How can we discern God's will to avoid "ordinances by which they could not live"? Setting the Stage: Ezekiel’s Warning “Moreover, I gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances by which they could not live.” (Ezekiel 20:25) Israel repeatedly rejected the Lord’s clear commands (vv. 11–13, 16, 19). In judgment He “gave them” over to the empty regulations they craved—rules rooted in idolatry, powerless to give life. The passage is a sober reminder that drifting from God’s revealed will leaves us enslaved to burdensome systems that promise much but destroy vitality. What Are “Ordinances by Which They Could Not Live”? • Man-made rules that replace or distort God’s commands (Mark 7:6-9) • Rituals that exalt external performance over heart obedience (Isaiah 29:13) • Legalistic additions that seem wise but “have no value in restraining indulgence” (Colossians 2:20-23) • Practices adopted from surrounding culture or false religion (Jeremiah 10:2) Discerning God’s Will Today • Romans 12:2 — Be “transformed by the renewing of your mind” so you “may prove what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” • Psalm 119:105 — God’s Word is the lamp that exposes counterfeit rules. • John 16:13 — The Spirit guides into “all truth,” never contradicting Scripture. • Acts 17:11 — Noble believers “examined the Scriptures daily” to test every message. Guardrails for Recognizing False Ordinances • Alignment with Scripture – 2 Timothy 3:16-17: All Scripture equips; anything contrary is rejected. • Elevation of Christ’s finished work – Galatians 5:1: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” Additional requirements that undermine grace are suspect. • Fruit of the Spirit versus burden of fear – Matthew 11:30: His yoke is easy; oppressive systems weigh down. • Accountability in the Body – Ephesians 4:15-16: Growing together in truth guards against deception. • Witness of Church history – Jude 3: “the faith once for all delivered” offers a trustworthy benchmark. Practices that Keep Us in the Center of God’s Will • Consistent, prayerful Bible intake (Joshua 1:8) • Cultivating a responsive conscience—quick repentance, ready obedience (1 John 1:9) • Spirit-led worship that engages heart and mind (John 4:24) • Regular fellowship and mutual exhortation (Hebrews 10:24-25) • Service motivated by love, not obligation (1 Peter 4:10-11) Living in the Freedom Christ Provides • Reject any system that adds prerequisites to forgiveness or holiness (Galatians 3:3). • Embrace the law of liberty—loving God and neighbor (James 2:8-12). • Walk daily by the Spirit; He produces life-giving fruit where regulations fail (Galatians 5:16-23). Standing firm in these truths protects us from “ordinances by which [we] could not live” and enables joyful obedience to the will of God that truly brings life. |
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