Be a faithful watchman
Text Ezekiel 3:16-27 Time 30 04 06 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church
Last week we looked at the opening section of Ezekiel (1:1-3:15) and we noted that Ezekiel was a Jewish priest exiled in Judah. At the age of 30 he would normally have entered on his priestly activities in the Temple but that was impossible given that he was exiled in Babylon. Instead at that time God himself came and met with him and gave him an amazing vision of his glory and called him to be a prophet.
The vision is in Chapter 1 and the commissioning in Chapter 2 and 3:1-13. Following these amazing events Ezekiel tells us (14, 15) that The Spirit then lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the LORD upon me. I came to the exiles who lived at Tel Abib near the Kebar River. And there, where they were living, I sat among them for seven days - overwhelmed. Ezekiel was angry then – probably because of what he’d been told about how the message from God was going to be received (that is, negatively). He was also overwhelmed by the amazing vision and insight into God and his purposes that he’d gained.
Now what happens in the rest of Chapter 3 is that after his seven days of being overwhelmed the Lord again speaks to him and develops what has already been said. He is then told to go out onto the plain and he again sees the glorious vision of God that he’d seen before. He then begins to live out what we can call a living parable.
Now we do not live in Old Testament times, of course. The Lord Jesus has come and brought in the New Covenant and, although the essential truth is the same as it ever was, many things are different. There are no more priests or prophets like Ezekiel, for example. Under the New Covenant every Christian is his own prophet, priest and king under the Great High Priest and Prophet, our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of the basic continuity from OT to NT, however, we can look at what we find here in Ezekiel and learn many things from it about our prophetic role if we are Christians today. There are three main things I want to say.
1. Watching - consider Ezekiel’s role then and the Christian’s role today
16, 17 At the end of seven days the word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. There are several things to note
1. Note what Ezekiel is called, the work he must do and what that means for us
A characteristic of this prophecy is how Ezekiel is addressed over 60 times as Son of Man. The first example is in 3:10, the second here. It’s the phrase Jesus uses to describe himself and is a messianic title. It really stresses two things – frailty and dignity. To be a human being, a son of man, a daughter of woman, is to be made in God’s image. It is to reflect at least to a degree God’s glory. However, it is also to be a creature and since Adam’s sin it is also to be a fallen creature.
Like Ezekiel God speaks to us as human beings – frail creatures yet people made in his image, for his glory. Like Ezekiel we ought to fall on our faces before God yet when the Spirit lifts us up to speak to us face to face we must reckon with that privilege not despise it.
Ezekiel is told Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. There is more like this in Chapter 33 but here we’re introduced to the idea. In ancient times every walled city had its watchman. At every hour of night and day at least one man was positioned high on the city walls as a lookout or watchman. If you go to Buckingham Palace you see soldiers outside, sentries. They guard the Queen and her property. Similarly in ancient cities sentries or sentinels would be posted to keep watch for any sign of the approach of an enemy. From their high position they could see long distances and could quickly warn the people by blowing on a trumpet or something similar. That was their job – to warn people of encroaching danger. During the last war people were given the task of fire watching – watching out for where incendiary bombs had fallen and arranging for the fire to be put out quickly. That is the sort of job we’re talking about.
Ezekiel is told that is his job. Israel is like a walled city, Ezekiel is the watchman – the one responsible to warn them of danger. That’s the role of the prophet and it is one of the roles to which we are called today if we’re believers. As a preacher it’s especially my role to warn you of danger – of God’s wrath, of hell, of the danger of sin and unbelief. It’s one of my main roles. 2 Corinthians 5:11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men.
All of us who are Christians are to be involved in this task to some extent.
2. Note the double duty Ezekiel is given and what that means for us
The role is spelled out in 17 so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. There are two aspects, corresponding to the work of being a watchman.
1. Hearing God’s Word
As the watcher’s first duty is to watch so ours is to hear God’s Word. We ourselves must know what God is saying.
Are you listening to God’s Word? Are you reading the Bible, getting to know its message? You’ll never be of any use otherwise. What good is a blind watchman or one who’s not on look out? He needs to keep his eyes peeled. So we need to be daily searching the Word of God. Are we?
