Ezekiel 18:20

"The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself."


Devotional

This exhortation, given by the Lord God, came to Israel during a time when they were proliferating a proverb amongst themselves that said: 

     ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes,

     And the children’s teeth are set on edge’ vs 2

Now the proverb was attempt on their part to accuse God of dealing unjustly with them. Of His bringing to bear their fathers sins upon them; and thus in response to how they thought God was dealing with them, they thought it only fair that God should not repay them for their sins, but rather He should repay their descendants (see Ezekiel 18:19-32).  
Therefore the Lord God through His prophet Ezekiel refutes their misunderstandings of His dealings with them (and all people, Ezk.18:4). Thus through Ezekiel God makes it clear that it is not the sins that ones parents have done that ultimately brings His judgment on oneself, rather it is what we have done, or not done, that brings God's judgment on us when it is nessecary. And thus God says if a son (or daughter) sees the sins which their father (or mother) commits and instead of following them turns away from the sins of their parents, and thus chooses to do what is right in the sight of God, that person shall live, they shall have God's favor. For that person is doing what is just and right in the sight of God why then should they be punished? Now regarding this principal consider King Hezekiah who was by all accounts one of the most Godly of all of Judah's kings, though a man who came from an ungodly home. Nonetheless as Hezekiah grew and he saw all the evil that his father had committed when he reigned (see 2 Kings 16:1-4), instead of following it, Hezekiah forsook his fathers ways, and instead choose God's way (see 2 Kings 18:1-8; 2 Chr. 29:1-31:21). Therefore God made Hezekiah to prosper greatly during his own reign (see 2 Kings 18:6-7), even when God's imminent judgment was looming over the entire nation for their disobedience towards Him.
Now this principal also applies to ones children; for just as God does not punish children for the sins of their parents, so to God does not punish parents for the sins of their offspring. Thus God says through Ezekiel if a person has a child that is a thief, a robber, an adulterer, or one who sheds innocent blood, or mistreats the poor etc. God's wrath rests on that child/person who commits whatever sins they commit, not on their parent/s. "For the soul who sins shall die."
God then takes it a step further and says, if a person is living just and right in His sight, but then turns away from doing what is just and right, and instead sins, then that person is guilty in His sight, they have sinned, and thus God says they shall die (Ezk. 18:20; also see Ezekiel 3:16-21 as this parallels the principals here). Now these exhortations are given in light of Israel's relationship to God through the Old Covenant. A Covenant that clearly has strict punitive measures attached to it if one fails in it. Nonetheless the Scriptural and unchanging principal remains: "the soul who sins shall die". For on one hand there is the Scriptural warnings (in both the Old and New Testaments) of God's wrath and judgment finding everyone who sins (consider Rom 2:4-16). Yet their is also His New Covenant Promise of new and everlasting life to everyone who repents and believes in the Lord Jesus Christ. For just as each person will ultimately suffer God's judgment for their own sins, so also each person will live or die eternally, based on their own faith in, or rejection of, Jesus Christ as Lord of all.
 

Now the Israelites in one sense were being punished for the sins of their fathers (that is those sins that their fathers committed, and which they themselves were continuing on in, and thus they were being punished for those things in their present tense. But only because the Israelites were unmoved out of them. They like all people everywhere have the option to turn from their sins, turn to God, and be healed of them as Jesus commands us all to do. For in reading the O.T. one can clearly see how many times God sent His prophets to warn them, and testify against them, to turn them back from their sins to Himself so that their own iniquities would not be their ruin (Ezekiel 18:30-31). For God has no delight in the death of anyone (Ezekiel 18:32). But rather that they would listen to Him (Jer 7:1-27). And thus we read of Jerusalem's horrible plight in the Book of Lamentations as Jeremiah the prophet mourns the punishment of God's people for their and their fathers sins (Lam 5:7).

