceitfully…but if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost” (2Co 4:13).

2Co 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

The Greek word for ‘done away’ or ‘put away’ in all these verses is katargeo (Strong’s concordance G2673). It appears 26 times in the New Testament:

Luk 13:7; Rom 3:3; Rom 3:31; Rom 4:14; Rom 6:6; Rom 7:2; Rom 7:6; 1Co 1:28; 1Co 2:6; 1Co 6:13; 1Co 13:8; 1Co 13:10; 1Co 15:24; 1Co 15:26; 2Co 3:7; 2Co 3:11; 2Co 3:13; 2Co 3:14; 2Co 15:26; Gal 3:17; Gal 5:4; Gal 5:11; Eph 2:15; 2Th 2:8; 2Ti 1:10, Heb 2:14

This Greek word, katargeo, has been assigned thirteen different translations in the Kings James Version.

The most common translations are ‘destroy’ and ‘done away’ with five entries each.

Here are the five entries for where the English word ‘destroy’ is used to translate this Greek word, ‘katargeo’:

Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him [Christ], that the body of sin might be destroyed [G2673: ‘katargeo’], that henceforth we should not serve sin.

1Co 6:13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy [G2673: ‘katargeo’] both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

1Co 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed [G2673: ‘katargeo’] is death.

2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy [G2673: ‘katargeo’] with the brightness of his coming:

Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy [G2673, ‘katargeo’] him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Romans 6:6 is typical of the five entries of the word ‘destroy’. It is important that we know that the verbs ‘knowing’ and ‘serve’ in Romans 6:6 are both in the present tense while the verbs ‘crucified’ and ‘destroyed’ (‘katargeo’) are in the aorist tense, which tells us that a process is presently taking place within us, as our old man is diminishing and our new man is increasing:

Joh 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

Here are the five entries for where the English words “done away”; “fail”; “vanish away”, and “put away” are used to translate this Greek word ‘katargeo’:

1Co 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail [G2673: ‘katargeo’]; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away [G2673: ‘katargeo’].

1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away [G2673: ‘katargeo’].
1Co 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away [G2673: ‘katargeo’] childish things.

2Co 3:14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away [G2673: ‘katargeo’] in Christ.

‘Without effect’ or ‘none effect’ is the third most common with three entries.

Rom 3:3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? [G2673: ’katargeo’]

Rom 4:14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect [G2673: ‘katargeo’]:

Gal 3:17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect [G2673: ‘katargeo’].

The next most common translation of the word katargeo brings us to our third phrase:

Phrase 3) “… That which is abolished”

This Greek word, katargeo, is the exact same word translated ‘abolished’ three times in the New Testament:

2Co 3:13 And not as Moses which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished” [G2673, ‘katargeo’]

Eph 2:15 Having abolished [G2673, ‘katargeo’] in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments [the ten old covenant commandments] contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace.

According to the dictionary ‘commandments’ and ‘ordinances’ are one and the same:

ordinance
ôr′dn-əns
noun

1. An authoritative command or order

2Ti 1:10 But now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ who hath abolished [G2673, ‘katargeo’] death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel”

While this last verse is not directly concerned with the law, it does demonstrate the meaning of the word katargeo in relation to the law. That which happens to death is that which happens to the law. Being “in Christ” in no way denies death; yea it establishes “the law of sin and death” of the flesh and in so doing, brings in “the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:2).

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh [the letter of the law], but after the Spirit [“the law of the spirit of life”].
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Without the destruction of the “weak and beggarly elements” of the law of Moses (Gal 4:9-10), the “law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus”, also called “the law of love” (Rom 13:10, 1Jo 5:2-3), could not be established. Why is that? Simply because “that [only] through death he might destroy him that hath the power over death” (Heb. 2:14):

Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through [the destruction of the law of sin and] death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

It is the law of Moses, the old covenant, on “two tables of stone”, which, is according to the word of God, the “ministration of death” (2Co 3:7).

2Co 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
2Co 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter [the Old Testament], but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
2Co 3:7 But if the ministration of death [“the letter… the law of Moses”, the ten commandments], written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: [G2673: ‘katargeo’]

In other words:

1Ti 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
1Ti 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
1Ti 1:11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

It is this law of Moses which carries with it the fleshly inclination of thinking one’s own righteousness can save oneself which makes “all the world guilty before God” (Rom 3:19).