2. Giving out warnings
We’ll go into detail in a moment but the general point is that we need to be ready to warn people. We must tell them their danger. We must wake them up to the fact God is angry with them, that there’s a hell, that salvation is found only in Christ.
If you’re a Christian one of your roles in life is to warn others of danger. If you saw a child about to run on to a busy road without looking you’d shout to them to stop. If you saw a great weight was about to fall on someone from above and you could get them out of the way. Similarly, it’s our duty to warn others of danger – God’s wrath against sin, where the broad road ultimately leads.
2. Watching - consider the right approach to unbelievers
Things are spelled out in more detail in 18-21 where we have two examples of situations Ezekiel might encounter. In each case two possible approaches and outcomes are outlined. Again there are differences between Ezekiel’s day and ours, of course, but the essential details are the same. The first case is then that of a wicked man, someone outwardly and obviously evil. He shows no sign of love for God or willingness to serve him. In today’s terms we’re talking of an unbeliever who makes no profession of love to God or faith in Christ. Such a man is doomed. God will destroy him. So it begins (18) When I say to a wicked man, You will surely die, … then follow two possible case studies.
1. Consider case 1 – failing to speak
1 The example
18 When I say to a wicked man, You will surely die and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life. Here are two people - father and daughter, brother and sister or two neighbours or colleagues at work or school. One is a Christian, one is not; one knows Jesus and the way to life, the other does not. For some reason the Christian fails to speak to the unbeliever about his sin, the judgement, the need to trust in Christ. Sadly such things do happen. For some reason the Christian is afraid to speak up or just thoughtless and pre-occupied with other things.
2 The implications
We can draw out two implications here regarding human responsibility.
1 Unbelievers are responsible before God. It’s clear that God considers the wicked person responsible for his own sin. There are no excuses. We’re all born with an innate realisation that there’s a God and the creation all around us constantly reminds us God is there. We also have consciences so we know that there’s such a thing as right and wrong. Like me, you know you’ve done wrong and that you deserve judgement.
2 If believers do not speak out then the wicked will not repent. There’s also a responsibility on those who know the truth to share it. Besides the witness of creation and conscience there is the even clearer witness of God’s Word, a witness that we, if we’re Christians, are responsible to share. We’re like beggars who have found bread. We must not been mean-spirited but do all we can to share it. Freely we’ve received, freely we must give. We’re responsible. Obviously we can’t be held responsible for every person we meet but where we have had opportunity to speak up and we fail then we bear some of the blame for not speaking out.
3 The results
The results are then contemplated, first for the man concerned then as for Ezekiel the watchman.
1 As for the man that wicked man will die for his sin. Those who go on in sin will be judged. They will end up in hell. The Bible is very clear about that. Let this be a warning to you if you’re not a Christian.
2 As for the watchman who should warn him and I will hold you accountable for his blood. If we fail to tell others about the truth when we have genuine opportunity to do so we also bear a certain responsibility for our failure. This does not mean we will lose our salvation but it means that our reward in heaven will be less. Paul speaks of every man’s work being tested by fire – precious stones remain but not hay and stubble. Acts 20:26, 27 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.
Can we speak like that? Have you warned your relatives and your friends and your neighbours as you should?
2. Consider case 2 – giving warning
1 The example
19 But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil way. Here’s another example then. Think of two people again - mother and son, two brothers, two sisters, neighbours, colleagues at college or in a club. One’s a Christian, one’s not; one knows Jesus and the way to life, the other doesn’t. The Christian makes efforts to speak to the unbeliever about his sin, the coming judgement and the need to trust in Christ. He may do it poorly. It may be badly done but he makes an effort. Nevertheless he is simply ignored. It’s like what we read in Jeremiah 6:17 where God says I appointed watchmen over you and said, Listen to the sound of the trumpet! But you said, We will not listen. See 6:10 To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so that they cannot hear. The word of the LORD is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.
We must speak but as Jeremiah and Ezekiel and others found maybe no-one will listen.
