The second Sunday of March, the 11th, 2007, is known as the 3rd Sunday in Lent with the following three assigned readings from the Revised Lutheran Lectionary: Ezekiel 33:7-20 (Watchman); 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 (God is faithful) and Luke 13:1-9 (Tower of Siloam). Ezekiel 33:20 is the text chosen to interpret and apply which reads, “O house of Israel, I will judge every one of you according to his own ways.”

Who looks forward to being judged by God according to his own ways? Very few people as is evident from the myriad of man-made religions that provide safety from their god(s) by means of one’s works. Yet at first reading it appears that this verse from Ezekiel is no different from all other religions if God is going to judge us according to our works.

In fact, one of the problems with many in the evangelical movement today is that the cross of Christ took care of my sins up to the time when I decided to become a Christian but then I have to work at making sure that I remain saved. Listening to such preachers on the radio and TV gives one the impression that a human being can actually reach a level of goodness of rarely sinning and everything in his life is working out grand.

How then do we understand this reading from Ezekiel 33:20? The key word in the English is “ways” which most people think means one’s works. However, the Hebrew language is better translated as road, street or highway. It is what Jesus speaks of as the two WAYS to heaven–the broad and the narrow. The broad way is populated by most people who imagine that their works make a difference to God as to whether He loves you and will save you.

The two ways are also referred to as the theology of self-glory on the broad way and the theology of the cross on the narrow way. How can we differentiate the two? For all other religions in the world, the mark of distinction focuses on the works of the individual. If he is obedient to god(s), he will be saved. That’s the broad road.

In contrast, the theologian of the cross finds his only and full salvation at the cross of Jesus Christ. Having had one’s sins forgiven and then dressed in the robe of Christ’s righteousness, there is nothing more a Christian can do to become more saved. Being saved is like being a child of your parents. There is no neutral area; it is either yes or no. And that decision for you to become a child of God was not yours; it was God’s. You were adopted by grace through faith alone in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord.

Therefore, it is NOT true that the difference between the broad and narrow way is that the former consists of sinners while the latter consists of obedient saints. No, instead, both ways are populated by sinners! The difference is that the broad way has a parade of self-righteous unrepentant unbelievers while the narrow way has a remnant of Christ-righteous repentant believers. Though both are sinners, one dies in their sin while the other has already died from their sin in Christ.

So on Judgment Day, God will examine the way on which you are found. If it is the broad way of the wicked, then your eternal god is Satan. If it is the narrow way of the believer, then your eternal God is the holy Trinity in heaven itself. The way of the Law is your works but the way of the Gospel consists of the works of Christ and Him alone!