But when I say to the wicked, ‘You will surely die,’ and he turns from his sin and practices justice and righteousness, if a wicked man restores a pledge, pays back what he has taken by robbery, walks by the statutes which ensure life without committing iniquity, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of his sins that he has committed will be remembered against him. He has practiced justice and righteousness; he shall surely live.
Ezekiel 33:31
So My people come to you in crowds, sit in front of you, and hear your words, but they don’t obey them. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest profit. Yes, to them you are like a singer of love songs who has a beautiful voice and plays skillfully on an instrument. They hear your words, but they don’t obey them.
The turning from iniquity is accompanied by works consistent with repentance. A true change in one’s heart will always be evidenced by a change in their actions. I guess good deeds don’t always reflect a transformed heart as there are many who are simply skilled actors; however, when a person’s heart has been changed there will be good deeds. True repentance is always accompanied by just and right actions. This is why Christ calls us to judge a tree by its fruit – words and actions.
Turn. Do good. Live.
Turning Fruit – Ezekiel 33:14-16
