The Gospel According to Ezra,
Chapter 10. The Gospel According to Ezra,
Chapter 10. We're coming to and approaching
the end of this wonderful book. The Gospel as Ezra presented
it to the folks there in Jerusalem, in Judah and in Benjamin. And
we noticed as we approached and came into Chapter 10, that there
had been a great issue brought to Ezra's attention. And that
was, we are all ruined by the fall. That is a message that
goes out across the world by preachers of the gospel. We are
ruined by the fall. We are indeed in dire straits
by our natural extent, by our birth into this world. And yet
Ezra, as he shares this, There is another gospel preacher that
comes on and shares with us here in chapter 10, and he tells us
there in, well let's just start reading with verse 1 and we'll
read down through verse 9. Now when Ezra had prayed, and
when he had confessed, weeping and casting down himself before
the house of God, There assembled unto him out of Israel a very
great congregation of men and women and children, for the people
wept sore. And Shechaniah, the son of Jehiel,
one of the sons of Elim, answered and said unto Ezra, we have trespassed
against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of
the land. Now more than just that, they
had adopted the religions of those folks. That was the real
issue, the real problem here. It struck me again, last night
I was studying that there is another Canaanitish woman in
the lineage of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that was the woman
that Judah went unto. She was a harlot. She is in the
direct line to the Lord Jesus Christ, a Canaanite woman. So
it's not the issue of the wives, it's the issue of adopting the
false religions. Going after strange gods, that's
the issue here. Yet now, notice what Shackaniah
said, this is what a gospel preacher will share after declaring, ruined
by the fall, yet now there is hope. in Israel concerning this
thing. We find the hope of Israel, the
hope of the church, is not our works or our righteousness, but
our hope is Christ. His blood and righteousness is
our only hope. He is the only one that we can
depend on, and that goes on down through here. Now therefore,
let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives. All of these things. Now the
covenant is really made by God the Father, God the Son, and
God the Holy Spirit in the covenant of grace before the foundation
of the world, and yet by God's grace, we can consent to that. We agree with God on this covenant
of grace that we are greatly in need of redemption, and there
is only one Redeemer. We're greatly in need of hope,
and there's only one hope. We're greatly in need of righteousness,
and there is only one righteousness. We're greatly in need of sanctification,
and there is only one sanctification, and his name is Jesus Christ
the Lord. He is the one that Peter identified
as thou art the Christ, the son of the living God. Then it goes
on to tell us here, At the latter part of verse 3
and those that tremble at the commandment of our God and let
it be done according to the law Arise for this matter belongeth
unto thee as Shekinah says to to Ezra as Ezra is a type of
Christ here This is a matter. We can't take care of this matter
belongs to you and And we truly find that the church comes to
that point and says this matter can only be dealt with by Almighty
God in the person of Christ Jesus. He is the only one that can take
our sin and have it imputed to Him, placed upon Him, and He's
the only one that can take care of it. We can't take care of
the least sin. He takes care of all sin, all
the sin of all His people. He has taken care of it, the
cross. And in the righteous blood of Christ, we have been imputed
that righteousness, and we are as righteous in the eyes of God
as the Son is righteous. Now we know that we carry this
flesh, but it's a temporary tent that we're carrying around. And
in that day, when we go from this life to the next, that flesh
will drop off and we will know things that we have never known
before because our thoughts are always brought down some degree,
even our best thoughts are brought down to some degree by our inability
to think real true spiritual thinking. We're born into sin,
we live with sin, we'll die with sin, but in that day to have
the capacity to look beyond all sin, and that there'll be no
tears, there'll be no thought of it, to be able to see God
and to see His Son and to know the Holy Spirit in the capacity
that God truly is. We shall know Him as we are known. Verse five, then it was Ezra
and made the cheap priests, the Levites and all Israel to swear
that they should do according to this word and they swear. Now that's where we're gonna
spend most of our time, but let's just finish reading down through
verse nine. Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God,
and went into the chamber of Jehonah the son of Elishahib. And when he came thither, he
did eat no bread, nor drink water. For he mourned because of the
