Why even bring physical death into this topic?
Death as a result of sin. Both physical and spiritual.
Whether God is talking to Jew or Gentile, the message is the same.
No it isn't. In the OT, sacrifices related on to the Hebrews. Nowhere are there commands for Gentiles to sacrifice. That is the difference, and therein lies the truth in "context".
Repent and live. Don't repent and die.
Clearly not referring to physical life or death.
Again, sin brought both. Had Adam never sinned, he might very well still be alive today.
And, have you not considered or read:
"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." -Jn. 10:10 (KJV)
While you may not consider this to have anything referring to "physical life" as in in adding more years, but the promise is more true than most would admit. Name one Christian whose life has not been richer, fuller because of God in their life.
I have always had great respect for you. You and posters such as yourself are the reason I put that line in my signature. Those who just accept what others tell them will have a hard time refuting what you say because most of the time your replies are well written.
But then you reply with comments like:
"You have been around to long to not know the difference."
That is why I was shocked when you brought physical death as an answer to what I said about Ezekiel 33.
Someone with your background should know better.
Unless you have a truly valid reason for bringing physical death into this answer in which case I apologize.
Again, one thing I learned in seminary was three words: "context, context, context".
What it goes back to is:
- To whom was Ezekiel sent to?
- And what was the message?
"
CHAPTER 33 Ezekiel 33:1-33 . RENEWAL OF EZEKIEL'S COMMISSION, NOW THAT HE IS AGAIN TO ADDRESS HIS COUNTRYMEN, AND IN A NEW TONE.
Heretofore his functions had been chiefly threatening; from this point, after the evil had got to its worst in the overthrow of Jerusalem, the consolatory element preponderates.
Ezekiel 24:26 Ezekiel 24:27 , till Jerusalem was overthrown, and the "escaped" came with tidings of the judgment being completed. So now, in
Ezekiel 33:21 , the tidings of the fact having arrived, he opens his heretofore closed lips to the Jews. In the interval he had prophesied as to foreign nations. The former part of the chapter, at
Ezekiel 33:2-20 , seems to have been imparted to Ezekiel on the evening previous (
Ezekiel 33:22 ), being a preparation for the latter part (
Ezekiel 33:23-33 ) imparted after the tidings had come. This accounts for the first part standing without intimation of the date, which was properly reserved for the latter part, to which the former was the anticipatory introduction [FAIRBAIRN].
watchman--
Ezekiel 33:1-9 exhibit Ezekiel's office as a spiritual watchman; so in
Ezekiel 3:16-21 ; only here the duties of the earthly watchman (compare
2 Samuel 18:24 2 Samuel 18:25 ,
2 Kings 9:17 ) are detailed first, and then the application is made to the spiritual watchman's duty (compare
Isaiah 21:6-10 ,
Hosea 9:8 ,
Habakkuk 2:1 ). "A man of their coasts" is a man specially chosen for the office
out of their whole number. So
Judges 18:2 , "five men
from their coasts"; also the
Hebrew of
Genesis 47:2 ; implying the care needed in the choice of the watchman, the spiritual as well as the temporal (
Acts 1:21 Acts 1:22 Acts 1:24-26 ,
1 Timothy 5:22 )."
Source
And point is, very very little of the OT was addressed to Gentiles.
Moreover:
"\\INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 33\\
This chapter treats of the prophet's duty, and the people's sins; contains a vindication of the justice of God; a threatening of destruction to those who remained in the land after the taking of the city; and a detection of the hypocrisy of the prophet's hearers. The duty of a watchman in general is declared, \\#Eze 33:1-6\\, an application of this to the prophet, \\#Eze 33:7\\: the sum of whose business is to warn the wicked man of his wickedness; and the consequence of doing, or not doing it, is expressed, \\#Eze 33:8,9\\, an objection of the people, and the prophet's answer to it, \\#Eze 33:10,11\\, who is bid to acquaint them, that a righteous man trusting to his righteousness, and sinning, should not live; and that a sinner repenting of his sins should not die,
\\#Eze 33:12-16\\, the people's charge of inequality in the ways of God is
retorted upon them, and removed from the Lord, and proved against them,
\\#Eze 33:17-20\\, then follows a prophecy, delivered out after the news was
brought of the taking of the city, threatening with ruin those that remained in the land, confident of safety, and that for their sins, which are particularly enumerated, \\#Eze 33:21-29\\, and the chapter is closed with a discovery of the hypocrisy of those that attended the
prophet's ministry, \\#Eze 33:30-33\\."
Source
have a hard time refuting what you say because most of the time your replies are well written.
Funny, I can introduce you to some folks in the Baptist area that have the exact opposite opinion of me.
God Bless
Till all are one.