2 3 4 introduction 3. we learn valuable lessons needed today! god created us, we answer to him every...

Ezek. 18:4

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• Introduction

1. Ezek. 18:1-4 Man is responsible to God

1. Ezek. 18:1-4 Man is responsible to God 1 The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,

2 What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge? 3 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel. 4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

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• Introduction

1. Ezek. 18:1-4 Man is responsible to God We cannot blame our forefathers Live: fellowship with God, & related blessings Die: separated from God, & consequences

2. Ezekiel convicts man of sin & removes excuses & objections

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• Introduction

3. We learn valuable lessons needed today! God created us, we answer to Him Every man is responsible directly to God God is fair, just, & merciful to all men

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I. Ezekiel Convicts Man of Sin & Removes Excuses A. A Just Man Will Live

Ezek. 18:5-9 Gives example of just man

Ezek. 18:5-9 Gives example of just man 5 But if a man be just,

and do that which is lawful and right, 6 And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman, 7 And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment;

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Ezek. 18:5-9 Gives example of just man 8 He that hath not given forth upon usury,

neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man, 9 Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD.

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I. Ezekiel Convicts Man of Sin & Removes Excuses B. The Wicked Son of a Just Man Will Die

Ezek. 18:10-13 Gives example of wicked son

Ezek. 18:10-13 Gives example of wicked son 10 If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that doeth the like to any one of these things, 11 And that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour's wife, 12 Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination, 13 Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.

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I. Ezekiel Convicts Man of Sin & Removes Excuses C. The Just Son of a Wicked Man Will Live

Ezek. 18:14-20 Gives example of just son


14 Now, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all his father's sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like, 15 That hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbour's wife, 16 Neither hath oppressed any, hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, but hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment,

Ezek. 18:14-20 Gives example of just son 17 That hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live. 18 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. 19 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.


20 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.

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I. Ezekiel Convicts Man of Sin & Removes Excuses D. If a Person’s Conduct Changes, Results Change

Ezek. 18:21-24 Examples of changed conduct


21 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. 22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. 23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?


24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.

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I. Ezekiel Convicts Man of Sin & Removes Excuses E. God Is Just, But Men Are Not Fair to God

Ezek. 18:25-29 God answers man’s complaint


25 Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal? 26 When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.


27 Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. 28 Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 29 Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?

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I. Ezekiel Convicts Man of Sin & Removes Excuses F. God Appeals to Men to Repent & Live

Ezek. 18:30-32 Why die? Repent & live!

Ezek. 18:30-32 Why die? Repent & live!

30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

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II. God Created Us, We Answer to Him A. God Made Us, We Did Not Make Ourselves

Gen. 1:27 “God created man in his own image”Heb. 12:9 “subjection to the Father of spirits”Ezek. 18:4 “Behold, all souls are mine”

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II. God Created Us, We Answer to Him B. We Do Not Escape Our Relationship & Responsibility to God by Blaming Other Men

Ezek. 18:2 False proverb blamed others

2 What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?

Alibi for fornication:I fell in love with this person

& could not help myself.

Alibi for worldly sins:All my friends do it

& they persuaded me.

Alibi for forsaking worship:I have to come alone

& my mate makes it hard on me.

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II. God Created Us, We Answer to Him C. We Cannot Blame God for Our Broken Relationship to Him

Ezek. 18:25 False charge blamed God

25 Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?

God made me this way.

The Bible is too strict,times have changed.

God made Satan, sin, & temptation too powerful—

I cannot resist.

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III. Every Man Is Responsible Directly to God A. Man Has Free Will

Made in God’s image (Gen. 1:27): able to understand God’s Word & choose to obey or disobeyCreated pure by God’s hand just as Adam & Eve: Gen. 1:27; Heb. 12:9; Ezek. 18:4

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Ezek. 18:20 We do not inherit sin— inherited sin nullifies free will!



“The soul that sinneth” exercises free will (vs. 20)“But if the wicked will turn from all his sins, …and keep all my statutes” (vs. 21): free will“When a righteous man turned away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity” (vs. 26): free will

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III. Every Man Is Responsible Directly to God B. Each Man’s Faith in God Is Personal,

Not by Proxy or TraditionEzek. 18:5-13 No one lives on another man’s faith & righteousness Vv. 5-9 “If a man be just,…he shall surely

live” Vv. 10-13 “If he beget a son that is a

robber, …he shall surely die From a good family, church, nation? But you! 29

III. Every Man Is Responsible Directly to God C. We Need a New Heart

Ezek. 18:31 Replace love of sin with love of God

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31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?


The new heart repents & seeks God’s forgiveness Vv. 23, 32 Seek & find forgiveness

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23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.


God teaches us how to overcome sin Vs. 21 God teaches the penitent sinner

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21 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.

With God to teach us,we are NOT helpless victims

of Satan,of fate, of our genes,

or of our old sinful habits!


We must be faithful to the end Vs. 24 Backsliders will be lost

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Vs. 24 Backsliders will be lost

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24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.

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IV. God Is Fair, Just, & Merciful to All Men A. God Gives Every Man a Fair Chance

Vs. 20 Each man answers for his own deeds


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IV. God Is Fair, Just, & Merciful to All Men B. God Is Merciful Not Vindictive

Vs. 23 His joy is to save not to punish

23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?

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IV. God Is Fair, Just, & Merciful to All Men C. God Will Surely Reward the Righteous

The righteous “shall surely live:” vv. 9, 17, 21-23, 27-28, & 32

21 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.

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IV. God Is Fair, Just, & Merciful to All Men D. God Will Surely Punish the Wicked

The wicked “shall surely die:” vv. 4, 13, 18, 24, & 26

10 If he beget a son that is a robber… 13 …shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.

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IV. God Is Fair, Just, & Merciful to All Men E. God Wants All to be Saved!

Vv. 31-32 God pleads for all to repent & live

31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

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• Invitation

1. The gospel of Christ proclaims same truths now: 2 Cor. 5:10 God created us, we answer to Him

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

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• Invitation

1. The gospel of Christ proclaims same truths now: Acts 2:38 Everyone has free will & must act upon his own faith to repent & seek forgiveness

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

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• Invitation

1. The gospel of Christ proclaims same truths now: Acts 8:22 God calls backsliders to repent & seek forgiveness

22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

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• Invitation

1. The gospel of Christ proclaims same truths now: 2 Cor. 6:1-2 God is fair, just, & merciful to all

1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

2 3 4 introduction 3. we learn valuable lessons needed today! god created us, we answer to him every...

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