transgression of them that had been carried away. And they made
proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children
of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto
Jerusalem, and that whosoever would not come within three days,
the invitation goes out. Come to Jerusalem. Come to Jerusalem. We say that come to Christ today. Come to Christ. There's only
hope in coming to Christ. You're going to have an extent
of time It's going to be an extent of time between now and when
God's time of taking us out of this world. Now here it's symbolized
by three days. But we find that the scriptures
will be held faithful that those who do not come Their substance should be forfeited
and himself separated from the congregation of those that had
been carried away. Now we're gonna spend a little
time on that next week. Then all the men of Judah and
Benjamin, I don't know how many didn't come, but those who came
had been affectionately called to come. They heard the word. They had hearing ears, they had
seeing eyes, and when this call went out, they came. Then all
the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together
in Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month and the
20th day of the month, and all the people sat in the street
of the house of God trembling because of this matter and for
the great rain. All right, let's look here at
verse five. Then arose Ezra and made the
cheap priests and Levites and all Israel to swear that they
should do according to this word. Now notice the last three words
of that verse. And they swear. Do all things
according to this word. Now I believe it is every believer's. Desire to do according to this
word It is my desire to do according to this word I Trust it is your
desire to do according to this word That our thoughts our desires
our beliefs and our faith would be according to this word yet
I know that this about myself it is not a Am I caught in a trap? Have I
been snared by this because I find here that Ezra proclaimed that
please swear that you will do this and they swear. They were
in agreement with it. If our eternal relationship with
God was based on us keeping this word, we would every day be in
fear for our lives and eternally lost. If every day the demand
by God was us to obey this word, We would fear for our lives every
day, and we would also be eternally lost. So what is the answer? I know that we're not those who
have no hope. There's a passage of scripture
over in 1 Thessalonians 4, verse 14, about don't weep as those
who have no hope. Talking about when someone passes
away. And we also find in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 and verse 19, not
as those who are most miserable. If Christ be not raised, then
our faith is in vain and we are of most miserable. I know this,
that God's people, free in Christ Jesus because of the gospel and
because of the redemption that we have in Christ, we don't go
around feeling most miserable and we don't go around with no
hope. And yet we can't go around every
day saying, I've kept every jot and tittle of the word. Because
we can't. We trust God and his word. Please turn with me to a well-plowed
field in the word with this fellowship here. We've been here a number
of times. Most of the teachers that have stood before you in
the Bible class or Wednesday night or myself have gone to
this passage of scripture numerous times and that is found in the
book of Ezekiel chapter 36. Would you join me in Ezekiel
chapter 36? In Ezekiel chapter 36 we find some of those wonderful
statements made that are brought up throughout the scriptures
and they're brought up here in the book of Ezra not so much
by exact word but by the results of the word of God. that here's
a people that are called on to believe, and to hold to, and
be steadfast in the word of God, knowing that they are in the
flesh, and they can't do it by their own works, or their own
determination, or their own belief, but they are faithful in believing
that God has done a great work for them. That this ability to
keep the word of God with the whole heart, 24-7, has been imputed
to them. Because there is one that has
kept all the word of God The Lord Jesus said I have kept thy
word and you know what the church believes Yes We're thankful that
you as God have kept all of God's word. By that keeping, you have
imputed that benefit and that position before the Father for
us. I can say in Christ, I have kept the word of God. Knowing
full well in my flesh I haven't, but in Christ I have kept the
word of God. Over here in the book of Ezekiel
chapter 36 we find in the Old Testament so much said about
what we find in the New Testament. It was mentioned this morning
as we were talking that the New Testament is just really the
quote of the Old Testament. So much found in the New Testament
is a direct quote from the Old Testament and that is the text
that most of these preachers in the New Testament just used.
