< Ezekiel 18 >

A recurring complaint among the people of Israel was that they suffered the judgments of God because of the sins of their fathers, which they considered unfair and expressed this in a proverb.v.2Waiting for response for Ezekiel 18:2 It is true that Israel, being a theocracy, was in God’s control and peoples’ behaviour brought either blessing or cursing, the consequences of which could affect succeeding generations. Nevertheless, in the eternal issues of life and death, everyone will be judged by God according to his own deeds. If a person is righteous, he shall live.vs.5-9Waiting for response for Ezekiel 18:5-9

If the wicked turn from his wickedness and do righteousness, he shall also live. If the righteous turn away from righteousness, he shall die. This is irrespective of the character and deeds of his father.vs.10-18Waiting for response for Ezekiel 18:10-18 This is perfectly just, although Israel thought it unfair.v.19Waiting for response for Ezekiel 18:19 but the clear principle God applies is that: “The soul that sinneth, it shall die”.v.20Waiting for response for Ezekiel 18:20

Notice that souls can die! A false doctrine of most religions is that we are immortal souls and cannot really die. The truth, however, is that we are indeed souls and will perish in oblivion if we are accounted sinners when judged by God. If, on the other hand, we are accounted righteous souls, we shall live eternally. The vital requirement is that the wicked turn from his wickedness and the righteous continue in his righteousness. Then they shall live, otherwise they shall die.vs.21-29Waiting for response for Ezekiel 18:21-29 God’s exhortation to the Jews then, and to us now, is to repent, cast away transgressions, and develop a new heart and spirit in righteousness that, in God’s mercy, we may live eternally.vs.30-32Waiting for response for Ezekiel 18:30-32