Ezekiel 18:23 - Homiletics.

How God views the death of the wicked.

I. HE HAS NO PLEASURE IN IT .

1 . It might appear that he had.

2 . But on the other hand, it is certain that the fate of the sinner is no pleasure to God.

II. STILL GOD PERMITS IT .

1 . God has given freedom to his children. It can scarcely be said that God kills a wicked man. The sinner is his own executioner; his sin is its own sword of vengeance. Sin itself slays. The sinner is practically a suicide. God has no pleasure in the ruin which the foolish man brings on his own head. But there would be no moral nature left for him, and therefore no possibility of goodness, if God did not leave him the use of that freedom which he abuses in slaying his own soul.

2 . God is just, though justice may be painful. It may be said that we cannot throw the whole burden of his death on the sinner, because God has made him and has made the laws which connect death with sin. No doubt, therefore, there is a certain Divine retribution in the punishment of sin. But then God is just, and does not regard his own pleasure. It is only an epicurean deity who would refuse to punish sin because he took no pleasure in the death of the sinner.

3 . There can be no escape for the impenitent. If it were merely a question of God's pleasure, we might appeal from that to his mercy. But he already denies himself to permit the punishment. It is therefore the more sure.

III. GOD PREFERS THE LIFE OF HIS CHILDREN . If he has no pleasure in their death, he will welcome any avenue of escape. Nay, he will provide all possible means of deliverance. Hence the gospel of Christ.

1 . There is a possibility of escape through amendment. It can come no other way, or justice would be outraged; for it is better that the soul should die than that it should continue forever in sin. The life of sin is a curse to the sinner and a blight on God's world. But a return to the better way is open to all of us through Christ ( 2 Corinthians 5:20 ).

2 . This escape gives life. God loves life, or he would not have created a world teeming with living beings. He loves to gives us a new life in Christ ( 1 John 5:12 ). Let no one despair. God does not desire our death; God wills our life.