Well here in the book of Ezekiel is much that is said in the Common
salvation gospel, and I don't mean it's common in a sense But
it is the gospel that is preached throughout the world by God's
preachers that Jesus Christ the righteous is the only Savior
and he has done all of this on our behalf Ezekiel chapter 36
in verse 22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel now the house
of Israel in the Old Testament is a picture of the church and
There were people in Israel who knew about this, but not all
Israel is of Israel. We find the Apostle Paul commenting
on that in the book of Romans, but it is a comment that is found
in the Old Testament. We heard in the scripture reading
this morning in the book of John, that Jesus said he knew that
these were children of Abraham, and then he goes on to, in two
or three verses later, he says, you're not the children of Abraham,
because if you'd been the true children of Abraham, you'd believe
me. Well, here in the book of Ezekiel chapter 36, in verse
22, therefore say I unto the house of Israel, thus saith the
Lord God, I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but
for my holy name's sake. Salvation is the glory to God. And we get to be the, we get
to catch the drops. Salvation is for the glory of
God. It's for his grace and glory. For thy holy name's sake, which
ye have profaned among the heathen, whether ye went. And I will sanctify
my great name. God's saying this about himself. And I will do this by saving
people by grace. It will not be their righteousness
that will save them. It will not be their works that
will save them. I will save them by grace, and
as a result of that, I will demonstrate the mighty work of God. I will
sanctify my great name which is profaned among the heathen,
which ye have profaned in the midst of them. And the heathen
shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall
be sanctified in you before their eyes. So in time, in the process
of time, God is going to perform this in every one of that was
chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, whose names were
written down in the Lamb's book of life before the foundation
of the world, He is going to declare this unto them in such
a way that He will create new life in them, and they will keep
His word. I will, verse 24, I will take
you from among the heathen. Isn't that a wonderful thing
that God will find us where we are because we can't get out
of where we are by nature, but He will take us out of that position?
That He will take us out of our heathen beliefs, He will take
us out of our heathen setting, He'll take us out. and cause
us to see the sun. And he that has seen the sun
shall be free. We're no longer in the bondage
of the heathen. We're no longer in bondage to
what we were born into. And gather you out of all countries,
and we'll bring you to your own land. Where is our land? At the
feet of Christ. We're not looking for a piece
of acreage. We're looking for the feet of Christ. We're not
looking for something physical. We're looking for something spiritual.
Abraham looked for a city whose builder and maker was God, and
he was satisfied with that. Here we find, then I will sprinkle
clean water upon you. God in his infinite wisdom takes
all the proactivity here. He is proactive. He knows the
desperate situation that all his lost children are in and
if it wasn't for him coming and taking this proactive stance
with them and for them, there would be no one saved. So, I'm
going to take the initiative. I'm going to have all the blessings
flow from the throne of grace. I'm not going to give you any
credit whatsoever for what you've done. In fact, if I did, I'd
have to take demerits against you. But I'm thankful that the
God of heaven does not take demerits against his people. He took all
of that and placed it on his son. So he goes on to tell us
here, and gather you out of all countries. Where does he gather
us? At the feet of Christ. That's where we get to be gathered.
Brother Wayne Boyd shared with me yesterday something that I
brought to his attention when he went back to Michigan. You
say a lot to a young preacher that's going to a new church,
the pastor. I said, just remember when you
get there, you're not in a different vineyard. You're in just another
section of the same vineyard. The vineyard is God's people,
and there they are, scattered across the world, drawn out of,
brought out of, out of the heathen nations that we're born into
and brought to Christ, and we all get to worship at the feet
of Christ. Goes on to tell us, I'll sprinkle
clean, well, I'm gonna bring the word of God to you. We've
heard that special passage of scripture, the parable of the
sower and you know I never noticed that word till it was brought
up in the lesson that that seed that went to the good ground
was a special seed. I'm thankful because God has
the impetus behind it to make it living seed. He makes it real seed. He makes
it really grow. In the good ground, there is
real growth that takes place. The root is not in the person,
the root is in Christ. It's real growth and it's positive
growth. There's going to be fruit on
that positive growth. Some 40, some 60, some 100. I
had a man tell me one time, he may not be 100, but he knows
he's next to that. We don't know, do we? I'm just
thankful I got one little bulb of fruit. And that little bulb
of fruit gets to glorify Christ for all his salvation. Verse 26, a new heart also will
I give you. And a new spirit will I put within
you. We have a nasty spirit by nature.