2 The implications
Again there are at least two.
1 God often gives sinners opportunity to repent. There’s a mystery here but it’s clear that God often gives unbelievers opportunity to repent. He brings a preacher or some other Christian in his path who warns him to turn from sin. Even so he may refuse to repent. This can only increase his guilt. Unbelievers must realise that when God sends those who warn as I’m warning you now and they don’t repent, it increases their guilt.
2 Our efforts to win them will not always succeed. It’s important to remember that not everyone we speak to will repent. Like telling a child what to do. Some listen, some don’t. Some will repent, perhaps, the first time we speak. Others will repent after being spoken to many times. Still others will not repent however many times we speak. 2 Corinthians 2:15, 16 For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? Hard but we must face it.
3 The results
Results are again contemplated, first for the man concerned then for Ezekiel the watchman.
1 As for the man he will die for his sin. As before, those who go on in sin will be judged. They’ll end up in hell. The Bible is clear. Let this be another warning to you if you’re not a Christian.
2 As for the watchman but you will have saved yourself. Provided we’ve made efforts to warn the unbeliever then although we are very sorry at the lack of repentance, we’re not guilty. We’re not responsible in any way for their fall. Thus in Acts 18:5, 6 Paul testifies to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ and when they oppose him and become abusive, he shakes out his clothes and says, Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.
That should be our attitude too.
3. Warning - consider the right approach to professing Christians
So much for the unbeliever but then God goes on to speak about when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil. Here we think of the sort of person who professes to be a Christian but proves not to be. What about that sort? The same rules apply.
1. Consider case 1 – failing to speak
1 The example
Last week we looked at the opening section of Ezekiel (1:1-3:15) and we noted that Ezekiel was a Jewish priest exiled in Judah. At the age of 30 he would normally have entered on his priestly activities in the Temple but that was impossible given that he was exiled in Babylon. Instead at that time God himself came and met with him and gave him an amazing vision of his glory and called him to be a prophet.
The vision is in Chapter 1 and the commissioning in Chapter 2 and 3:1-13. Following these amazing events Ezekiel tells us (14, 15) that The Spirit then lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the LORD upon me. I came to the exiles who lived at Tel Abib near the Kebar River. And there, where they were living, I sat among them for seven days - overwhelmed. Ezekiel was angry then – probably because of what he’d been told about how the message from God was going to be received (that is, negatively). He was also overwhelmed by the amazing vision and insight into God and his purposes that he’d gained.
Now what happens in the rest of Chapter 3 is that after his seven days of being overwhelmed the Lord again speaks to him and develops what has already been said. He is then told to go out onto the plain and he again sees the glorious vision of God that he’d seen before. He then begins to live out what we can call a living parable.
Now we do not live in Old Testament times, of course. The Lord Jesus has come and brought in the New Covenant and, although the essential truth is the same as it ever was, many things are different. There are no more priests or prophets like Ezekiel, for example. Under the New Covenant every Christian is his own prophet, priest and king under the Great High Priest and Prophet, our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of the basic continuity from OT to NT, however, we can look at what we find here in Ezekiel and learn many things from it about our prophetic role if we are Christians today. There are three main things I want to say.
1. Watching - consider Ezekiel’s role then and the Christian’s role today
16, 17 At the end of seven days the word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. There are several things to note
1. Note what Ezekiel is called, the work he must do and what that means for us
A characteristic of this prophecy is how Ezekiel is addressed over 60 times as Son of Man. The first example is in 3:10, the second here. It’s the phrase Jesus uses to describe himself and is a messianic title. It really stresses two things – frailty and dignity. To be a human being, a son of man, a daughter of woman, is to be made in God’s image. It is to reflect at least to a degree God’s glory. However, it is also to be a creature and since Adam’s sin it is also to be a fallen creature.
Like Ezekiel God speaks to us as human beings – frail creatures yet people made in his image, for his glory. Like Ezekiel we ought to fall on our faces before God yet when the Spirit lifts us up to speak to us face to face we must reckon with that privilege not despise it.