Rom 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

What is Meant by “Nature”?

Paul tells us that the Gentiles do by nature the things contained in the law:

Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

The Gentiles absolutely do not naturally love their enemy “by nature” inherited from Adam. However they can, and indeed they often do, “by nature… love their neighbor”.

Lev 19:18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people; but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am Jehovah.

Mat 5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

This is Christ’s observation about the law of Moses concerning who we are to love:

Mat 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Many scholars declare that the first part of Matthew 5:43 is in the law of Moses but the last half “is the addition, or wrong interpretation of the Scribes and Pharisees” (Gill on Matthew 5:43). Gill apparently thinks that since the law of Moses says:

Exo 23:4 If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.
Exo 23:5 If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.

That therefore Moses never said “hate thine enemy”, and he even asserts that Christ was not referring to the doctrine of Moses when Christ said… “You have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt… hate thine enemy” – nothing could be any further from The Truth. “Thine enemy” whose ox you are to “bring back to him” is your fellow Israelite, and “the ass of him that hateth thee” is also speaking only of the ass of a fellow Israelite.

When Christ said “it hath been said”…

Mat 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

…This is the enemy Moses explicitly told Israel to hate:

Deu 20:16 But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:
Deu 20:17 But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee:

“Save alive nothing that breatheth… utterly destroy them”. That is what the law of Moses taught concerning Israel’s enemies, and Christ changed those words to “Love thine enemies.” The contrast cannot be more stark between the law of Moses and the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus.

The most transparent part of the personality of every infant ever born, Jew or Gentile, is his complete and total self-centeredness from the very beginning. “… Both Jews and Gentiles…are all under sin”:

Rom 3:9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Yet it is entirely possible for sinful, wicked men to love their neighbors. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil which signifies the law of Moses reveals our nakedness but it does not change our hearts as only the spirit of God within us can do. It is not called ‘the tree of sin’, nor is it called ‘the tree of nothing but evil and total depravity’. It is called “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” because we are both good and evil “by nature”, whether we are Jews or Gentiles.

Mat 5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

When Paul says by the spirit that “the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law” (Rom 2:14), he is referring to the Adamic nature which “the carnal commandments” of the law of Moses, the “law… for the lawless” was designed to govern. We are all, by default, born “under the law… for the lawless… until faith comes.”

Gal 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Gal 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Gal 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Let no false prophet tell you that he has never been under the wrath of God or that he never will be under the wrath of God. This is who the scriptures teach has been under the wrath of God:

Joh 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Since we are all born as unbelievers, we have all been under “the wrath of God” by default:

Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

The Greek word for nature is Strong’s G5449: phusis.

Circumcision, tithing and Sabbath keeping are not natural to the Gentiles, because those parts of the law of Moses signify spiritual principles not to be found in the law of Moses. Nevertheless, it is the law of Moses to which Paul refers when He says:

Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
Rom 2:15 Which shew the work of the law [“carnal commandment” (Heb 7:16)] written in their [carnal] hearts, their [carnal] conscience also bearing witness, and their [carnal] thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;

Heb 7:16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

It is not the law of Moses (the law for the lawless – 1Ti 1:9) which gives life. Rather, it is the law of love, which is kept only by “being partakers of the divine nature having escaped [through this “divine nature”] the corruption that is in the world through lust (2Pe 1:4).

2Pe 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

We will pause here and resume our study of the law of Moses versus the law of the spirit by examining Paul’s fourth phrase… “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances… (Col 2:14).

Dealing with Idols of the Heart

[Study Aired May 10, 2021]

Eze 14:1  Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me. 
Eze 14:2  And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 
Eze 14:3  Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them? 
Eze 14:4  Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols; 
Eze 14:5  That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols. 
Eze 14:6  Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations. 
Eze 14:7  For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer him by myself: 
Eze 14:8  And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. 
Eze 14:9  And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel. 
Eze 14:10  And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him; 
Eze 14:11  That the house of Israel may go no more astray from me, neither be polluted any more with all their transgressions; but that they may be my people, and I may be their God, saith the Lord GOD. 

The scriptures we have just read talk about the fact that one of the impediments to hearing from Christ is that we have idols of the heart. In this exposition therefore, we will focus on dealing with idols of the heart based on the following themes:

What are idols of the heart?

