Ezra 9:1-2 v. 1. “the people… have not separated themselves” There is too much world in the church and not enough of the church in the world. The world needs Christians to live like Christ, not like the world (v. 1) Matthew 5:13-16 '"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. '

v. 2. Men, Levites and priests were marrying pagan women, against God’s law. It was not unlawful to marry a woman who renounced her pagan religion.

Mal 2:10-16 men divorced their Jewish wives to marry foreign women. God wanted children to be raised in a home with men and women of faith. The book of Ruth is testimony, a man could marry a foreign woman who renounced her pagan beliefs, and believed in the true God of Israel But when they married a pagan wife, she brought pagan idolatry into the home. The men were accepting idolatry in their homes, to be taught to their children. The world needs Christians to raise children to follow Christ (Malachi 2:15)

God would not accept their sacrifices The LORD was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. Mal 2.14

The Bible teaches that marriage is a covenant promise between a man and woman that is made before God. God takes credit for the union: “What God has joined together, let man not separate.” The world needs Christian couples to stay together (Malachi 2:14)

Ezra 9:3-5 Ezra was “appalled” by the sin of his fellow Jews. He mourned over their sin. There is a lack of being appalled by sin in our society. There is no standard of integrity, honesty, sexuality in our society. In the church, we have a standard. We believe the Scriptures are and contain the very words of God and that through the Scriptures, God graciously reveals his standards of morality. This is the basis of what is right and wrong.

The question is what do we do in the church when we don’t live according to God’s word? Do we ignore our own sin? Do we make excuses for our own sin?

The world needs Christians to be appalled by sin (vv. 3-4) When we are living or behaving in a way that is contrary to the revelation of Scripture, and, specifically, to the example that Jesus gave, we must repent.

Many times, we are appalled by other’s sins, but quite comfortable with our own. Confession is agreeing with God that our thoughts or motives or behaviors are sin. Repentance is turning from sin and toward Christ.

Ezra 9:6-7 v. 6. Ezra himself identified with the sin 8x in his prayer (I am ashamed, our guilt) As did Nehemiah (1:6), “we have sinned against you.” Daniel (9:5), “we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled” Isaiah (6:5), “I am a man of unclean lips & I dwell among a people of unclean lips” The world needs Christians to confess and repent of sin

Ezra 9:8-9 In his prayer of confession, Ezra remembered God’s grace toward them. God was so gracious to restore them. The world needs Christians to declare God’s grace • He preserved a remnant of Jews – a gracious loyalty • He staked the place for them – a gracious security • He gave light to their eyes – a gracious renewal • He revived them in slavery – a gracious resurrection • He gave them a “wall” – a gracious protection