Reading: Ezekiel 18
My Verse: "Behold, all souls are mine;
the soul of the father
as well as the soul of the son is mine;
the soul who sins shall die" (Ezekiel 18:4).
This chapter addresses an old proverb that basically states that a "father's sins carry over to the son." You, LORD God are stating definitively that this is simply not so! Each of us must answer for ourselves.
You, LORD God, state:
"If a man is righteous and does what is just and right -
if he does not eat upon the mountains
or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel,
does not defile his neighbor's wife
or approach a woman in her time of menstrual impurity,
does not oppress anyone,
but restores to the debtor his pledge
commits no robbery,
gives his bread to the hungry
and covers the naked with a garment,
does not lend at interest
or take any profit
withholds his hand from injustice,
executes true justice between man and man,
walks in my statutes,
and keeps my rules by acting faithfully -
he is righteous;
he shall surely live, declares the LORD God" (Ezekiel 18:5-9).
And, you also say:
"If he fathers a son who is violent,
a shedder of blood,
who does any of these things . . .
he shall surely die;
his blood shall be upon himself" (Ezekiel 18:10-13).
There is this amazing passage in chapter 14 that speaks to this, how no one is spared if they commit sin by denying You, LORD God!
"Son of man when a land sins against me by acting faithlessly,
and I stretch out my hand against it and break its supply of bread
and send famine upon it,
and cut off from it man and beast,
even if these three men,
Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it,
they would deliver but their own lives by their righteousness,
declares the LORD God" (Ezekiel 14:12-14).
One is not saved simply by association with a righteous/saved person.
But the wonderful thing is that one (as long as one has life!) need not stay in their sin!
You are very clear about this.
"But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed
and keeps all my statutes
and does what is just and right,
he shall surely live;
he shall not die.
None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him . . .
Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked,
declares the LORD God,
and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?" (Ezekiel 18:21-23).
Thank You, LORD God for this! I am encouraged to pray for loved ones who do not know You. I am encouraged to not be anxious of those who so blatantly sin against You. Each soul answers to You!
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
My Verse: "Behold, all souls are mine;
the soul of the father
as well as the soul of the son is mine;
the soul who sins shall die" (Ezekiel 18:4).
This chapter addresses an old proverb that basically states that a "father's sins carry over to the son." You, LORD God are stating definitively that this is simply not so! Each of us must answer for ourselves.
You, LORD God, state:
"If a man is righteous and does what is just and right -
if he does not eat upon the mountains
or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel,
does not defile his neighbor's wife
or approach a woman in her time of menstrual impurity,
does not oppress anyone,
but restores to the debtor his pledge
commits no robbery,
gives his bread to the hungry
and covers the naked with a garment,
does not lend at interest
or take any profit
withholds his hand from injustice,
executes true justice between man and man,
walks in my statutes,
and keeps my rules by acting faithfully -
he is righteous;
he shall surely live, declares the LORD God" (Ezekiel 18:5-9).
And, you also say:
"If he fathers a son who is violent,
a shedder of blood,
who does any of these things . . .
he shall surely die;
his blood shall be upon himself" (Ezekiel 18:10-13).
There is this amazing passage in chapter 14 that speaks to this, how no one is spared if they commit sin by denying You, LORD God!
"Son of man when a land sins against me by acting faithlessly,
and I stretch out my hand against it and break its supply of bread
and send famine upon it,
and cut off from it man and beast,
even if these three men,
Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it,
they would deliver but their own lives by their righteousness,
declares the LORD God" (Ezekiel 14:12-14).
One is not saved simply by association with a righteous/saved person.
But the wonderful thing is that one (as long as one has life!) need not stay in their sin!
You are very clear about this.
"But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed
and keeps all my statutes
and does what is just and right,
he shall surely live;
he shall not die.
None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him . . .
Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked,
declares the LORD God,
and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?" (Ezekiel 18:21-23).
Thank You, LORD God for this! I am encouraged to pray for loved ones who do not know You. I am encouraged to not be anxious of those who so blatantly sin against You. Each soul answers to You!
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
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