Ezekiel is told Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. There is more like this in Chapter 33 but here we’re introduced to the idea. In ancient times every walled city had its watchman. At every hour of night and day at least one man was positioned high on the city walls as a lookout or watchman. If you go to Buckingham Palace you see soldiers outside, sentries. They guard the Queen and her property. Similarly in ancient cities sentries or sentinels would be posted to keep watch for any sign of the approach of an enemy. From their high position they could see long distances and could quickly warn the people by blowing on a trumpet or something similar. That was their job – to warn people of encroaching danger. During the last war people were given the task of fire watching – watching out for where incendiary bombs had fallen and arranging for the fire to be put out quickly. That is the sort of job we’re talking about.
Ezekiel is told that is his job. Israel is like a walled city, Ezekiel is the watchman – the one responsible to warn them of danger. That’s the role of the prophet and it is one of the roles to which we are called today if we’re believers. As a preacher it’s especially my role to warn you of danger – of God’s wrath, of hell, of the danger of sin and unbelief. It’s one of my main roles. 2 Corinthians 5:11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men.
All of us who are Christians are to be involved in this task to some extent.
2. Note the double duty Ezekiel is given and what that means for us
The role is spelled out in 17 so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. There are two aspects, corresponding to the work of being a watchman.
1. Hearing God’s Word
As the watcher’s first duty is to watch so ours is to hear God’s Word. We ourselves must know what God is saying.
Are you listening to God’s Word? Are you reading the Bible, getting to know its message? You’ll never be of any use otherwise. What good is a blind watchman or one who’s not on look out? He needs to keep his eyes peeled. So we need to be daily searching the Word of God. Are we?
2. Giving out warnings
We’ll go into detail in a moment but the general point is that we need to be ready to warn people. We must tell them their danger. We must wake them up to the fact God is angry with them, that there’s a hell, that salvation is found only in Christ.
If you’re a Christian one of your roles in life is to warn others of danger. If you saw a child about to run on to a busy road without looking you’d shout to them to stop. If you saw a great weight was about to fall on someone from above and you could get them out of the way. Similarly, it’s our duty to warn others of danger – God’s wrath against sin, where the broad road ultimately leads.
2. Watching - consider the right approach to unbelievers
Things are spelled out in more detail in 18-21 where we have two examples of situations Ezekiel might encounter. In each case two possible approaches and outcomes are outlined. Again there are differences between Ezekiel’s day and ours, of course, but the essential details are the same. The first case is then that of a wicked man, someone outwardly and obviously evil. He shows no sign of love for God or willingness to serve him. In today’s terms we’re talking of an unbeliever who makes no profession of love to God or faith in Christ. Such a man is doomed. God will destroy him. So it begins (18) When I say to a wicked man, You will surely die, … then follow two possible case studies.
1. Consider case 1 – failing to speak
1 The example
18 When I say to a wicked man, You will surely die and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life. Here are two people - father and daughter, brother and sister or two neighbours or colleagues at work or school. One is a Christian, one is not; one knows Jesus and the way to life, the other does not. For some reason the Christian fails to speak to the unbeliever about his sin, the judgement, the need to trust in Christ. Sadly such things do happen. For some reason the Christian is afraid to speak up or just thoughtless and pre-occupied with other things.
2 The implications
We can draw out two implications here regarding human responsibility.
1 Unbelievers are responsible before God. It’s clear that God considers the wicked person responsible for his own sin. There are no excuses. We’re all born with an innate realisation that there’s a God and the creation all around us constantly reminds us God is there. We also have consciences so we know that there’s such a thing as right and wrong. Like me, you know you’ve done wrong and that you deserve judgement.
2 If believers do not speak out then the wicked will not repent. There’s also a responsibility on those who know the truth to share it. Besides the witness of creation and conscience there is the even clearer witness of God’s Word, a witness that we, if we’re Christians, are responsible to share. We’re like beggars who have found bread. We must not been mean-spirited but do all we can to share it. Freely we’ve received, freely we must give. We’re responsible. Obviously we can’t be held responsible for every person we meet but where we have had opportunity to speak up and we fail then we bear some of the blame for not speaking out.