But God has promised in the new birth to give us his spirit. It's not a new man, per se, that's
created. It's the Holy Spirit in us. That's
our hope. That's our salvation. That's
Christ in us, the hope of glory. And it goes on to tell us there,
and I'll put it, Take away the stony heart did you notice this
brought out every time how many times I will gods I will I will
I will I will I will I will do all this That's God's business
and we're so thankful that's effectual work. It is actual
work that God accomplishes in the hearts of his people and
that alone is the only way that God's people can hear the word
and obey the word as God has raised them from the spiritual
dead. goes down there and I'll put my spear within you and cause
you to walk in my statutes and you shall keep my judgments and
do them." Have you ever said as you read that verse, when
did that happen? Ezra brought out to all those
folks. He says keep the word and they
said we will How are we able to do that? How are we able to
keep the word of God when it is so contrary to us? Because
of Christ keeping the word his people are able to keep the word. It's imputed to us It's given
to us, and we depend on that for all As he brings out here,
this passage is so wonderful. It shares with us the many activities
of God in his people and on their behalf. I will do everything
that is necessary. I will provide everything that
is necessary. I'll provide the good ground.
I'll provide the seed. I'll provide the sunshine. I'll
provide the water and you will grow because I have purposed
it in eternity. I'll put my spirit within you
and cause you to walk in my statutes and you shall keep my judgments
and do them. Now either God is doing that
or let's not believe it. Either what God said is the truth
or it is not the truth. There is no median here. There is no room here. It's either God will do what
he said he will do or he can't do it. Now we find that the scriptures
teach us that he is almighty God. He can do as he pleases. The word is completely new to
us upon regeneration. It has been kept completely on
our behalf by our surety. What a wonderful thing to discover
that we have a surety that someone will undertake for us. There's
been a number of times when Brother Lance Heller was here, he uses
that word, he will undertake for us. Well, that's just what
that word surety means. He will undertake for us. He
will do what is required that we can't do. He will fulfill
that. There's a passage, turn with
me back to the book of Genesis, if you would, chapter 43. In
Genesis chapter 43, we have one of the brothers of Joseph by
the name of Judah. That rings a bell, doesn't it?
The lion of the tribe of Judah. Judah. Judah is the one that
brought forth children and one of them is the direct line with
the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the lion of the tribe of
Judah. That's why we find that with regard to the Levitical
priesthood, Jesus was not found in that line. He's not of that
line. He is of the line of Melchizedek. Well, here in the book of Genesis,
chapter 43, the 10 sons of Jacob have gone
down to Egypt because they're out of food. They've gone down
there and that guy down there knew them. He knew them when they showed
up. He knew them when they sat down. He knew them when they
rose up. He knew them when they wrote in. They didn't know him.
Isn't there a commonality about us and our relationship with
the Lord Jesus? He knows us, but we don't know
him. He speaks a different language. Read there, Joseph used Egyptian
language. They couldn't understand it.
And he was harsh on them. Oh my goodness. In our natural
existence, he's harsh. But in Christ, he is the peace
that passeth all understanding. Here in the book of Genesis chapter
43 verse 7, Genesis chapter 43, there in verse 7, we read these words
from Judah. And they said, the man asked
us straightly of our state and of our kindred, saying, you know
all about us. He knows our dad. He knows all
about us over here where we are. Is your father yet alive? Have
ye another brother? And we told him according to
the tenor of these words, Could we certainly know that he would
say, bring your brother down? And Judah said unto Israel his
father, send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that
we may live and not die. We can go down and get some more
food, both we and thou and also our little ones. I will be surety
for him. Of my own hand shalt thou require
him. If I bring him not unto thee,
and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever. For except we have lingered,
surely now we would have returned the second time. undertake for
him. You know, that's the only way
that we have a place with God is our surety has undertook for
us. He has given us the ability of
believing his word. He has given us the ability of
hearing his word. I will undertake. Turn with me
to a little book in the Old Testament there, the book of Zephaniah.
Zephaniah. Zephaniah chapter three. Oh, it's couched in between Zachariah
and Haggai and Micah. It's just three chapters long. Most people call it a minor prophet
except for verses like this one. It makes it a major prophet because
it is declaring the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. In Zephaniah
chapter three and verse nine, Look at this verse of scripture.
