Embracing God's Covenant: Justice, Mercy, and Grace

 

Summary

In Ezekiel 20:34-38, God speaks through the prophet Ezekiel to the Israelites, who were scattered and had begun to assimilate with the Babylonians, losing their distinct identity as God's chosen people. God, however, declares His intention to reclaim them, emphasizing His sovereignty and commitment to His covenant with them. This passage serves as both a warning and a promise, illustrating God's dual nature of justice and mercy. He warns of severe judgment for those who rebel and attempt to blend with the Gentiles, highlighting the greater responsibility and consequences for those who are privileged to be His people. Yet, within this warning lies a promise of grace and mercy for those who remain faithful.

The sermon explores the concept of the "bond of the Covenant," which signifies a deep, binding relationship with God. It emphasizes the importance of understanding under which covenant we live—whether under the law, which brings condemnation, or under grace, which offers salvation through Christ. The sermon encourages self-reflection on our spiritual standing and urges believers to embrace the Covenant of Grace, which is rooted in Christ's obedience and sacrifice.

God's dealings with His people are both severe and loving, aiming to bring them into a deeper relationship with Him. The sermon highlights that God's discipline is a sign of His love and commitment to His people, ensuring they remain distinct and faithful. It also underscores the security and assurance found in the Covenant of Grace, which binds believers to God eternally.

Ultimately, the sermon calls for a recognition of God's sovereignty and a wholehearted commitment to living under His covenant. It challenges believers to examine their lives, ensuring they are not merely professing faith but truly living in the grace and discipline of God's covenant.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Dual Nature of God's Covenant: God's covenant with His people involves both judgment and mercy. While He warns of severe consequences for rebellion, His ultimate aim is to bring His people into a deeper relationship with Him, marked by grace and mercy. This dual nature reflects God's justice and love, ensuring His people remain distinct and faithful. [05:12]

2. Understanding Our Covenant Standing: It is crucial to discern whether we live under the covenant of law or grace. The law brings condemnation due to our inability to fulfill it, while grace offers salvation through Christ's obedience. This understanding shapes our relationship with God and our approach to faith. [07:11]

3. The Discipline of the Covenant: God's discipline is a sign of His love and commitment to His people. He chastens those He loves to ensure they remain faithful and distinct from the world. This discipline, though painful, is a means of drawing us closer to Him and refining our faith. [14:30]

4. The Security of the Covenant of Grace: The Covenant of Grace offers eternal security and assurance for believers. It binds us to God through Christ, ensuring that nothing can separate us from His love. This covenant is a source of comfort and strength, providing a firm foundation for our faith. [19:35]

5. Knowing the True God: The ultimate goal of God's covenant dealings is for His people to truly know Him. This knowledge comes through experiencing both His justice and His grace, leading to a deeper understanding and appreciation of His character. It challenges us to worship God in His fullness, acknowledging both His love and His holiness. [47:28]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:09] - God's Promise to Reclaim His People
- [00:56] - The Israelites' Assimilation and God's Response
- [02:12] - The Warning of Judgment
- [04:13] - The Silver Lining of Grace
- [05:44] - Understanding the Bond of the Covenant
- [07:11] - Law vs. Grace: Our Covenant Standing
- [09:41] - The Covenant of Grace Explained
- [12:13] - The Binding Nature of the Covenant
- [14:14] - The Discipline of the Covenant
- [16:23] - Yielding to the Covenant's Restraint
- [19:35] - The Security of the Covenant
- [21:46] - The Experience of Coming Under the Covenant
- [26:24] - God's Pleading and Discipline
- [39:29] - The Ultimate Design: Knowing God

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Ezekiel 20:34-38

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#### Observation Questions

1. What actions does God promise to take regarding the Israelites in Ezekiel 20:34-38? How does this reflect His sovereignty? [00:09]

2. In the sermon, how does the speaker describe the Israelites' assimilation with the Babylonians, and what was God's response to this? [01:12]

