September 7, 2017 Bible Study — Condemn Sin Out of Love for the Sinner

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Ezekiel 32-33.

    Ezekiel was called to be a watchman for the people of Israel. In the same way many of us are called to be watchmen today. In that role we are called to warn the wicked to turn from their wicked ways. If we are so called it is important to remember the important part of this passage. God takes no pleasure in the deaths of the wicked. Rather, He desires that they turn from their wicked ways and live. When we call out the wicked for their sins, our purpose is not to show that we are better than they, or to make the righteous feel good about themselves. Our purpose should be to convince the wicked to turn from their self destructive behavior and do what is in their own true interest. We need to remember that if the righteous turn to sin they will receive the same judgment as the wicked and if the wicked turn from their sin God will forgive them. I want to reiterate that the motivating factor in warning against sin should be love of the sinner, not a desire to see them punished. We do not show love for others by pretending that their self destructive behavior (sin often harms others, but it always harms the sinner) will not harm them.