For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may
all call upon the name of the Lord to serve him with one consent. I will turn to the people a pure
language. That word pure is translated
in other places, a choice language. I'll appear to them with a choice
language, a chosen language. Another place is translated polished,
and clean, and bright. and purified. I will appear unto
my people with this Word of God, this pure language, with this
polished language, with this special language, with this chosen
language. I will not appear to everyone,
but I will appear unto my people with this language, and this
language begins with the Alpha and ends with the Omega. He is the Alpha and Omega for
his people. Remember the words of the host
that were gathered on the day of Pentecost in the book of Acts?
All those nations gathered together when they heard the word in their
own language, they had this common thing to say about it. This people
from over this country, they said, and this people from this
country said, and they summed it up. Verse 11 of chapter 2
we do hear them speak in our tongues or our language the wonderful
work of God Now that was made for them That was a sweet language. That was a choice language. That
was a pure language. They're all hearing in their
own conversational tongue. They were hearing, but they were
hearing this. They were not hearing gibberish.
They were not hearing language that couldn't be understood,
but they were hearing in their own tongue the wonderful works
of God. how glorious that is to have
that language brought to our ears as we find those that are
on good ground. They came forth, they heard the
word of God, and it was brought to them in such a language that
they didn't know by nature, but they were taught by the Holy
Spirit, and that is believe Christ, trust Christ. By nature, all
these things are just, I don't get it, I can't believe it. Yes,
that's true, because the word of God is spiritually discerned. It is only understood as the
spirit quickens us and brings us that new birth. And we are
brought to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. And at that
time we repent and believe something we could never do by nature.
There wasn't enough repentance and we couldn't believe enough.
But when God brings it, it is absolute, the right belief and
the right repentance. And that is when we can say,
I have believed the word. I heard in my own language. the
wonderful work of God, a language that was unencumbered, a language
that was unnatural to my heart, but a language that came from
God, a language of the gospel, a language of peace in Christ,
a language that went far beyond anything that we could have ever
studied in a university. I'll never forget about a whole
bunch of churches in early America that were being found fault with
because they didn't have pastors with letters after their name.
They didn't have their master's degree or their dead dog degree
or whatever. They just came back and said,
we would rather have regenerated pastors than educated pastors. You know what? We cannot be educated
into the kingdom. But by revelation, we hear that
clear sound of the gospel. It is a pure language that God
brings to us, and it is the center, heart, and core of it is His
name is Jesus, who shall save His people from their sins. Join
me if you would in the book of John. Brother Craig just read
this, but I'd like to read two verses out of that reading. In
John chapter 8, verse 37, He read this, I want to read
it again. It says there in John chapter
8 and verse 37, I know that you are Abraham's seed, but you seek
to kill me. John chapter 8 verse 37, because
my word has no place in you. What does that mean? That pure
language hasn't come. Now we say, well, it probably
never came. I'm not going to say that. God saved some real
strange characters in human history. He saved Abram out of one of
the most religious places of all the world, 2,000 or 3,000
gods that he had to spend his time worshiping down there in
Ur of the Chaldees. He saved Saul of Tarsus. He saved
John. He saved Peter. He saved David,
he saved Samuel, look who he saved, some of the strangest
people in the world. He saved because he chose them
in Christ before the foundation of the world and he was going
to bring this pure language to them, the gospel language. the
language of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. And in that same
chapter in verse 43, John chapter 8 verse 43, why do you not understand
my speech? I really appreciate the translators
here because I used to put question marks in the middle of my sentence
and then start with a small letter and I'd get marked down for it.
