Ezekiel 18:1-32
This long passage is about personal responsibility. The penalty for sin is death, it always was and it always will be.
If a man lives a righteous life, he will live. If he has a son who does evil, the son will die for his sin. If the son in turn has a son, and this grandson does what is right, he is not to die for his father's sins, he will live.
Then, if a person lives a wicked life, but then turns around and does what is right, then he will live, his wickedness is forgiven. But if a righteous man turns from the right and does evil, he will die for his sin.
The conclusion is, "Repent! Turn away from all your offences you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone," declares the Sovereign Lord. "Repent and live." (verses 31-32.)
God has already provided the remedy for us to turn our lives around; His Son Jesus Christ came to pay off our full debt of sin, so we can be forgiven. When we realize our culpability and His remedy, then He performs a miracle in each of us in sending His Holy Spirit to inhabit our bodies, causing our dead spirits to be alive--born spiritually into God's own family--with the power and authority to have the victory over all the addictions that had us in bondage; now we are free, and we will live forever!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
