Divine Restoration: From Desolation to Glory
Summary
In the book of Ezekiel, chapter 36, verses 35 and 36, we find a profound message of restoration and divine purpose. The desolate land, once barren and ruined, is promised to become like the Garden of Eden, a symbol of complete restoration and divine blessing. This transformation is not just a return to a previous state but a renewal that surpasses the original condition. The passage emphasizes that this restoration is a testament to God's power and glory, ensuring that even the heathen will recognize His sovereignty and might.
The essence of sin is highlighted as an affront to God's glory, a rebellion that began with Satan and continues to manifest in humanity's refusal to honor God. Sin detracts from God's majesty, and its consequences are evident in the desolation and ruin it brings. However, God's plan of salvation is designed to vindicate His character and display His glory. Salvation is not merely about personal forgiveness but about restoring humanity to its intended state, reflecting God's image and enjoying communion with Him.
This divine restoration is evident to all, even to those who do not believe. When God acts, the transformation is unmistakable, and the world takes notice. The change in a believer's life is a testament to God's work, displaying a new mind, a new heart, and a new way of living that aligns with God's will. This transformation is not a result of human effort but a manifestation of God's wisdom, love, and power.
God's way of salvation is unique and profound, displaying His attributes in a manner that human wisdom cannot comprehend. The incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are the ultimate expressions of God's plan, demonstrating His love and power to redeem humanity. As Christians, we are witnesses to this divine work, acknowledging that we are what we are by the grace of God alone.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Essence of Sin: Sin is fundamentally an attack on God's glory, originating from Satan's rebellion. It is not merely about individual wrongdoings but a refusal to honor God. Understanding sin in this light helps us grasp the gravity of our actions and the need for divine intervention. [05:33]
2. Restoration Beyond the Fall: God's plan of salvation is not just to return us to a pre-fall state but to elevate us to a position even greater than before. This restoration is akin to the Garden of Eden, symbolizing a complete renewal and communion with God. [15:07]
3. Visible Transformation: When God saves, the change is evident to all, including non-believers. This transformation is a testament to God's work, showcasing a new life and orientation that aligns with His will. [29:03]
4. God's Unique Salvation Plan: The wisdom, love, and power of God are uniquely displayed in His plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. This divine strategy surpasses human understanding and demonstrates God's attributes in a profound way. [39:41]
5. Grace Alone: As Christians, we acknowledge that our transformation is solely by God's grace. We are witnesses to His work, recognizing that our new life is a result of His divine intervention and not our own efforts. [47:28]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:12] - Introduction to Ezekiel 36
- [01:29] - Summarizing the Message
- [02:29] - Historical Context of Israel
- [03:23] - Preview of Christian Salvation
- [05:33] - The Essence of Sin
- [09:24] - Salvation Vindicates God's Character
- [13:23] - Principles of Restoration
- [15:07] - Restoration Beyond the Fall
- [18:39] - The Fullness of Salvation
- [22:26] - Knowledge and Communion with God
- [29:03] - Visible Transformation
- [39:41] - God's Unique Salvation Plan
- [47:28] - Grace Alone
- [50:23] - Conclusion and Praise
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Ezekiel 36:35-36
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Observation Questions:
1. What transformation is promised in Ezekiel 36:35-36, and how is it described in the sermon? [00:36]
2. According to the sermon, what is the essence of sin, and how does it relate to God's glory? [05:33]
3. How does the sermon describe the visible transformation that occurs when God saves someone? [29:03]
4. What role does God's unique plan of salvation play in demonstrating His attributes, according to the sermon? [39:41]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the promise of restoration in Ezekiel 36:35-36 go beyond merely returning to a pre-fall state, as explained in the sermon? [15:07]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the transformation of a believer's life serves as a testament to God's work? [29:03]
3. How does the sermon explain the significance of God's plan of salvation being beyond human understanding? [39:41]
4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between God's grace and the transformation of believers? [47:28]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt distant from God. How does the promise of restoration in Ezekiel 36:35-36 encourage you to seek renewal in your spiritual life? [00:36]
2. The sermon describes sin as an attack on God's glory. How can this understanding change the way you view your own actions and decisions? [05:33]
3. Consider a visible transformation you have witnessed in someone's life due to their faith. How did it impact your own faith journey, and what steps can you take to allow God's work to be evident in your life? [29:03]
4. God's plan of salvation is described as unique and profound. How can you embrace this understanding in your daily walk with Christ, especially when facing challenges that seem beyond human wisdom? [39:41]
5. The sermon emphasizes that our transformation is solely by God's grace. How can you cultivate a deeper sense of gratitude for God's grace in your life, and how might this affect your interactions with others? [47:28]
6. Reflect on the idea that salvation is designed to vindicate God's character. How can this perspective influence the way you share your faith with others? [09:24]
7. The sermon mentions that God's work in salvation is evident to all. How can you ensure that your life reflects this transformation, and what specific changes might you need to make to align more closely with God's will? [29:03]
Devotional
Day 1: Sin as an Affront to God's Glory
Sin is not merely a list of wrongdoings but a fundamental rebellion against God's glory. It began with Satan's defiance and continues in humanity's refusal to honor God. This rebellion detracts from God's majesty and results in desolation and ruin. Understanding sin in this light helps us grasp the gravity of our actions and the profound need for divine intervention. Recognizing sin as an attack on God's glory shifts our perspective from focusing solely on personal guilt to understanding the cosmic implications of our rebellion. This understanding calls us to a deeper repentance and a more profound appreciation for God's redemptive work. [05:33]
Ezekiel 28:17-18 (ESV): "Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you. By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your trade you profaned your sanctuaries; so I brought fire out from your midst; it consumed you, and I turned you to ashes on the earth in the sight of all who saw you."