Sources of idols of the heart?

The consequences of having idols of the heart

How do we get rid of idols of the heart?

What are Idols of the Heart?

They are knowledge or inclinations that we have harbored in our heart which are not consistent with the word of God. These knowledge or inclinations seem like the truth, but they are NOT!! They are also what we treasure or bow down to or worship in our lives, or anything that directs our attention from knowing Christ are also idols of the heart. These include behavioral patterns that we are comfortable with that are not in line with how an elect should behave. What we need to understand is that these idols of the heart are closely related to our flesh and what it desires. Here in Ezekiel, these idols of the heart are described as the stumbling block of iniquity.

Let me give an example here. As our eyes are being opened and our ears are hearing the word of God through the mercies of God, we come to realize that we have imbibed many doctrines which are not consistent with the word of God.  These doctrines therefore become the idols of our hearts especially when we have had an experience based on our belief of these doctrines. For example, while we were in the churches of this world, we physically fasted and prayed, and sometimes God miraculously answered our prayers. We therefore come to think that it is because of our fasting that God answered us, and so fasting becomes the idol of our hearts, forgetting that God answers us according to multitude of our idols at various stages of our walk with Him (Eze 14:4). Thus, even when we come to know through the word of God that physical fasting is not relevant, but what is important is to keep ourselves from taking in false doctrines as food and to keep ourselves from doing evil (spiritual fasting), we struggle to accept this. 

From what we have said so far, we can see that examples of idols of the heart includes our dogmatic beliefs such as man’s free will, rapture, tongues, everlasting torment in hell, etc., and such things as harboring bitterness or being given to bouts of anger. Sometimes a mother may love a son so much that her love of God becomes secondary. This is also an idol of the heart. 

Isa 58:4  Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. 
Isa 58:5  Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? 
Isa 58:6  Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? 
Isa 58:7  Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? 
Isa 58:8  Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. 

Before we came into the light, many of us believed in witches who can influence our lives (especially in Africa). There were others who believe in UFOs and have even had encounters with them. So even when we read the word of God and we come to know that there are no such things as UFOs, we do not agree because of what we have experienced, and so UFOs or witches become an idol of the heart blocking the knowledge of Christ from entering our minds. God uses evil spirits to deceive the world. For example, when Saul consulted a witch and heard a voice like Samuel speaking, does it mean that Saul truly heard the voice of Samuel or that Samuel is a ghost or he has been resurrected? The answer to all these questions is, “Absolutely no!!” This is what the word of God says when we die:

Job 14:10  But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? 
Job 14:11  As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up: 
Job 14:12  So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. 

Job 14:14  If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come (the change is the resurrection). 
Job 14:15  Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.

The scriptures here show us that when we die, we do not become a ghost or are resurrected into heaven. We continue as dead until our change comes or our King calls us in the day of resurrection, and then we will answer. Jesus disciples also believed in ghosts when they were with Jesus as shown by the fact that when Jesus walked on the sea and they were in a boat, they thought they had seen a ghost!!

Mat 14:26  But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 
Mat 14:27  But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 

That is why our preaching or teaching must be solely based on the word of God but not on our experiences, because our experiences may not be the reality!! Does it mean that our experiences do not count? No, that is not what we are saying here. Some of our experiences are important, but we must test the spirit to see that what we have gone through is in accordance with the word of God.

1Co 2:4  And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom (our experiences), but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 
1Co 2:5  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men (our experiences), but in the power of God. 
1Co 2:6  Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 
1Co 2:7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 

Sources of Idols of the Heart

The sources of idols of the heart include:

Our traditional beliefs.

Our educational system

The churches that we attended when we started our journey with Christ.

An evil spirit from the Lord deceiving us.

Our Traditional Beliefs

Our background constitutes a significant source of our belief system. Traditional beliefs are our beliefs and value systems which we pick up from our environment as we grow up. For example, in Africa and some other parts of the world, the belief in witches and wizards is one of the idols of our hearts which prevent us from knowing the word of God. We ascribe any misfortune to the work of witches and wizards. We think they are responsible for sicknesses, accidents and death of many people. In the northern part of Ghana for example, there is a village to where witches are banished. The question is, “Are witches and wizards a present danger?” If so, we would have been warned by the word of God. However, the word of God says that we have two enemies – the beast within and the devil outside!! Our belief in these witches and wizards do not stand the test of God’s word!!  Let’s hear what Jesus said about our traditional beliefs:

Mar 7:5  Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? 
Mar 7:6  He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 
Mar 7:7  Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 
Mar 7:8  For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 
Mar 7:9  And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. 

