Facing Death or Life?

           DEATH

Ezekiel

God challenges His people to set aside the casual understandings we hear in the culture around us. As a matter of fact, the LORD says not to carry them forward by repeating them.

The example given is about fathers/parents being blamed for the attitudes and behaviors of their offspring. 

God claims every soul in every generation as His personal property.

God explains that each person/soul that sets itself up against Him will perish.

Acts

God proclaims that every misdeed among men is actually an offense against Him. As a matter of fact, the LORD says that such behavior, unconfessed and unrepented, kills.

The example given is about a husband and wife not keeping their word. 

God states that not keeping a commitment is the same as lying.

God explains that the result of consistent, arrogant disobedience is death.

LIFE

John

Jesus reports that His role is to bring abundant life to those facing death.

Jesus declares that He is The Way, the only way to a joyous life now and forever. 

Ezekiel 18:1-4  (NIV1984)

The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel:

“‘The fathers eat sour grapes,
    and the children’s teeth are set on edge’?

“As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel. For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son—both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die.

Acts 5:1-11  (NIV1984)

Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.

Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.”

When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”

“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”

Peter said to her, “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

John 10:10 B  (KJV)

I [Jesus] am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

John 14:6  (NIV1984)
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."