I also gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances by which they could not live; Ezekiel 20:25 NASB1995
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In this chapter God defends His righteousness. Remember we are made in His image and we have choices to make. Psalm 7:9: "For the righteous of God tests the hearts and minds; my defence is of God who saves the upright in heart." In Deuteronomy 28 there is a list of the blessings and the curses of God. Ezekiel 20:7: God warns the people to get rid of every idol and do not defile yourself. Leviticus 18:21: "You will not allow your children to be sacrificed to Molech, thus profaning the name of the Lord your God'." This is an ordinance! Romans 1:31,32: "They are well aware of God's ordinance that those who behave like this deserve to die; yet they not only do it, but even applaud others to do the same." What were these people doing? Ezekiel 20:26: "In the hope that they would draw back in horror, and know that I alone am God, I let them pollute themselves with the very gifts I gave them; they burnt their first born children as offerings to their god." They were doing other things also. God will let us chose wrong things, but there is always a consequence. Ezekiel 20:11: "There, I gave them my laws so they could live by keeping them. If anyone keeps them they shall live." Romans 1: God's retribution from heaven is being revealed even today. Our ungodliness and injustice are holding back the truth of God. What can be known about God is plain! Since the beginning God has been full of truth, mercy, justice and righteousness! No one has an excuse to ignore God and His ordinances!
Galatians 4;21 Tell me that ye desire to be under the Law, Do ye not hear the law? The law put us in bondage. Grace is freedom from the old law of sin and death. Galatians 2:21 I do not void the grace of God, for if righteousness come by the law then Christ is dead in vain. Christ is the end of the law for righteousness. Romans 4:6 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth righteousness apart from works. Romans 3:26-28 For HE is the just and the justifier of them that BELIEVE in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? By the law of works? Nay, but by the law of FAITH. Therefore we conclude a man is justified by FAITH, apart from the deeds of the law. Galatians 5:1 Stand fast, therefore in the liberty with which Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled with a yoke of bondage. If Christ has made us free we have been made free indeed. The GIFT of God is eternal life. John 3:18. Colossians 2:16 Colossians 2:20-23 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ, from the rudiments of the world, why as though living in the world are ye subject to ordinances. Touch not, taste not, handle not. Why do ye obey the commandments and doctrines of men?
God’s laws are perfect and holy. (Psalms 19:7) “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.” (Rom. 7:7). Look at it like this: “Is the law sin? Certainly not!... But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead.” (Rom. 7:7-8) "But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead." (Rom. 7:8, KJV) That is, the purpose of the law--its intention-- is good (namely, to reveal God’s righteousness--Lev. 11:45;), but the result to the law is evil (since it is the occasion of man’s sinfulness). NG & TH This is my opinion.
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