Now I don't no where your at in your faith journey, but know this that above all else, that God loves you! Unconditionally and absolutely God loves you! Not because what you have done, or not done, or even can do. God simply loves you because He is love, and He made you in His image to both love Him and know Him. Therefore He wants you to be in a loving relationship with Himself, so you can personally and powerfully know Him as well. For God knows absolutely everything there is to know about you (all the good, as well as all the bad) and still He loves you. That is paramount. Yet as with O.T. Israel there is a barrier to our being in a relationship with God and experiencing His love and that is our sins. For it is both our sin nature (which we inherited from Adam) as well as the sins we have committed and continue to commit as free will individuals that keep us separated from God. And thus we cannot know God personally until our sins are dealt with. Now in order to deal with all our sins once and for all, God sent His Son the Lord Jesus Christ to suffer and die a horrible crucifixion death in our place so that God could look on Jesus' suffering and death as fulling His justice and judgment on our sins, and so Jesus is not only our Savior He is our Substitute having died in our place for us. That is why in the Old Covenant a sacrificial lamb was offered and put to death in place of the offender, so that God could look on it's shed blood and be satisified with His justice having been served. For Scripture says that without the sheeding of blood their is no remission of sins (Heb 9:22). Therefore the Lord Jesus Christ willingly died in our place, so that whoever looks to Him, trusting His death on the cross for them, will have remission of all their sins and eternal life.
That is God's Promise in God's Word to all people everywhere (John 3:15-16). For again God has no delight in the death of anyone. But rather wants all people to come to know Him through His Son. Therefore I implore be reconciled to God! For God sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to suffer and die for us all, to take God's punishment for all our sins on Himself, by His being crucified for them so that we by faith in Him can have new and everlasting life! For that is how God now deals with all of humanity through His New Covenant ushered by the Lord Jesus Christ. If you believe and would like to seal your decision for the Lord Jesus Christ and receive His life, why not pray a simple prayer in faith asking Jesus Christ  to come into your heart and life to be your Lord and Savior, for once that is done, trust me everything else in this life is a bonus!

Therefore simply pray this a prayer, a prayer based on what Billy Graham commonly uses:  Dear Lord Jesus I know that I have sinned and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You were crucified for my sins so I could be forgiven and reconciled back to God. Therefore I now invite You into my heart and life, to be my Lord and Savior, both now and forever amen.

 

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Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1982

Are you Prepared for Jesus Christ's Second Coming?

Now in light of growing cataclysmic climatic events around the globe one is tempted to speculate on the Lord’s return. For the Lord Jesus said as the end draws near, these kinds of events will increase, both in number and in severity. Yet just knowing that was not His point, rather our preparedness. Since truly no one knows the day or the hour Christ will return to judge the world in righteousness and set up His Kingdom. Therefore we can miss God’s call to us all to be ready by speculating about these kinds of things, and never truly come to a saving knowledge of God, or even put our knowledge of God into practical use. Therefore throughout the gospels, Jesus warns us over and over again, to be ready, for either His Second Coming, or our going to meet Him (Matt. 24:36-51, 25:1-46; Luke 12:13-21, 13:1-5; 23-30; 35-48, 14:15-24, 16:9-12; 19-31 etc.). Now being ready begins by having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ Himself, for that is the only way into heaven (John 14:6). By having a grace based relationship with God the Father through faith in Jesus Christ His Son (Eph. 2:8-9). Everything else then that is done in Christ's Name, is in reality, just an outworking of one's relationship with Jesus Christ and His life in us (Gal. 2:21). Good works then are not a means to salvation, they are the fruits of it. And thus our faith in Jesus is largely exemplified, and will be eternally rewarded, by the use of our talents and resources here and now; both inside and outside the house of faith.
Now if you have not yet come to know the Lord Jesus Christ the you most certainly can; for that is why Jesus came forth from God so that we all might know God through Him (John 17:3). For knowing God through Christ is paramount. It is paramount in this life (for purpose; meaning and fulfillment) and it is parmount for eternity. For only by faith in Jesus can we stand justified in the sight of God (Rom. 5:1). That is why the gospel is an urgent message that requires a response from us all in this life. Either of acceptance or rejection. Of in faith acknowledging to the Lord Jesus our own sinfulness; and thus our great need for Him and His crucifixion death to save us from our sins; then by His resurrection life He now brings us to life by His Spirit indwelling our persons the moment we believe in Him (Eph. 1:13-14). Or rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ and tragically carrying on in ones sins and unbelief and thus remaining separated from the Life and Love of God; which ends in eternal damnation for those who do not believe (John 3:16-21).                                                                             
If you would like to have peace with God and live life abundantly and be prepared for the Lord Jesus Christ's Second Coming please by faith receive Him into your heart and life, as the Scripture says: "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:12-13

