What connections exist between Ezekiel 21:24 and Romans 6:23 regarding sin's consequences? “Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you have brought to mind your guilt, in that your transgressions are revealed and your sins are uncovered—so that all your deeds show your guilt—because you have come to remembrance, you shall be taken in hand.’” Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Observations from Ezekiel 21:24 • Guilt is exposed; nothing remains hidden (Psalm 90:8). • Sin stands in open view, demanding divine response (Hebrews 4:13). • “Taken in hand” signals imminent judgment—captivity and sword for Judah. • Emphasis: sin carries consequences here and now, not only in eternity. Observations from Romans 6:23 • Sin pays a wage—death—just as surely as labor earns a paycheck (James 1:15). • Death encompasses physical decay (Genesis 3:19), spiritual separation (Isaiah 59:2), and eternal loss (Revelation 20:14). • God counters sin’s wage with an unearned “gift”: eternal life in Christ. • The verse summarizes the gospel’s core contrast—earned penalty versus given grace. Shared Truths about Sin’s Consequences • Certainty: judgment is not theoretical; it is promised and executed. • Justice: God responds to sin proportionately and righteously (Ezekiel 18:4). • Exposure: sin cannot stay concealed; it comes to remembrance before God. • Universality: Israel in Ezekiel and all humanity in Romans stand accountable. Clear Progression Between the Texts 1. Ezekiel shows immediate historical judgment, proving God’s warnings are real. 2. Romans broadens the principle to every sinner and pushes the consequence to its ultimate end—death. 3. Together they trace a line from temporal discipline to eternal outcome, reinforcing that sin’s penalty is comprehensive. Contrast That Illuminates Grace • Ezekiel 21:24 stops at judgment; Romans 6:23 continues to gift. • The Old Covenant passage underscores guilt; the New Covenant verse unveils the remedy—Christ Jesus (John 3:16). • Both establish human inability to escape penalty apart from God’s intervention. Practical Takeaways • Sin is never private; it inevitably surfaces and brings loss. • God’s consistency—from Ezekiel’s day to Paul’s letters—underscores His reliability; what He warns, He performs. • Only the saving work of Christ cancels sin’s wage, turning certain death into certain life (1 Peter 2:24). |
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