Our Educational System

When Adam and Eve sinned, this is what the Lord told Adam:

Gen 3:17  And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 
Gen 3:18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

What the Lord said to Adam means that we as human beings will naturally produce thorns and thistles which are false doctrines – what is contrary to the word of the Lord. So our formal educational system produces only thorns and thistles which means that what we have learned in school constitutes a major source of idols of the heart. It is through the formal educational system that we all become opinioned, believe in our own strength and will power, desiring to be successful at all costs, measure success by what we have achieved, not what God has done, etc. 

Surprisingly, we have translated this carnal form of education into the church and created Bible schools where people go to multiply the idols of the hearts!! In the Old Testament, there were schools of prophets, but those who God used mightily to affect their generations normally did not belong to these schools. So it is today!!

1Sa 10:10  And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him (schools of prophets); and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. 
1Sa 10:11  And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets? 
1Sa 10:12  And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets? 

Does it mean that we should not let our children go to school or further our education ourselves? Absolutely not!! The educational system is all part of the experience of evil God has marked for the human race to go through.

The Churches We Attended or Are Attending

The main source of the idols of the heart is the churches of this world, which are called Babylon. For example, the disciples of Jesus had idols of the heart even when they were with Jesus during His stay on earth.  Some of them were due to the misinterpretation of the word of God they had learned from the Pharisees and Sadducees, teachers of the “church”. For example, the disciples thought that Jesus was physically going to establish His kingdom on earth during their time. So when Jesus was leaving the earth, they met him, and the question they asked was when was he going to restore the kingdom to Israel? 

Act 1:6  When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 
Act 1:7  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 

The word of God says that God has taken away from Jerusalem the whole stay of bread and water. That means that the truth of the word of God has been taken away from the churches of this world. So during our time with the churches at certain stages of our walk with Christ, we picked up many doctrines which are not consistent with the word of God.  

Isa 3:1  For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water, 

The essence of the writings of Paul, Peter, John and Jude was to warn the churches of this anomaly. Let’s hear some of their warnings:

2Co 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 
2Co 11:4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. 

2Pe 2:17  These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 
2Pe 2:18  For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 
2Pe 2:19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 
2Pe 2:20  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 
2Pe 2:21  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 
2Pe 2:22  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. 

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Now let’s listen to our Lord Himself and what he has to say about this.

Mat 12:43  When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 
Mat 12:44  Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 
Mat 12:45  Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation. 

If Jesus said that this wicked generation will experience this, then we must be assured that we have experienced this already. If Jesus said that His words are spirit, then whatever we hear is also spirit. What Jesus is saying here is that when we start our journey with Him, it is like an unclean spirit gone out of us as our eyes are opened to see the truth of God’s word, and therefore many of the falsehoods we have imbibed from childhood are dispelled. Then we enter the churches where we imbibe seven more spirits (learn of another Jesus), and in the final analysis, our last state is worse than when we began. 

An Evil Spirit from the Lord Deceives Us

Another avenue that opens ourselves to idols of the heart is when God sends an evil spirit to deceive us. This usually occurs when we do not love the truth and sometimes when we become spiritually proud thinking our point of view is always the truth. 

2Th 2:10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 
2Th 2:11  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

The strong delusion that comes to us is through the agency of evil spirits which are sent by the Lord. The story about King Ahab and Jehoshaphat trying to find out about the mind of Christ concerning engaging the Syrians in battle, demonstrates this point.

1Ki 22:3  And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we be still, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria? 
1Ki 22:4  And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramothgilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses. 
1Ki 22:5  And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day. 
1Ki 22:6  Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king. 
1Ki 22:7  And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him? 
1Ki 22:8  And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so. 
1Ki 22:9  Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Hasten hither Micaiah the son of Imlah. 

1Ki 22:14  And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak. 

