7 Attitudes of Repentance
7 Attitudes of Repentance
Ezra 10
What's Going on in the Book of Ezra?
537 BC - First Group of Jews return after 70 years of exile.
536 BC - Foundation of the Temple is established.
520 BC - Temple work resumes.
516 BC - Temple is completed.
458 BC - Ezra returns to restore law and practices.
457 BC - Repentance that leads to Reforms on intermarriage.
Definition of Repentance
Repentance is a gift from God where a person's attitude about God and that person's sin changes.
Two Things Happen when Repentance takes place
1. Confession - Agreeing with God about our Sin (Last Week Message)
2. Action - Amputation of Sin & Allegiance to God (This Week)
Two Different Covenants to Distinguish
1. Mosaic Covenant (Ezra's Time)
2. New Covenant (Church's Time)
Mosaic Covenant - God's agreement to bless His people by their observance of the Law of Moses.
- The Grace of God through this covenant shows our utter sinfulness but also God's mercy to forgive.
New Covenant - God's agreement to bless His people for the forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus Christ.
- The Grace of God through this covenant shows us the ONE we trust in to deliver God's mercy and provide forgiveness for our sins.
Two Verses that show "purity" toward God but with two different methods:
Deuteronomy 7:2-4 (Mosaic Covenant)
1 Corinthians 7:12-16 (New Covenant)
The Point of Context
Chapter 10 of Ezra is not giving us a license to divorce.
Chapter 10 is speaking about the actions of repentance that are taken to protect the purity of our relationship with God.
7 Attitudes of Repentance
1. "I have Hope! God wants me back!" (vs. 2)
- John 3:16
2. "I have Desire! I want to be right with God!" (vs. 3)
- Matthew 6:33
3. "I have a Teachable Heart! I want to submit to the counsel of God's people! (vs. 3)
- Proverbs 12:15
4. "I have a Heart to Obey! I want to follow God's Word!" (vs. 3)
- 1 John 2:3-6
5. "I have a Holy Fear about my sin! (vs. 9-10)
- Romans 3:23
6. "I have a Resolve to see this through! I want God to cut out the root of this sin! (vs. 11-12)
- Matthew 5:30
7. "I have Patience! I will endure the time needed to see healing come about! (vs. 13)
- Romans 8:23-30
Conclusion of Ezra
- Relocation didn't restore.
- The Second Temple didn't bring the people closer to God.
- Ezra was a good scribe, but not a savior of God's people.
But.....
One would relocate in order to restore!
- John 1:14 & Hebrews 1:1-3
One would come and establish a personal connection with God!
- John 14:6 & Hebrews 7:24-27
One would come to write a new law on our hearts!
- John 17:3 & Hebrews 8:7-13