They get to do it here and it's right. It says right there, why
do you not understand my speech? Question mark and then start
off the There's no new sentence even because you cannot hear
my word. What did they hear here? They
didn't hear the word. They heard words, but they didn't
hear the word. He preached to them the same
he would have preached over here to his disciples. He didn't change
the message for the Pharisees. He preached the same message
to them and walked away and says, you didn't hear my word. Went
over to his disciples. Who do you say that I am? And
Peter standing up for the host said, thou art the Christ, the
son of the living God. And he said unto him, flesh and
blood did not reveal this unto you, but my father, which is
in heaven. Why didn't they hear? Because it wasn't revealed. Why
did they hear? Because it was revealed. It was
the pure language of the gospel that came to them in a very special
way and God's people are thankful that the Holy Spirit would do
that for us. would walk away just like that
whole host of Pharisees, satisfied with what we're doing in this
world for our own righteousness, while the rest of them walked
away and says, oh, my righteousness is as filthy rags. But his righteousness
is pure. John chapter 12, verse 48, would
you turn there with me? John chapter 12 and verse 48,
the scriptures share this with us. He that rejecteth me, and
receiveth not my words, and receiveth not my words. John
chapter 12, verse 48. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth
not my words, hath one that judges him. Who's going to be the judge? Who's going to be the judge? The word that I have spoken,
the same shall judge him in the last day. the word I have spoken. Don't expect any favoritism in
that. Go back with me, if you would,
to the book of Zechariah. We've been looking at Zechariah
in our Wednesday night Bible study. We encourage you to come
or join us in Zoom if you can. But in Zechariah chapter 4 and
there in verse 6. Zechariah chapter 4 and verse
6. Then he answered and spake unto
me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel,
saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith
the Lord of hosts. It is by the infinite blessed,
wonderful, gracious activity of the Holy Spirit to bring that
pure language. Where would we be if God had
not brought that pure language to us? to hear it in its simplicity,
in its free form, to have it brought to us by the Holy Spirit
and by it He brings about something very special that has to be from
above, the new birth. It has to be from above. Why?
Because this whole sphere has been influenced by the fall.
We can't get anything out of here. It's all negative. We need
an infusion of positive. It needs to be from Him to us. It must be a birth from above. The proclamation went out, and
the result of that proclamation, we heard over there in the book
of Ezra, chapter 10, the result, we will. We will. And when the message went out,
come down to Jerusalem. You got three days to come down.
And they came down to Jerusalem. You know, it reminds me of what
we read over in the book of 2nd Chronicles.
I just have to go there, read in two verses. In the book of
2nd Chronicles, it's in chapter 30. I'll not read the whole reading
here. Chapter 6, verse 12 really helps
us. But we're going to stop in 2nd
Chronicles, chapter 30 and verse 11. The post went out, it tells
us. They're like a gospel preacher. They're like a gospel teacher.
They're like someone who knows the gospel. Who knows that if
they spread the word, God is going to have some fall where
he wants it over here, and some over there, and some over there.
But some, per adventure, would fall on good ground, and God
would bring forth the increase. Well, they sent out the word,
come down to Jerusalem. Come down to Jerusalem. And most
of the folks, They just poke fun. But notice verse 11, chapter
30 in verse 11 of 2 Chronicles. Nevertheless, some of Asher and
Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. I've read this a number of times,
but I need to go to the next verse now. Also in Judah, the
hand of God was to give them one heart. to do the commandment
of the king and of the princesses by the word of the Lord. Why
did those some come? Nevertheless, some out of here
came. Nevertheless, some out of here
came. Why did they come? Because God gave them that pure
language. Come on down. And they heard,
they heeded. They didn't hear it with this
ear. They heard it with the ear that
was created by God alone. They came to Jerusalem. God's
people will come to one Jerusalem. And that one Jerusalem speaks
a place of peace. And the only place of peace is
Christ. The Lord Jesus is the only one
that carried the flesh that completely kept this word. All that he died
for, he completely imputes the keeping of this word. If his
righteousness alone, it is his righteousness alone that we stand
in, we trust, and we hope in. Why did they come? God spoke
to them. Why don't they come? You haven't
heard my word. how precious it is for God to
bring his word to us. It's no small thing. It's eternal,
it's purposeful, it's effectual, and it comes at the right time
in our life when it pleased God who revealed Christ in me. That's what Paul said. Well,
God bless you. as we think about His Word, His
pure Word, His Word that comes effectually. Brother Mike, if
you'll come.