This chapter reminds us that he that sins shall die.
“The soul that sinneth shall die. ...” - Ezekiel 18:20
The one that does wicked shall die in his iniquity. No one bears the sins of another. The father does not answer for the sins of the son, nor does the son answer for the sins of the father. This chapter ends, once and for all, the doctrine of inherited sin, or Calvin’s total depravity doctrine.
- Ecclesiastes 7:29
We are born at one with God, not separated by sin, or Adam’s sin. We separate from God when we choose to sin.
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward,not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” - 2 Peter 3:9
- Ezekiel 18:30-32
God will judge according to each one’s ways.
We must have a repentant heart, and be willing to turn back to God in order to be saved from the sin that separates us from God.
- Ezekiel 18:20
The Soul that Sins Shall Die
What does it mean?
- Romans 3:23
- Romans 5:12
Aren’t we all sinners?
The sinner is one who lives in sin, with no repentance.
By Adam sin entered the world, but, we all sin, and are deserving of death. It only takes one sin to separate us from God.
At some point a child becomes accountable for the choice to sin. It only takes one sin to separate us from God. We must choose to strive to live a life that is not sinful.
The soul that lives in sin dies the second death.
- Hebrews 9:27
- Revelation 2:11
- Revelation 21:8
What does it mean that the soul that sinneth it shall die?
Those who have been washed in the blood of Christ are not sinners whose soul shall die. Those who reject God’s commands that is the soul that sinneth, and it shall die.
Yet, God has provided a way to return to the Lord.
Good Alone Won't Save Us
- Ezekiel 18:21-29, Repent & Live
He considers and turns away from his transgressions. The individual that sins will be guilty of his own sins. The individual that repents will be forgiven.
- Revelation 2:10
- 1 John 1:7
If we obey Jesus Christ, he is faithful to cleanses us of our sin. God has no desire for anyone to be lost. In verse 23 God calls on them to repent while they can.
- Luke 13:3
While God is longsuffering, that longsuffering will come to an end. After you die it is too late to change.
- 2 Corinthians 6:2, today is the day of salvation.
Knowing there is an appointment to die, and to be judged, it behooves us to treat today as the day of salvation. If we don’t live faithful then we will be lost.
The good things we’ve done in the past will not save us. All the good we may do won’t be remembered if we are not obedient to God, if we do not repent from our sins.
If we fail to be faithful to the word of God we will be lost. Many believe that more good will outweigh bad. But, vs. 24 says the good deed will not be remembered if a man dies in his trespass.
- Matthew 7:21
Only HE that does the will of the Father will enter the kingdom of heaven.
“Should it not concern s that there is no such superstitious prayer in the New Testament? Should it not concern us the Bible never uses the phrases, “Accept Jesus into your heart” or “Invite Christ into your life”? It’s not the gospel we see being preached. It’s modern evangelism built on sinking sand and it runs the risk of disillusioning millions of souls. That’s a very dangerous thing to lead people to think that they are a Christian when they have not Biblically responded to the gospel. If we’re not careful, we’ll take the life-blood out of Christianity and put cool-aide in its place so that it will taste better to the crowd. It’s not just dangerous. It’s damning.” - Dr. David Plant, Baptist Preacher
- Matthew 7:22, many will say…
Some people will say, “look what I've done” The Lord says to them, “I never knew you.”
If we don’t work God’s work, we are working iniquity.
Baptism is not a work of men, it is doing the will of God. It is what God through His word has told us to do.
Like the time of Ezekiel people today think they can do their own will and still be saved. They think, Once Saved Always Saved. And, they think they are doing good so they will be saved. But, it’s not what they’ve done that is good, it’s that they need to do the will of God in order to be saved.
Unless, we repent and turn to God and do His will, we will die the second death and be eternally be separated from God.
The Bible tells us what we need to be do to be saved, we must hear the word, believe that Jesus is the Son of God, repent of our sins, confess that Jesus is God’s son, be baptized for the forgiveness of sin, and live a faithful life for the rest of our lives.
