“A new heart 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… I will also save you from all uncleanness and I will call for the corn, and will increase it and lay no famine upon you” Ezekiel 36:26-27 & 29.
LIGHT FOR NOW: In the prophecies of the prophets, the plan of God in Christ where the man in Christ is found is the focus.
From our previous studies in this subject, we have come to see clearly that the focus of Ezekiel’s prophecy in the above opening scriptures is to give a new/fresh life to the recipient. Thus, the cleansing is to the end that the recipient will become a new man. Therefore, what is being implied in this prophecy (where cleansing from filthiness; that is, separation from filth is inferred) is what God will do in man in Christ in the resurrection. Thus, the cleansing from filthiness which is separation from filth will be by making the recipient a new being by giving a new spirit. That said, let us now examine the New Testament where Ezekiel’s prophecy (Ezekiel 36:25-27; 36:29) is brought to the spotlight. Let’s first of all observe the synoptic gospels where Jesus in His words brought elucidation to Ezekiel’s prophecy. “Jesus answered and said unto him; verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Nicodemus saith unto him, how can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, verily, verily, I say unto you, except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:3-5).
The term “born again” used by Jesus in John 3 being translated implies to be born anew or born from above. Again, this refers to newness of birth or the new birth. In other words, just like we saw in previous studies that Ezekiel’s prophecy focused on a new or fresh life being given to the recipient, Jesus’ words in John 3 puts Ezekiel’s prophecy to the spotlight by his use of the term born again which implies a new birth or to be born anew. Also recall, from Ezekiel’s prophecy, the cleansing is to the end that the recipient becomes new, in tandem with Jesus’ words, the born again man is born anew; hence, he is a new man. Shortly, in the days ahead, further clarity will be ascertained to Jesus’ words which will further bring Ezekiel’s words to the spotlight. However, it is clear that what is being inferred in Ezekiel’s prophecy is the born again man as alluded by Jesus’ words in John 3. Hallelujah!!!
INSTRUCTION: Place value on knowledge like never before.
PRAYER: I declare that the eyes of my understanding are enlightened, in Jesus Name, Amen.
QUOTE: By faith in the gospel, the born again man has newness of life.
DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: JOHN CHAPTER 3; EVENING: 1CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 6.