Reflection: In what ways have you seen pride or rebellion manifest in your life, and how can you seek God's help to honor Him more fully today?
Day 2: Restoration Beyond the Fall
God's plan of salvation is not just to return us to a pre-fall state but to elevate us to a position even greater than before. This restoration is akin to the Garden of Eden, symbolizing a complete renewal and communion with God. The promise of transformation is not merely a return to what was lost but an elevation to a new state of being that surpasses the original condition. This divine restoration is a testament to God's power and glory, ensuring that even those who do not believe will recognize His sovereignty and might. [15:07]
Isaiah 51:3 (ESV): "For the Lord comforts Zion; he comforts all her waste places and makes her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song."
Reflection: What is one area of your life that feels barren or desolate, and how can you invite God to begin His work of restoration there today?
Day 3: Transformation as a Testament to God's Work
When God saves, the change is evident to all, including non-believers. This transformation is a testament to God's work, showcasing a new life and orientation that aligns with His will. The change in a believer's life is not a result of human effort but a manifestation of God's wisdom, love, and power. This visible transformation serves as a powerful witness to the world, demonstrating the reality of God's presence and action in the lives of His people. [29:03]
2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV): "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."
Reflection: How has your life visibly changed since coming to faith, and how can you share this transformation with someone who may not yet believe?
Day 4: The Uniqueness of God's Salvation Plan
The wisdom, love, and power of God are uniquely displayed in His plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. This divine strategy surpasses human understanding and demonstrates God's attributes in a profound way. The incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus are the ultimate expressions of God's plan, revealing His love and power to redeem humanity. As Christians, we are witnesses to this divine work, acknowledging that we are what we are by the grace of God alone. [39:41]
1 Corinthians 1:25 (ESV): "For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men."
Reflection: In what ways have you seen God's wisdom and power at work in your life, and how can you trust Him more fully in areas where you struggle to understand His plan?
Day 5: Grace Alone as the Foundation of Transformation
As Christians, we acknowledge that our transformation is solely by God's grace. We are witnesses to His work, recognizing that our new life is a result of His divine intervention and not our own efforts. This understanding of grace calls us to humility and gratitude, as we realize that our salvation and transformation are gifts from God. Embracing grace alone as the foundation of our faith leads us to a deeper reliance on God and a more profound appreciation for His work in our lives. [47:28]
Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV): "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper sense of gratitude for God's grace in your life, and how might this gratitude influence your interactions with others today?
Quotes
The essence of sin is that it is a refusal to give to God the glory that is due to his holy name. Sin, let us never forget, started with Satan. There was a rebellion in heaven before anything ever happened on earth. It was that bright angelic spirit that first raised himself against God and disputed his Godhead. [00:05:54]
Salvation therefore is primarily designed to vindicate God's character and to display the glories of God. Now that is something which you'll find everywhere in the scripture from beginning to end. You remember the Apostle Peter puts that in his first epistle and in the second chapter and in verses 9 and 10. [00:09:09]
This great and wondrous salvation is something that restores men to the position in which he was meant to be. Now you notice it's put in a very interesting and pictorial manner here in our context again. Remember the principle in the Old Testament you generally get this blessing of God in Salvation put in a material form. [00:13:36]
God in salvation does nothing less than just that. It's a putting back of men to where he was before the fall ever came. Now if I may so put it, nothing less than that would become God. Oh, you and I, our method is to patch things over. God doesn't put a patch on to life. [00:15:40]
When God determined on salvation and decided to undo the effects and consequences of the fall, he decided to do the whole thing and to put men back where he was. Nothing less like the Garden of Eden more. That is the object of salvation, to restore men. [00:16:16]
When God does a work, it's unmistakable. The heathen can see it and have to bear their unwilling testimony to it. What do they see? Well, they see that we've obviously got a new mind and a new outlook. When they see a man who lived for this world only becoming concerned about his soul and his relationship to God. [00:34:36]
When God acts in the men's soul, he gives him a new moral conception. He makes him hate things that he formerly loved and loved things that he formerly hated. He's washed, he's cleansed, he's sanctified, he's justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the power of the spirit of our God. [00:36:30]
This work of God in salvation is not only something that is evident to all others, it is as I say equally manifest and obvious and evident that it is God and God alone who has done it. What a difference there is between a man trying to pull himself together and to live a better life and a man really being born again. [00:38:07]
This way of salvation is one that always displays the fact that it is God's work. What does it display? Well, it displays, as you remember Paul reminded us in that chapter I read here at the beginning, the wisdom of God. And if you don't see the wisdom of God in salvation, you're not looking at the Christian salvation. [00:39:41]
Oh, there it is, there is God's mind sending his only son from heaven to earth, conceiving the Incarnation. Men can't conceive the Incarnation, though you and I have it revealed in the scriptures and though we believe it, we don't understand it. Two natures in one person, unmixed, the mind boggles at it, is baffled by it. [00:42:22]
Oh, the love of God displayed in this salvation and then the power of God. There is a greater power needed here than for anything else. God made the world by the mere word of his Fiat. He said let there be light and there was light. But I say it with reverence, God couldn't undo the effects of the fall and of sin by a word. [00:44:50]
I am what I am solely by His grace and nothing else. I am a debtor to mercy alone and of covenant mercy I see. We are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works that he is appointed. This is God's ways as Poland for this reason that no flesh should glory in his presence. [00:47:39]
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