What other scriptures emphasize God's call for repentance and righteousness? Hearing the Word in Ezekiel 22:1 “Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,” (Ezekiel 22:1) Old Testament Calls for Repentance • 2 Chronicles 7:14 — “and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.” • Isaiah 55:6-7 — “Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near… let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.” • Jeremiah 18:7-8 — “At any time I might announce that a nation or kingdom will be uprooted… But if that nation I warned turns from its evil, then I will relent of the disaster I had planned to bring.” • Joel 2:12-13 — “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart… rend your hearts and not your garments.” • Ezekiel 18:30-32 — “Repent and turn from all your transgressions… For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death… So repent and live!” • Proverbs 28:13 — “He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.” Old Testament Portraits of Righteous Living • Amos 5:14-15 — “Seek good, not evil, that you may live… Hate evil and love good; establish justice in the gate.” • Micah 6:8 — “He has shown you, O man, what is good… act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.” • Isaiah 1:16-17 — “Wash and cleanse yourselves… Learn to do right; seek justice, correct the oppressor.” • Psalm 11:7 — “For the LORD is righteous; He loves justice. The upright will see His face.” New Testament Voices Calling Us to Repent • Matthew 3:2 — “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” • Matthew 4:17 — “From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.’” • Luke 13:3 — “Unless you repent, you too will all perish.” • Acts 3:19 — “Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away.” • Acts 17:30 — “God… now commands all people everywhere to repent.” • 2 Peter 3:9 — “He is patient… not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.” • Revelation 2:5 — “Remember how far you have fallen; repent and do the works you did at first.” New Testament Foundations for Righteousness • Romans 3:22 — “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” • Romans 6:13 — “Present… your members to God as instruments of righteousness.” • Romans 14:17 — “The kingdom of God is… righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” • 1 Peter 2:24 — “He Himself bore our sins… so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.” • 1 John 3:7 — “The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous.” • James 2:17 — “Faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead.” Bringing the Strands Together • Ezekiel 22 shows God exposing sin so His people will turn; every era of Scripture issues the same call. • Repentance is a heartfelt turn that God meets with mercy and restoration. • Righteousness is both God’s gift through Christ and the daily practice of justice, love, and obedience. • From prophets to apostles, the unified message remains: “Turn and live.” |
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