Reading:
Therefore
say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for
your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have
profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. And I
will sanctify my great name, which was 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. For I will take you from among
the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your
own land. Then will I sprinkle clean
water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all
your idols, will I cleanse you. A new
heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will
take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of
flesh. And I will put my spirit within
you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and
do them. And ye shall dwell in
the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be
your God.
Commentary:
God
is here speaking to His fallen Israel, who had departed from faith in Christ,
worshipping the gods of the lands.
Though they had profaned God's name by wicked living (as have we) the
Lord in His mercy would send them His Spirit, washing them clean (Holy Baptism,
which was instituted in the New Testament).
Note God here foretells the coming of the Gentiles to faith. "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon
you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness…..A new heart also will I
give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the
stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and
cause you to walk in my statutes".
These words apply to all Christians today who know "Christ died for
our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He rose again the third
day."
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