August 20, 2025 -Just God

EZEKIEL 17:1-19:14

Chronological Bible Readings

Ezekiel 18:17bHe will not die for his father’s sin; he will surely live. 18 But his father will die for his own sin, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother and did what was wrong among his people. 19 “Yet you ask, ‘Why does the son not share the guilt of his father?’ Since the son has done what is just and right and has been careful to keep all my decrees, he will surely live. 20 The one who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them.

So many words to basically say you reap what you sow and that you are responsible for your own actions. No one else has to or can bear the weight of your sin and you do not have to bear the weight of anyone else's sin if you are walking with God. However, if you do as many of the Israelites did and follow in the footsteps of your sinful parent then you will fall under the same penalty for your sin as they did.

Ezekiel 18:21 “But if a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die. 22 None of the offenses they have committed will be remembered against them. Because of the righteous things they have done, they will live. 23 Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?

What good news that God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked. You can turn from your sins and follow God, and your offenses will not be remembered. Oh, but wait it says turn away from ALL sins and keep ALL His decrees. That is not possible, is it? Even those who God favored and were known to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord couldn't get it all right, but God knew their heart. And that is why He gave them the sacrificial system as an example and way to be obedient and have their sins forgiven. If your heart was right, you would desire to do all the things God instructed including sacrifices. When they could not be done because they were in captivity if their heart was desiring and willing to do it I think God honored that.

Ezekiel 18:24 “But if a righteous person turns from their righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked person does, will they live? None of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness they are guilty of and because of the sins they have committed, they will die.

At the same time no matter how many righteous acts you perform if your heart turns to evil your actions will follow, and those righteous acts will mean nothing. Those evil acts will cause them to die.

Do right and live do wrong and die. Sounds fair.

Ezekiel 18:25 “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear, you Israelites: Is my way unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust? 26 If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and commits sin, they will die for it; because of the sin they have committed they will die. 27 But if a wicked person turns away from the wickedness they have committed and does what is just and right, they will save their life. 28 Because they consider all the offenses they have committed and turn away from them, that person will surely live; they will not die. 29 Yet the Israelites say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Are my ways unjust, people of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust?

Our God is a just God. This is how it is and that is why we needed Jesus. None of us can live a fully righteous life. Jesus came to take the penalty for our sin that we cannot avoid completely and before knowing Him we didn't even try to avoid it. Justice says we should all die because we will always turn to sin without Jesus. But Jesus took all sin on Himself when He died for us that so that when the Father looks at us, He sees Jesus. And Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit to help us to work toward living a righteous life. God not only takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked He has given us a way out while still remaining a faithful and just God. The way to salvation is Just God.