Escaping Death (Ezekiel 18:21-22; 30-32)

Introduction:
A. Death is the termination of the biological functions that define a living organism.
B. Death – (Heb.) mâveth - death (natural or violent); concretely the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively pestilence, ruin: - (be) dead ([-ly]), death, die (-d). [Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries].
C. Death - Figuratively: Death is the loss of spiritual life as in Rom 8:6; and the final state of the unregenerate is called the “second death” in Rev 20:14. [International Standard Bible Encyclopedia].
D. Ecclesiastes 7:29 – God created man upright
E. Romans 3:23 – All have sinned
F. Romans 6:23 – wages of sin is death  Revelation 21:8

I. From Old Testament View
A. Turn from all sins (Ezekiel 18:21)
B. Keep all of God’s statutes (Ezekiel 18:21)
C. Do what is lawful and right (Ezekiel 18:21)
D. Get a new heart and a new spirit (Ezekiel 18:31)

II. From New Testament View
A. Turn from all sins (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30)
B. Keep all of God’s will (Matthew 7:21)
1) Hear Christ (Matthew 17:5)
2) Obey Christ (Matthew 28:18)
C. Do what is lawful and right (Matthew 7:21)
1) Find the right way (John 14:6)
2) Be added on the right church (Acts 2:47)
a) The church founded and built by Christ (Matthew 16:18)
b) The church bought by Christ (Acts 20:28)
c) The church loved by Christ (Ephesians 5:23)
D. Get a new heart and a new spirit
1) Hear the gospel of Christ (Romans 10:17)
2) Believe (Acts 8:37)
3) Repent (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30)
4) Confess (Romans 10:10)
5) Be baptized (Mark 16:16; Galatians 3:27)
 2 Corinthians 5:17 – if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation
E. Abide in the commandments of God (1 John 2:24); Be faithful (Revelation 2:10)

Conclusion
A. Ezekiel 18:27-28 – "Again, when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness which he committed, and does what is lawful and right, he preserves himself alive. Because he considers and turns away from all the transgressions which he committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die.”
B. 2 Corinthians 6:2 – NOW is the day of SALVATION!

The Vanity of Riches (Psalms 49)

This psalm is a sermon, and so is the next. In most of the psalms we have the penman praying or praising; in these we have him preaching; and it is our duty, in singing psalms, to teach and admonish ourselves and one another (Colossians 3:16). The scope and design of this discourse is to convince the men of this world of their sin and folly in setting their hearts upon the things of this world, and so to persuade them to seek the things of a better world; as also to comfort the people of God, in reference to their own troubles and the grief that arises from the prosperity of the wicked.

I. The Appeal

A. To all (v.1-3)

B. To himself (v.4-5)

II. The Arguments

A. Their wealth cannot save anyone from death (v.6-9)

B. Even themselves, their wealth cannot save from death (v. 10)

C. Their wealth cannot assure them eternal happiness in this world (v.11-13)

D. Nor can their wealth assure them eternal happiness in the other world (v.14)

III. The Attempt

A. To comfort himself and other godly people

1) Against the fear of death (v.15)

2) Against the power of the wealthy wicked people (v.16-20)

Conclusion:

A. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 - Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

B. 1 Timothy 6:10 - For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows

C. Matthew 6:20 - "but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal”.