1Ki 22:16  And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD? 
1Ki 22:17  And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace. 
1Ki 22:18  And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil? 
1Ki 22:19  And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. 
1Ki 22:20  And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. 
1Ki 22:21  And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. 
1Ki 22:22  And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so. 
1Ki 22:23  Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee. 

As our eyes are seeing and our ears are hearing, we should guard against the tendency to become spiritually proud and therefore become susceptible to deception by the Lord through evil spirits. Paul warned us about this as follows:

1Co 8:1  Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. 
1Co 8:2  And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

The Consequences of Harboring Idols of the Heart

One of the obvious consequences of harboring idols of the heart is that we get deceived by God and do not come to know the truth. 

Eze 14:4  Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols; 

Eze 14:9  And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel. 

Once we are deceived, we end up producing thorns and briars or false doctrines thinking they are the truth. This is what Paul has to say about this:

Heb 6:4  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 
Heb 6:5  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 
Heb 6:6  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. 
Heb 6:7  For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: 
Heb 6:8  But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. 
Heb 6:9  But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. 

Another result of idols of the heart is that we get separated from God. It is the same as being put in outer darkness.

Mat 8:12  But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Mat 22:13  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Eze 14:7  For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer him by myself: 
Eze 14:8  And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. 

The third effect of the idols of the heart is that we get punished by God.

Eze 14:9  And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel. 
Eze 14:10  And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him; 

Finally, our idols of the heart will cost us our reward. 

Heb 12:16  Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 
Heb 12:17  For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. 

How do we get rid of These Idols of the Heart?

We get rid of the idols of the heart through knowing the word of God. 

Psa 29:5  The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.

The cedars of Lebanon here are the idols of the heart. Like fire, the word of God burns out the idols of our hearts. So the more our eyes are seeing and our ears are hearing, we automatically are getting rid of these idols of the heart. 

Jer 5:14  Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them. 

Another way of getting rid of these idols is by learning to test the spirit by comparing spiritual with spiritual, which means comparing scripture with scripture.

1Co 2:13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 

The third antidote to getting rid of idols of the heart is to learn to not go beyond what is written. 

1Co 4:6  And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

Finally, another remedy to idols of the heart is that we should be deferring to our leaders. 

Heb 13:17  Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. 

As indicated earlier, we should resist the temptation of being puffed up by the knowledge we are receiving and submit ourselves to our leaders who are not novice but tried and tested.

1Co 8:1  Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. 
1Co 8:2  And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. 

2Co 12:7  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 

If we are approached by our brothers and sisters on any issue concerning us, we should closely look at their point of view and hold discussion with the view that, at the end, it will make us better in the sight of God. As Paul said, we should consider others better than ourselves in this walk. Every time I read our brothers’ writings, there are certain portions of their writings that I always say, “This has always been there, and why didn’t I see it?” That is because God wants us to humble ourselves and depend on others to feed us. 

Php 2:3  Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 
Php 2:4  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 
Php 2:5  Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 
Php 2:6  who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 
Php 2:7  but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 
Php 2:8  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 
Php 2:9  Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 
Php 2:10  so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 
Php 2:11  and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (ESV)

Jas 4:10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. 
Jas 4:11  Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. 

As we know, the scriptures were written for our admonition. I will therefore conclude with the story of King Rehoboam (Solomon’s son) who preferred advice from the youth rather than the elders who had been tried and tested, and as a result he divided the kingdom of Israel in two. This is to emphasize the point that we should be deferring to our leaders as by the multitude of counselors, there is safety!!

1Ki 12:1  And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king. 
1Ki 12:2  And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;) 
1Ki 12:3  That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying, 
1Ki 12:4  Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee. 
1Ki 12:5  And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed. 
1Ki 12:6  And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people? 
1Ki 12:7  And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever. 
1Ki 12:8  But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him: 
1Ki 12:9  And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter? 
1Ki 12:10  And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins. 
1Ki 12:11  And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. 

Pro 11:14  Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. 

Pro 15:22  Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established. 

Pro 24:6  For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety. 

May the Lord help us all get rid of these idols of our hearts so that the light of the glorious gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will illuminate our hearts so we can prove what is that good, acceptable and perfect will of our Lord. May His name be praised!!!

[Author may be contacted at abarnes (at) semfinancial.com]

Two Men Within

[Study Aired September 1, 2020]

Luk 17:2037 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation. And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.