TODAY’S MESSAGE
TOPIC: GOD HAS NO PLEASURE IN THE DEATH OF THE WICKED
TEXT: Ezek. 18:4, 20-23; John 3:16-17; 1Tim. @;1-4; 2Peter 3:9
RECENTLY, God gave us the theme: ‘The Soul that Sinneth Shall Die’ as a warning to the entire church because of His fatherly love. Having saved and delivered ud from Satan, sin, bondages and spiritual death to life, its fullness and the resultant joy, He would have us to remain and retain ereything until we return to Him to be with Him forever (Isa. 35:10; Matt. 24:46). The warning was out of love because He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but wishes that all should repent. Besides , we are His beloved children, whom He has purchased with the blood of Jesus Christ His son; also He created us in his image and likeness and to take pleasure in us (Rev. 4:11).
We shall consider this message under the following sub-headings:-
We shall consider this message under the following sub-headings:-
1. The Reasons And God’s Demonstration Of Love
2. Our Expected Response And The Benefits
1. THE REASONS AND GOD’S DEMONSTRATION OF LOVE
As human beings, nobody will like his or her child to die or even suffer. Every good parent will do everything possible to ensure that his or her children neither suffer nor die; none shall take pleasure in the death of his or her son or daughter. No wonder parents cry in such situation and seek for solution everywhere (Matt. 9:18-19; Matt. 17:14-18). So, if the earthly parents in their wicked nature would not wish their children to die or suffer, how much more God? (Gen. 6:5).
Remember, our Lord says in His teaching that ‘no man is good’ (Matt. 19:16-17). Therefore, our father in , the only good God, who in His love has warned us that the soul that sinneth shall die, did it out of His love and goodness, so that we should not sin and die because He has no pleasure in the death of His children (Ezek. 18:20-23). He demonstrated His love by seeking for man after Adam and Eve disappointed Him and died (spiritually) (Gen. 3:7-9).
He further proved His love by coming in the person of His son Jesus Christ and He died to save us (1:1-2; John 3:16; Phil 2:5-8; 1John 4:9-10)..god loves us and has no pleasure in the death of any person that they should repent (Ezek. 18:27-32).
2. OUR EXPECTED RESPONSE AND THE BENEFITS
Knowing that God loves us and does not want us to die in our sin, and has warned us to keep away from sin because it will bring death and punishment, we must flee from sin and all appearances of evil (Ezek. 18:4; 2Chron. 16:8-13; Psalm 9:17; Mark9:43-48; Rev. 21:8; 1Thess. 5: 22-23).
Every one of us should embrace the love of God, hearken to His warning and depart from evil (2Tim. 2:19-21; 1Cor. 6:9-10); and once we do this and begin to live right and maintain holiness, God shall be with us and bless us always, and at the end we shall make heaven in Jesus name. On the other hand, we shall be instruments in His hand (John 8:29; Matt. 11:27; Jer. 50:20-23).
For sinners and backsliders, they should repent of their sins, give their lives to Jesus Christ and receive Him into their lives as their Lord and personal Savior. (John 14:6; Rom. 3:23; 1John 3:8-9; Prov. 28:13; 1John 5:17; John 10:10; John 3:16; John 8:36; John 1:12; 2Cor. 5:17; Rom. 10:13