3 The results
The results are then contemplated, first for the man concerned then as for Ezekiel the watchman.
1 As for the man that wicked man will die for his sin. Those who go on in sin will be judged. They will end up in hell. The Bible is very clear about that. Let this be a warning to you if you’re not a Christian.
2 As for the watchman who should warn him and I will hold you accountable for his blood. If we fail to tell others about the truth when we have genuine opportunity to do so we also bear a certain responsibility for our failure. This does not mean we will lose our salvation but it means that our reward in heaven will be less. Paul speaks of every man’s work being tested by fire – precious stones remain but not hay and stubble. Acts 20:26, 27 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.
Can we speak like that? Have you warned your relatives and your friends and your neighbours as you should?
2. Consider case 2 – giving warning
1 The example
19 But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil way. Here’s another example then. Think of two people again - mother and son, two brothers, two sisters, neighbours, colleagues at college or in a club. One’s a Christian, one’s not; one knows Jesus and the way to life, the other doesn’t. The Christian makes efforts to speak to the unbeliever about his sin, the coming judgement and the need to trust in Christ. He may do it poorly. It may be badly done but he makes an effort. Nevertheless he is simply ignored. It’s like what we read in Jeremiah 6:17 where God says I appointed watchmen over you and said, Listen to the sound of the trumpet! But you said, We will not listen. See 6:10 To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so that they cannot hear. The word of the LORD is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.
We must speak but as Jeremiah and Ezekiel and others found maybe no-one will listen.
2 The implications
Again there are at least two.
1 God often gives sinners opportunity to repent. There’s a mystery here but it’s clear that God often gives unbelievers opportunity to repent. He brings a preacher or some other Christian in his path who warns him to turn from sin. Even so he may refuse to repent. This can only increase his guilt. Unbelievers must realise that when God sends those who warn as I’m warning you now and they don’t repent, it increases their guilt.
2 Our efforts to win them will not always succeed. It’s important to remember that not everyone we speak to will repent. Like telling a child what to do. Some listen, some don’t. Some will repent, perhaps, the first time we speak. Others will repent after being spoken to many times. Still others will not repent however many times we speak. 2 Corinthians 2:15, 16 For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? Hard but we must face it.
3 The results
Results are again contemplated, first for the man concerned then for Ezekiel the watchman.
1 As for the man he will die for his sin. As before, those who go on in sin will be judged. They’ll end up in hell. The Bible is clear. Let this be another warning to you if you’re not a Christian.
2 As for the watchman but you will have saved yourself. Provided we’ve made efforts to warn the unbeliever then although we are very sorry at the lack of repentance, we’re not guilty. We’re not responsible in any way for their fall. Thus in Acts 18:5, 6 Paul testifies to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ and when they oppose him and become abusive, he shakes out his clothes and says, Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.
That should be our attitude too.
3. Warning - consider the right approach to professing Christians
So much for the unbeliever but then God goes on to speak about when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil. Here we think of the sort of person who professes to be a Christian but proves not to be. What about that sort? The same rules apply.
1. Consider case 1 – failing to speak
1 The example
20 Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling-block before him, he will die. Since you did not warn him, … Here then is a professing Christian known to you who decides that after all he doesn’t believe. He wants to abandon the faith. Now Jesus speaks very clearly about going after the sheep that was lost, etc, but suppose that we know of such a case but for some reason we do nothing to win the person back, rebuke him for sin and warn him of the coming judgement and the need to trust in Christ. Sadly such things happen.
2 The implications
Once again there are two
1 Professing Christians can fall away
It’s clear from the Bible that no true Christian can lose his salvation but there’s such a thing as backsliding in a true Christian and a professing Christian can even turn from the faith and become apostate like Demas and others. We must reckon with this possibility.
What about you? Are you drifting? Take great care. Hebrews 2:1-3 We must pay more careful attention … to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?
2 Professing Christians need to hear the good news too
It’s not just unbelievers who need to be warned. We all need similar warnings. Even those who profess faith must be reminded that it is by grace that a person is saved. We must look to Christ.
