Part one of this message centered on Ezekiel’s Dry Bones vision in chapter 37 of his book. You can find part one at this link: Part One at This Link.
You can also find my recording of this message at this link: Video
Part two now continues with the passage in Romans. For the sake of clarity, I quote from the New Living Translation:
“[L]etting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.
“But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all. And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. . . . 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.”
Ezekiel tells us that those who are without the spirit of God living in them are dead. In this passage from Romans, Paul tells us that those without the Spirit of Christ living in them are NOT children of God.
This is a crucial point that we must fully understand. I have heard it said so often – and probably you have, too – that all humanity are God’s children.
While that might be a comforting idea, it is a lie straight from hell itself. God’s word again and again tells a different story. Look once more at verse nine in this 8th chapter of Romans: “And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all. And then drop down to verse 14: For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
God tells us either we are children of God or children of the devil. There are no other options. Hear what Jesus told some of the religious leaders of His day. He said: “You are of your father, the devil.” (John 8:44)
The apostle John writes in his first epistle (1 John 3:8, 10): “The one who practices sin is of the devil . . . By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. (1 John 3:8-10)
It is a mortally dangerous idea to think we are children of God simply because God created us. If we are all children of God without Christ, then Jesus died for nothing. If we are all God’s children outside of Christ, then all humanity is destined for heaven because the heavenly Father would never condemn His child to an eternity in the Lake of Fire.
No, my brothers and sisters. God clearly teaches it again and again so we won't miss it: Without the spirit of God breathing life into our dry bones, we are just that – dry bones that will turn to dust. Without the spirit of Christ in us, we are children of the flesh and not at all children of God.
Which begs the question: How does a person become a child of God? There’s an easy answer to that question. When the religious priests and laity asked Peter the same question, this is what he answered in Acts 2:38-42:
“Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”
How does a person become a child of God? To summarize Peter: Confess you sins. In other words, agree with God that His commandments are right and just, and that you have broken His commandments. Then repent. Tell God are sorry for your rebellions against His commandments. If you haven’t already been baptized, be baptized.
Which now brings us to the gospel reading found in John 11. It’s the story wherein Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave. It’s the perfect merging of the theme of Ezekiel’s Dry Bones, and what Paul said in Romans 8 that only those with the Spirit of Christ will live forever in God’s kingdom.
This story of Lazarus is also a long read, so I will summarize it for you. I urge you to also read the chapter later today.
Jesus got word that His friend Lazarus was dead. He and His disciples went to the tomb where Lazarus had been buried for four days. Lazarus’s sisters and the other mourners were lamenting at the tomb. It is at this point Jesus said to one of Lazarus’ sisters:
“Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” She *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.” John 11:23-27
Listen. This is really important. If you don’t get this, you will spend your eternity forever away from the presence of God. Forever in agony in the lake of fire, along with the devil and his angels.
This is crucial for your eternal destiny: Jesus alone is the resurrection and eternal life. He Himself warns all humanity – all those dry bones, all those who have turned away from obedience to Christ – He warns all of us, even those who attend Mass every day, those who teach Sunday School classes and sing in the choir, who carry their bibles to Bible studies and worship services but are not truly Born Again – Jesus warns us all – No one comes to the Father except through Him.
‘No one’ means ‘no one.’ Whatever their religious label – Jew, Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal – on and on the list goes. No one comes to eternal life except through the risen Jesus.
The risen Jesus.
That’s where we are headed on this Lenten journey, even in the middle of this terrible pandemic ravaging its way across nations – we are headed on this Lenten journey toward Resurrection Sunday – that glorious and undeniable truth believed by everyone humble enough to hear what God has to say about the matter.
Jesus entered humanity to rescue us from the eternal reward of our sin – that being eternal death. He came to us in a manger in that little town of Bethlehem to become our atoning sacrifice, to take upon Himself the wrath of God due to each of us because of our sins.
Are you still dry bones? Do you know deep in your heart that you are living in and for your fleshly desires – and not living according to the spirit of Christ?
If that’s your story, I have good news for you. Great news for you. You can change the ending. How?
Do as Peter told the crowd of religious leaders and laity: Confess your sins to God. Then repent – turn from your sins. If you’ve never been baptized, be baptized. And seek the power of the Holy Spirit to follow Jesus’ commandments the rest of your days.
And if you know that you know Jesus, then I urge you to frequently – every day – Confess your sins to God. Repent. And seek daily the power of the Holy Spirit to follow Jesus’ commandments all the rest of your days.
Please, won't you surrender all you have, all you are, all you hope to be – surrender it all to the one who created you and loves you enough to die to save your soul from an eternity of anguish? Don’t remain dry bones. Spiritually dead. Necrotic. Ask God to breathe life into your soul.
It is the only way to ensure for yourself a resurrection to eternal life.
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