How does Ezekiel 3:20 connect with New Testament teachings on perseverance? Setting the Scene: Ezekiel 3:20 in Context “Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I place a stumbling block before him, he will die. If you do not warn him, he will die in his sin, and the righteous acts he did will not be remembered. And I will hold you accountable for his blood.” (Ezekiel 3:20) • A once-righteous person can truly “turn.” • Ongoing faithfulness is required; past righteousness is not a pass. • God assigns human messengers to give timely warnings. • Accountability extends both to the wanderer and to the silent watcher. Key Words and Ideas to Notice • “Turns” – an active choice away from former obedience. • “Commits iniquity” – continuing pattern, not a momentary stumble. • “Stumbling block” – divine judgment that exposes the heart. • “Will die” – real, not hypothetical, loss. • “Warn” – a sacred duty; silence equals complicity. Parallel New Testament Calls to Perseverance • Matthew 24:13: “The one who perseveres to the end will be saved.” • Hebrews 3:14: “We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly to the end the assurance we had at first.” • Hebrews 10:36: “You need to persevere, so that after you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.” • Revelation 2:10-11: “Be faithful even unto death… The one who overcomes will not be harmed by the second death.” These verses echo Ezekiel’s warning: salvation’s final outcome is linked to enduring faith and obedience. Shared Warning Passages • Hebrews 6:4-6 – the danger of falling away after once tasting the truth. • Hebrews 10:26-27 – judgment for believers who willfully keep sinning. • 2 Peter 2:20-22 – the latter state worse than the first for those who return to sin. • 1 Corinthians 9:27 – even Paul disciplines himself “so that… I myself will not be disqualified.” Like Ezekiel 3:20, each passage: – Affirms real possibility of apostasy. – Couples warning with personal responsibility. – Grounds perseverance in daily, Spirit-enabled obedience. Positive Motivation to Persevere • Romans 2:7 – “To those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life.” • James 1:12 – “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial… he will receive the crown of life.” • 2 Timothy 4:7-8 – “I have fought the good fight… there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness.” Ezekiel warns of loss; the NT balances that warning with dazzling promises for those who endure. Mutual Accountability and Watchfulness • James 5:19-20: restoring a wanderer “will save his soul from death.” • Galatians 6:1: those who are spiritual “restore” the fallen in gentleness. • Hebrews 3:13: “Exhort one another daily… so that none… be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” Just as Ezekiel was a watchman, every believer now carries that watchman role inside a Spirit-filled community. Practical Takeaways for Today • Keep a soft heart—sin’s deceitfulness can harden anyone. • Preach the gospel to yourself daily; past victories do not guarantee tomorrow’s faithfulness. • Welcome accountability; invite brothers and sisters to warn and restore you. • Offer warnings with compassion, knowing God will ask about the blood of those we refused to counsel. • Lean on Christ’s power: “He is able to keep you from stumbling” (Jude 24), yet He keeps you as you actively cling to Him. |
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