Are you looking only to Christ for salvation? I urge you to it.
3 The results
Yet again we contemplate the results for the man concerned and for Ezekiel the watchman.
1 As for the man. He will die for his sin. The righteous things he did will not be remembered. The fact that he professed to be a Christian or apparently did good things counts for nothing if he turns from his faith and ceases to live the Christian life. Do you realise that? The fact you persevere in the faith is a proof of salvation.
2 As for the watchman who should have spoken up and I will hold you accountable for his blood. What a sober warning once again. We really must take this in. What a responsibility.
2. Consider case 2 – giving warning
1 The example
Finally, the case where a professing Christian who goes astray is faithfully warned (21) But if you do warn the righteous man not to sin and he does not sin.
When a professing Christian turns from his profession don’t give up on him. We must do all we can to win him back. James 5:19, 20 My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
2 The implications
2 The implications
Once again there are two
1 Professing Christians can fall away
It’s clear from the Bible that no true Christian can lose his salvation but there’s such a thing as backsliding in a true Christian and a professing Christian can even turn from the faith and become apostate like Demas and others. We must reckon with this possibility.
What about you? Are you drifting? Take great care. Hebrews 2:1-3 We must pay more careful attention … to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?
2 Professing Christians need to hear the good news too
It’s not just unbelievers who need to be warned. We all need similar warnings. Even those who profess faith must be reminded that it is by grace that a person is saved. We must look to Christ.
Are you looking only to Christ for salvation? I urge you to it.
3 The results
Yet again we contemplate the results for the man concerned and for Ezekiel the watchman.
1 As for the man. He will die for his sin. The righteous things he did will not be remembered. The fact that he professed to be a Christian or apparently did good things counts for nothing if he turns from his faith and ceases to live the Christian life. Do you realise that? The fact you persevere in the faith is a proof of salvation.
2 As for the watchman who should have spoken up and I will hold you accountable for his blood. What a sober warning once again. We really must take this in. What a responsibility.
2. Consider case 2 – giving warning
1 The example
Finally, the case where a professing Christian who goes astray is faithfully warned (21) But if you do warn the righteous man not to sin and he does not sin.
When a professing Christian turns from his profession don’t give up on him. We must do all we can to win him back. James 5:19, 20 My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
2 The implications
Again two.
1 The Christian life may not always be a smooth curve upwards. Backsliding exists. We can drift but we can also come back to where we should be. Come back today. Pray for your brothers. Help them.
2 It is important for those who profess to be Christians to persevere in their faith and not give up. Keep going. Look ever to Jesus. He will carry you through. 1 Timothy 4:16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
3 The results
The results again affect the man and the one who speaks to him.
1 As for the man he will surely live because he took warning. What a glorious outcome! The backslider who appeared to be heading away from Christ is brought back. The lost sheep is restored, the lost coin is found. Such things happen. Give thanks to God.
2 As for the watchman and you will have saved yourself. There is no mention of reward here as the focus must always be on our salvation. Remember how Jesus told his disciples to rejoice not that the demons were subject to them but that their names were written in the Book of Life. When we see others saved or restored then it should strengthen our own faith.
Is that happening to you?
1 The Christian life may not always be a smooth curve upwards. Backsliding exists. We can drift but we can also come back to where we should be. Come back today. Pray for your brothers. Help them.
2 It is important for those who profess to be Christians to persevere in their faith and not give up. Keep going. Look ever to Jesus. He will carry you through. 1 Timothy 4:16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
3 The results
The results again affect the man and the one who speaks to him.
1 As for the man he will surely live because he took warning. What a glorious outcome! The backslider who appeared to be heading away from Christ is brought back. The lost sheep is restored, the lost coin is found. Such things happen. Give thanks to God.
2 As for the watchman and you will have saved yourself. There is no mention of reward here as the focus must always be on our salvation. Remember how Jesus told his disciples to rejoice not that the demons were subject to them but that their names were written in the Book of Life. When we see others saved or restored then it should strengthen our own faith.
Is that happening to you?