3. What does the phrase "bond of the Covenant" mean in the context of the sermon, and how is it significant for the Israelites? [05:44]

4. How does the sermon describe God's dual nature of justice and mercy in His dealings with His people? [05:12]

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#### Interpretation Questions

1. How does the concept of the "bond of the Covenant" challenge the Israelites' understanding of their identity and relationship with God? [05:44]

2. What does the sermon suggest about the consequences of living under the covenant of law versus the covenant of grace? How does this impact a believer's relationship with God? [07:11]

3. In what ways does God's discipline serve as a sign of His love and commitment to His people, according to the sermon? [14:30]

4. How does the sermon explain the security and assurance found in the Covenant of Grace? What implications does this have for believers? [19:35]

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#### Application Questions

1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you might be assimilating with worldly values, similar to the Israelites with the Babylonians? How can you realign with God's covenant? [01:12]

2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of understanding whether we live under the covenant of law or grace. How does this understanding shape your daily walk with God? [07:11]

3. Consider a time when you experienced God's discipline. How did it draw you closer to Him, and how can you view future discipline as an expression of His love? [14:30]

4. The Covenant of Grace offers eternal security. How does this assurance affect your confidence in facing life's challenges? [19:35]

5. The sermon calls for a wholehearted commitment to living under God's covenant. What practical steps can you take this week to deepen your commitment to God? [47:28]

6. How can you ensure that your faith is not just professed but truly lived out in the grace and discipline of God's covenant? [47:28]

7. Reflect on your understanding of God's dual nature of justice and mercy. How can this understanding influence your worship and relationship with Him? [05:12]

Devotional

Day 1: The Dual Nature of God's Covenant
God's covenant with His people is characterized by both judgment and mercy. This dual nature reflects His justice and love, ensuring that His people remain distinct and faithful. While God warns of severe consequences for rebellion, His ultimate aim is to bring His people into a deeper relationship with Him, marked by grace and mercy. This balance of justice and love is a reminder of the greater responsibility and consequences for those who are privileged to be His people. Understanding this dual nature helps believers appreciate the depth of God's commitment to them and His desire for their faithfulness. [05:12]

Ezekiel 18:30-32 (ESV): "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. 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? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel God's discipline, and how can you respond to it with repentance and a renewed commitment to His covenant?


Day 2: Understanding Our Covenant Standing
It is crucial for believers to discern whether they live under the covenant of law or grace. The law brings condemnation due to humanity's inability to fulfill it, while grace offers salvation through Christ's obedience. This understanding shapes one's relationship with God and approach to faith. Living under the Covenant of Grace means embracing the salvation offered through Christ and recognizing that it is not by works but by faith that one is saved. This realization brings freedom from the burden of the law and a deeper appreciation for the gift of grace. [07:11]

Galatians 3:10-14 (ESV): "For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, 'Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.' Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for 'The righteous shall live by faith.' But the law is not of faith, rather 'The one who does them shall live by them.' Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree'—so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith."

Reflection: Reflect on your current understanding of grace. How does recognizing your standing under the Covenant of Grace change your daily walk with God?


Day 3: The Discipline of the Covenant
God's discipline is a sign of His love and commitment to His people. He chastens those He loves to ensure they remain faithful and distinct from the world. This discipline, though painful, is a means of drawing believers closer to Him and refining their faith. It is a reminder that God's ultimate goal is to bring His people into a deeper relationship with Him. Embracing God's discipline involves recognizing it as an expression of His love and a tool for spiritual growth. [14:30]

Hebrews 12:5-11 (ESV): "And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? 'My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.' It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."

Reflection: How can you view a current challenge or hardship as God's loving discipline, and what steps can you take to grow through it?


