Ezekiel 18:18

Ezekiel 18:18 says, As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity.  God continues to address the sins of the fathers, who were said to have oppressed their brothers, which did not mean just those who were born in the same family, but all the people around them.   

Verse nineteen adds, Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.  God then asked if the son who had done right and kept all of His commandments should bear the iniquity of his father.  This was what was being taught, but I believe that when God had said that the iniquities of the fathers would be borne by the children that He was talking about material consequences and not spiritual.  If children continue to live in disobedience to God, they will suffer for their own disobedience spiritually, but no matter what their parents may have done, anytime they repent and come to God, they will be forgiven of their sins and restored to a right relationship with God.  Every person will only be held accountable for their own sins.   

Verse twenty continues, The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.  This is just another statement that each individual is responsible for his or her own sins.  We cannot be condemned for the sins of others, nor can we bring forgiveness to them.    

Verse twenty-one states, But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.  Then God makes a promise that if anyone turns from their wicked ways and put their faith in Him and keep His laws and statutes, they will live.  Of course, since we have all sinned, we cannot justify ourselves by keeping God’s law, since any sin brings death.  For this reason, Jesus Christ had to come into the world and follow God’s law completely so that every person who puts their faith in Him will be spared from spiritual death.  Of course, once we become a follower of Christ, we are to do our best to follow God’s law, even though we will still fail at times.  

Verse twenty-two adds. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned to him: in the righteousness that he hath done he shall live.  This may seem to say that people will not have their sin mentioned because of the righteous things that they have done, but the righteous that He has done refers to Jesus Christ.  We will never have our sins washed away by our own righteousness.

Verse twenty-three continues, All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.   This might seem to say that people could be saved by repenting and then obeying God’s law, but we can never be saved by our own righteousness, because we all fall short living by God’s commandments, so we must rely on the righteousness of Jesus Christ to redeem us.