On an evangelistic trip to Jamaica some years ago, I heard a song which has stuck with me.  I do not remember all the words.  However, the song said, “If I should die and be lost in the end, it is nobody’s fault but mine.”  This is so true.  Let’s consider Ezekiel 18. 

“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).

God is sovereign.  He had determined who will be punished.  It is those who are guilty of sin.  He references the law (Deuteronomy 24:16; 2 Chronicles 25:1-4). 

1.  The Righteous Man

“But if a man is just and does what is lawful and right… If he has walked in My statutes and kept My judgments faithfully – he is just; he shall surely live!” (Ezekiel 18:5-9).

God does not punish the righteous.  He is not that way in dealing with man.

A clarification should be made between consequences of others sins (e.g. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah went into Babylonian captivity due to Judah’s national sins).  However, God does not hold the righteous as guilty.

2.  The Wicked Son

“If he begets a son who is a robber, or a shedder of blood… If he has oppressed the poor and the needy… If he has done any of these abominations, he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him” (Ezekiel 18:10-13).

Righteousness is not inherited.  A righteous man may have a wicked son (2 Chronicles 29:1-2 cf. 33:1-3).

Moreover, a wicked son is not exempt from punishment simply because he had a righteous mother or father.  Each is responsible for himself.

3.  The Righteous Son

“If, however, he begets a son who sees all the sins which his father has done, and considers but does not do likewise… But has executed My judgements and walked in My statutes – he shall not die for the iniquity of his father; he shall live!  As for his father… behold he shall die in his iniquity” (Ezekiel 18:14-18).

Guilt is not inherited.  A wicked man can have a righteous son (2 Chronicles 28:1-3 cf. 29:1-2; 2 Chronicles 33:21-23 cf. 34:1-2).  Each is responsible for himself.

Moreover, righteousness is not credited from the son to the father.  One is not counted as righteous because of the character of one’s children.

4.  The Repentant One

“But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.  None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him” (Ezekiel 18:21-22).

God is a God of second (and third, and fourth…) chances.  He does not want us to be lost.  “‘Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?’ says the Lord God, ‘and not that he should turn from his ways and live?’” (Ezekiel 18:23).

5.  The Apostate One

“But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live?  All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered… he shall die” (Ezekiel 18:24).  

Being righteous once upon a time is not enough.  He wants us to live a faithful life.  It is possible to go back into a sinful lifestyle.  “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’  And then I will declare to them ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7:22-23).

“Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:8).