Ezekiel 18:1-13
December 3, 2023
The Soul Who Sins Shall Die
The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge’? As I live, declares the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. 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.
“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.
“If he fathers a son who is violent, a shedder of blood, who does any of these things (though he himself did none of these things), who even eats upon the mountains, defiles his neighbor's wife, oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore the pledge, lifts up his eyes to the idols, commits abomination, lends at interest, and takes profit; shall he then live? He shall not live. He has done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon himself.
God’s ways and man’s ways, God’s righteousness, and the world's system.
· An idol is anything that you put greater value than your relationship with God.
· Does not lust after his neighbor's wife, or have sex with her.
· Does not engage in sex during her menstrual time.
· He makes sure not to oppress anyone, often it is the abuse of power or authority. It can be done to a child or mate.
· Make sure he honors his pledge to the debtor.
· Does not rob anyone always walks with integrity.
· Makes sure he helps the under-resourced.
· When helping a person by lending money, he/she never requires interest.
· Never be part of any act of injustice.
· And act as a peacemaker at all times.
· Walks in God’s statutes, and keeps His rules by acting faithfully
A person who does these things in God’s View is Righteous.
We live in a Culture that does not honor many of God’s requirements for living a righteous life. Scripture tells us we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. So, if you are like the rich young man who came to Jesus and said I’ve done all of these things, and yet when Jesus told him if he what to have eternal life to sell all that he had and give to the poor. He chose riches over eternity with God.
Now the good news is that only one person has ever lived the Christ life, and yet you and I can let Him live it in us. It is the only way anyone can meet God’s Righteousness requirement. Jesus tells us in John 14:6, “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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