By a simple prayer of faith you can have remission of all your sins and eternal life and begin a new life with Christ. Simply pray in faith: Dear Lord Jesus I know that I am a sinner and I need not only Your forgiveness but also Your Person and life to be in and rule mine. Therefore I now invite You to be My Lord and Savior, for now and forever, amen.

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982

John 10:9-11

“I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. ¹⁰ “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. ¹¹“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

Devotional:
When Jesus described Himself as the door He was using more than just a metaphor which was familiar to those in the culture into which He spoke it. He was declaring that He Himself is the way to life, both life eternal and life abundant here and now.
Life eternal that is regenerated and renewed by the Spirit of God by which we come into a personal relationship with God the Father through faith in Jesus Christ's Person as Lord (Titus 3:4-7). That is the promise of God and the grace of God towards us all who put our faith in Jesus Christ crucified and resurrected from the dead (Rom. 10:9-10, 13).
Life abundant. As we put away the old things and attitudes which were hostile to God, and our fellow person, and embrace the new things that are according to Christ. “For if anyone is in Christ they are a new creation, old things have passed away, behold all things have become new.” ^{2 Cor. 5:17} Therefore having been justified (that is declared righteous in the sight of God) by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1) we are being sanctified by the Spirit of God, and thus we are to live out this new nature within us as God's redeemed children (Gal. 5:16-23).

Again Jesus came so that we have life and have it more abundantly. Life, which begins by being in a personal relationship with God the Father through faith in Jesus Christ's Person (John 14:26). For that is where life is found by knowing God and Jesus personally (John 17:3). For life true, rich and full is found only in the Person of Jesus Christ whose Spirit imparts not only His life within us but also the fruits of His life. Which are the fruits of the Spirit of God (Gal. 5:22-23). That is the Holy Spirit who not only brings to life everyone who believes in Jesus Christ the Lord, but also unites us to Him, and each other, and imparts each believer supernaturally with these. Now these fruits are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self control. These then are to govern a believers new life in Christ, rather than sin or the Law (Gal. 5:16-23).

Now as one draws nearer to the heart of God these fruits will become more apparent in one's own heart and life. Therefore as new born children of God we can hope for ongoing positive change and growth as we yield our lives and will to God to be Spirit led rather than mislead by our old sinful desires. Therefore we will grow up into Christian maturity as we keep the Lord Jesus Christ's commandments through these (Rom. 13:9-10). Therefore we find freedom to worship God and enjoy life in all the creative genius He gives us that respects these. For we are, as Jesus said free to go in and go out and find pasture. Free to live and free to love. For the Spirit of God goes with us and that is how the reality of Christ in is to be manifested through us, by our love for each other (John 13:34-35). Thus the life of Christ is seen in us as we live according to these. Therefore don’t let the thief steal your liberty, to live life fully and love all people completely which Jesus Christ purchased for us all at Calvary. Instead go in and experience worship of God and fellowship with other believers, then go out and experience life together; believer and unbeliever alike in all its fullness. For that is what Jesus desires for us all. To receive eternal life from Him and then go live it out; for in doing so we become complete and mature human beings who positively impact the lives and societies which we live in.

Now in contrast to Jesus, who comes bringing life in all its fullness; the thief only comes to steal, kill and destroy. All which is contrary to God's Nature and Jesus Christ's Person as Savior and Restorer of life. That is how you will know the work of God in people's lives (Consider Luke 9:51-56). For God is above all else a God who loves. Whose love motivates Him to not only suffer death on a cross for our sins remission (John 3:16) but also to seek out us when we have strayed from Him (Luke 15:3-7). And thus through Jesus He offers mercy and restoration to life to all who repent and believe in Him through the gospel (Matt. 9:9-13; Mark 1:15). Therefore Jesus invites us all to come and drink of His living waters, which is His Word and His Person that He pours into every soul who believes in Him (John 4:14). For where God is there is life (John 10:10) and there is love (1 John 4:7-11). That is the sure mark of His Presence in and amongst us.