Day 4: The Security of the Covenant of Grace
The Covenant of Grace offers eternal security and assurance for believers. It binds them to God through Christ, ensuring that nothing can separate them from His love. This covenant is a source of comfort and strength, providing a firm foundation for faith. Believers can rest in the knowledge that their salvation is secure, not because of their own efforts, but because of Christ's obedience and sacrifice. This assurance allows them to live with confidence and peace, knowing that they are eternally loved and accepted by God. [19:35]

John 10:27-30 (ESV): "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

Reflection: In what ways can you remind yourself of the security you have in Christ, especially during times of doubt or fear?


Day 5: Knowing the True God
The ultimate goal of God's covenant dealings is for His people to truly know Him. This knowledge comes through experiencing both His justice and His grace, leading to a deeper understanding and appreciation of His character. It challenges believers to worship God in His fullness, acknowledging both His love and His holiness. Knowing God in this way transforms one's relationship with Him, fostering a genuine and intimate connection that goes beyond mere religious practice. [47:28]

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.'"

Reflection: How can you intentionally seek to know God more deeply this week, and what specific steps will you take to experience both His justice and grace in your life?

Quotes



God if he does not show distinguishing judgment will display distinguishing Grace, without twisting the passage at all I will use the whole of it as setting forth that peculiar favor which God intends to exhibit towards his own Chosen and of which they shall be the subjects to the praise of the glory of his grace. [04:21]

He solemnly threatens judgments but these are preparations for mercy, he preaches to them by the prophet concerning mercy and judgment Blended in effectual working for salvation, loving kindness underlies and overlays his Wrath, he puts on a frown in order to smile, he deals hardly with his chosen that he may deal safely with them. [05:09]

Beloved there is scarcely a more important question for all of us than this: under which Covenant do we live? Are we under law or under grace? By the very fact of our creation we are under bonds to our maker to love and serve him and this is a form of the Covenant of works. [06:47]

But there is another and a better Covenant which is not a covenant of works at all but a free Rich Sovereign Grace, it was made of old with Christ the second Adam our better Covenant head, its tenor was on this wise he shall obey the father's will actively and passively. [09:40]

If you have Christ you are in the Covenant of Grace if you are trusting in Him God hath made with you in Everlasting Covenant ordered in all things in Shore concerning which we read in your hearing just now both in Jeremiah 31 and in Ezekiel 36. [11:00]

If you are in that Covenant you belong to the Lord forever, neither shall it be possible for you to be your own or to be the devils, you are the Sheep of his pasture and the people of his hand and he will keep you as the apple of his eye and preserve you as the jewels of his crown. [12:43]

For they that are in gracious Covenant with God will find that he dealeth with them as with sons and in as much as he loves them they shall know the truth of that word as many as I love I rebuke and chasten, if they break my Covenant saith he I will chasten them with the rod of a man. [14:17]

If you enter into Covenant with God and you turn aside even in little matters you shall soon discover that the Lord is a jealous God, if you are sweet to God he will make sin bitter to you, he will not let you transgress as other men do the goats May wander with impunity but the Sheep may not. [15:25]

The Lord will turn your sweetness into bitterness and your light Into Darkness that you may be fully weaned from your own ways and may be made willing to be saved by Sovereign Grace, what more does God do well it is said and I will cause you to pass under the rod. [34:59]

The first design is evident in the text it is to bind them to God, we should have gone astray long ago and left our God entirely if it had not been for our bitter experience when the Lord was making himself known to us, all the better crop comes in after life from having a deep plowing before the seed is sown. [39:29]

When God is stamped self with the Seal of death and we have seen destruction written upon all carnal confidence then we are glad to accept as a gift that which we can never win as a reward, the table of Covenant Grace is loaded when in all the land of human Merit there Remains Not A morsel of bread. [44:54]

When a man has smarted because of his sin and has been made to feel the burning colds of Anguish in his own spirit, where the Lord has set him up as a Target and shot at him with arrows which drink up his life and when afterwards he has been saved and the Splendor of infinite love is shown upon him. [47:48]

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Transcript
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