The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1929-07-11
1880 -'----
Improved Uniform International
Sl1112daySc|1oel
' Lesson
(By REV. p. B. FITZWATER, D. D.. Dean
Moody Bible Institute of Chicago.)
(c). 1929, Western Newspaper Union.)
EZEKIEL TEACHES PERSONAL
RESPONSIBILITY
LESSON TEXT-Ezekiel ss:1-2o.


GOLDEN TEXT-Every one of US
shall give an account Of himself to
God.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Ezekiers Message
| Of Warning.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Ezekiers Message
| of Warning.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
1C-Does God Take Note of My Life?
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-Individual Accountability to God.
I. Ezekiel's Responsibility wv. 1-9).
The commission of the prophet is
now renewed. Hitherto his utter
ances were mainly of a threatening
character, having as their objective
the turning of the people from their
wicked ways. They refused to heed
the prophets words, the result of
which was the falling of Gods judg-
ment upon them in their complete
captivity and the destruction of Jeru-
salem. When it became clear that
the people would not heed Gods warn
ings through the prophet, the prophet
was to be silent-dumb. This tragic
situation was portrayed through the
death of Ezekiels wife. Awful as this
blow was, he was to desist from weep
ing, showing that even natural sorrow
was not to be expressed at the time
of Gods awful judgment.
After the renewal of the prophets
commission, his messages were mainly
consolatory. His responsibility is set
forth under the figure of Waterman.
God gave him this position. Every
minister and Sunday School teacher
is q Waterman. Indeed, upon every
believer has been imposed certain re-
sponsibilities. Two things are re-
quired of a Waterman.
/. To hear the word at Gods mouth
". y.
The source of the message of every
minister and Sunday school teacher
is Gods Holy Word. AS the prophet
did not originate his message but re-
ceived it at Gods mouth, so should
| it be with every minister.
2. To sound the warning ". y.
After hearing Gods message he was
to proclaim it to the people. The
watchman's duty is both to hear and
to speak. The people are to be
warned of the impending danger.
Failure to sound the alarm makes the
Waterman guilty of the blood of the
sinner ". 81. After the warning the
sinner carries his own guilt ". 81.
II. Gods Attitude Toward the Sin
ner wv. 10, 1D.
God had declared in His word that
unfaithfulness on the part of His peo-
pie would cause them to perish
among the heathen," to pine away
in their iniquity" Uev. 26:3S, 39).
In view of this pronouncement, some
were disposed to say that their case
was hopeless. To meet this attitude
of despair, the prophet assured them
that God had no pleasure in the death
of the wicked, but that his sincere de-
sire was for the wicked to turn from
his way and live. Regardless of what
their past had been He assured them
that the future was bright, but Gods
command and plea is, "Turn We from
| your evil ways, for why will We die,
o house of Israeli"
III. The Sinners Personal RESPONSE.
bility wv. 12-20).
God has created the members of the
race as volitional beings, possessing
freedom of choice. They have moral
discernment, enabling them to distin-
| 1tch hot iubt Tho
following principles govern the sinner
and the Waterman:
1. Past righteousness will not avail
for present sins ". 12).
When righteous man turns to do
iniquity, his past seeming righteous
ness will be of no avail.
2. Past sins do not make impossible
present acceptance with God wv.
12-1Q.
By virtue of the law of habit, ev-
J cry sinful act makes it harder for the
sinner to repent, but Gods mercy and
enabling grace are such that If the
sinner repents, God will restore.
3. Restitution required wv. Is, 16).
The proof of penitence Is that so
far as possible the sinner make
amends for wrongs done. There is no
merit In the act of restitution, but
such act helps the individual to over
come his besetting sin.
4. Gods ways are equal wv. II.
2O).
God holds man responsible for his
own Deeds The child is not con-
demned because of the deeds of its
father. This does not do away with
the law of heredity. Regardless of
what ones past life has been, Gods
grace In Jesus Christ blots out his
record and he stands accepted in the
Beloved.