Again unlike the Son of God who brings healing in His wings (Mal. 4:2); the thief only comes to destroy. That is the measure of him and those who are his (John 8:44). For again Jesus is the Good Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep that He might save people's lives from sin; Satan and ultimately judgment. Therefore Jesus' character unlike the thieves always manifests itself in self sacrificing love. That is what the Good Shepherd does; He lays down His own life so that through Him we might all have eternal life by faith in His Person. Now if you haven't yet come to receive the Lord Jesus Christ and thus begin to know Him in a personal way, please freely do so, as the Lord invites all to open their hearts to Him and receive life through His Person: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." ^{Rev. 3:20}

By a simple prayer of faith you can ask Jesus into your heart and life to be your Lord and Savior; if you would like to do that simply pray something like this: Dear Lord Jesus I believe that Your are the Savior of the world and that You were crucified to save everyone who believes in You from their sins and the judgment to come. For in doing so You have opened the door to new and everlasting life for everyone who believes in you. Therefore I now invite You into My heart and life, to be both my Lord and Savior, amen.

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982

The Kingdom of God and Eternal life

The Kingdom of God is the realm of God foretold in the Old Testament and proclaimed as having come to us in the New Testament through the Person of God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. And thus after John the Baptist as Jesus’ forerunner finished his course as the Last Old Testament prophet. The Lord Jesus Christ went out and preached the gospel or good news about the Kingdom of God saying: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” ^{Mark 1:15}

That is what the Lord Jesus Christ commands of everyone. To repent and believe. Now repentance essentially begins when someone has a change of mind about themselves and or their lifestyle, when they are living apart from, or in disobedeince to God. And thus repetance is a turning away from one's sin (and or unbelief) and a turning, or a returning to God. That is what the Lord Jesus' parable of the prodigial son clearly portrays (See Luke 15:11-32). For eternal life is the gift of God to everyone who repents and believes in the King of the Kingdom of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” ^{John 3:16}

For God having shut up the whole world under sin, through the Law. He has made redemption from sin and entrance into the Kingdom of God only possible to those who believe in Jesus Christ crucified for them (Rom. 3:19-28; 6:23). As Jesus said in John chapter three when speaking with a teacher of the Law named Nicodemus. “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” ^{John 3:3}

That is having been born naturally (by blood and water) so must we be born again by the Holy Spirit by faith in Jesus’ Person to enter the Kingdom of God, as Jesus said: …“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ⁶ “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ^{John 3:5-6}

It is then the Spirit of God, because of the Work of God, through the Son of God, who brings us to life and into the Kingdom of God when we believe in Jesus Christ crucified for our sins remission, and risen from the dead for our justification (Rom. 4:25). As Jesus says: “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” ^{John 6:63}

Therefore we only the Kingdom of God by faith in Jesus’ Christ’s Person. We don’t enter by our own works and efforts. We only enter as repentant sinners who look to the Lord Jesus Christ crucified in our place; to take the punishment of our sins for us. And thus we only enter by the grace of God (Eph. 2:8-9). If you are unsure of your own standing, whether inside or outside of the Kingdom of God, why not settle the matter today. By first acknowledging that you are a sinner in need of salvation, and asking the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart and life to save you from your sins, you can enter the Kingdom of God and have eternal life. If you believe in Jesus please pray something like this:

Dear Lord Jesus I believe that You were crucified to save me from my sins and make a way for me to enter the Kingdom of God by faith in Your Person. I also believe You rose from the dead as proof of Your Person coming from God. But also of the eternal life that You freely bestow on everyone who believes in You, by Your Holy Spirit. Therefore I now invite You Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, to be My Lord, Savior and King. Confessing You alone as Lord and trusting You alone for my salvation, in Your Precious Name Lord Jesus amen.

Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.