Chapter eighteen takes all the weight of of an old proverb. You hear it very much today; "His children are suffering because of what his mother was, or his father was." This is ignorance that is coming forth from the mouth of so-called Christians. What does God have to say about it?

Ezekiel 18:1 "The word of the Lord came unto me again, saying,"

Ezekiel 18:2 "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?"

God is responding to Israel, "The house of Israel", the Christian nations of today. They are crying out and putting the blame of everything that is happening today, on their forefathers. One generation is being made to pay for sins that another generation has done. The woekings of Satan are being made to pass guilt from one generation to another. God says that this whole idea is a bunch of junk.

Ezekiel 18:3 As I live, saith the Lord God, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel."

God is swearing by Himself, and you can count of what He is saying. He is saying that you will never be able to use this riddle [proverb] again, because God is here setting the record straight, where it count, in the eyes of our Lord God.

Ezekiel 18:4 "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."

You may call your child, "my child", but God is the creator and father of all souls. In the eyes of God, we are all the same age, spiritually speaking. Both the soul of the father, and the soul of the son are God's.

It is the soul that sins that dies, and not the soul that doesn't sin. God answered the question Himself, when you use a little common sense.

Ezekiel 18:5 "But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,"

Ezekiel 18:6 "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,"

"...eaten upon the mountains", is an Hebrew expression implying sacrificing and partaking of the idolatrous feast, or acts, and in today's times applies to applying heathen acts and doctrines to God's Word.

Ezekiel 18:7 "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;"

Ezekiel 18:8 "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,"

Ezekiel 18:9 "Hath walked in My statutes, and hath kept My judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord God."

We are to set our own goals, and when they do not come to pass, it is the sin or problem of the one who committed it. God has stated that when you commit acts of sin; of adultery, idolatry, usury, stole from the poor, and all the other sins that are committed between man and his fellow man, then you are the only one that will stand accountable for your actions.

However, when you do not sin intentionally against your fellow man, and keep God laws and judgments, them your soul will live, spiritually that is where it counts. You will have eternal life. God has given us His word, and if you can read, then the accounting for your deeds are yours. If you choose not to study God's Word, then that is not an alibi to be used when you stand before the judgment seat of God.

God owns your soul, and no one else. Absorb His word into your mind, for it is only He that you will answer to.

Ezekiel 18:10 "If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that doeth the like to any one of there things,"

This is now looking at the second generation, the first having been righteous. This is to say that if a righteous man has a son that is a robber, or murderer or commits any sort of act like this and breaks the law.

Ezekiel 18:11 "And that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour's wife,"

Or if this evil son has follow after idolatry, and broke any of the ten commandments.

Ezekiel 18:12 "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,"

This worthless son steals from the poor, is rebellious and won't keep his word, and chases after false religions, and practices abominations. Abominations are anything that you put before God in your life.

Ezekiel 18:13 "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."

This wicked son shows no favors what-so-ever out of kindness, and applies everything that he gives to money or worth that he gets in return. We have a righteous father, and a no good son, and God asks the question, "Shall the no-good son live?" God then answers the question Himself: "He shall not live" [spiritual death], Another words, my friend, it is time to wake up to the fact that everything that you do is your own fault, you make the decisions, and your blood in the end is on our own head. God will not judge the father for the sins of his son.

God created all souls individually, and each soul has is the same age before the eyes of God, There is no difference in age of the souls, except in mans eyes in the flesh body. Each individual answers for his own sin, and not the sins of others to God.

When any sin is committed, the price has been paid for that sin through repentance, and that price was a very heavy price. The price was the shedding of Jesus Christ's blood at the cross of Calvary, Jesus Christ's death. After three days Jesus came out of that tomb, He arose, and now lives to intercede for us before the Heavenly Father in heaven.

Even in the time of this writing of Ezekiel, repentance was still available, and that repentance was through the way the God had laid out in His plan. Mankind was just as responsible for his sin before Christ's death, as he is now after Christ's death and resurrection. It is each soul's responsibility to try to fulfill God commandments, and instructions given in His Word. Most people like to put themselves on a guilt trip, however God is fair in His dealing with all souls. If it appears at any time that God is unfair, it is you that is ignorant God, and his Word.

So we see that we have two generations here, the good father, and his no good son, he can't do anything right. God said that he is not fit to live for an eternity, and will turn him to ashes. God is not going to make the father answer for any of the sins. Each soul answers for its own sins.

Ezekiel 18:14 "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,"

Now lets take a look at the third generation. The first was a righteous man in all ways, while the son of the righteous man was a no good wicked man that broke all the laws of man, not this grandson comes along and sees his fathers wickedness and refuses to fallow in his fathers footsteps in sin.

Ezekiel 18:15 "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,"

This grandson seems to be a real good person, following in Grandfather's footsteps.

Ezekiel 18:16 "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,"

If this grandson gives you his word, you can count on it. So we have three generations living where the first was following in God's Word, the second going the way of the world, and breaking all the rules and laws of society, and not the third is as the first generation.

Ezekiel 18:17 "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."

This grandson does not force the poor to do things that they do not, and can not perform. God is telling us not to pay any attention to these jerks that us that God will punish a child for his parent's sins. However, when referring to the things of the flesh, such as the mother on drugs that has a baby born, the baby will suffer physically the effects of the mothers sin. This chapter is dealing with the spiritual matters, and the things of the soul, and the judgment of God on that Baby's soul is that that baby's soul shall live, when that child doesn't follow after the mother. The Baby's soul is still pure.

Ezekiel 18:18 "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."

This is not talking about the flesh here, but the soul of the no-good father [the second generation]. God is repeating for the second time the judgment on that wicked father's soul, the father of the grandson. Following the judgment of God, after the Millennium age, it will be just as if that second generation never existed. For even the memory in the minds of the the righteous relatives will be blotted out.

With this idea of destruction in mind, we are now going to see the hope that all mankind has offered to them by God.

Ezekiel 18:19 "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."

God is answering the question, concerning the condition of the grandsons soul, and telling us that the sins of the father will have no effect, what-so-ever, on the grandson. When that grandson keeps God's laws and rules given in His Word, the soul of the Grandson shall live.

Ezekiel 18:20 "The soul the 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."

God is giving a double witness here and states, the soul that sinneth [the wicked fathers] shall die. This is a fact. The first generation here, will not bear the iniquity of the second generation [the wicked son], nor shall the third generation bear the iniquity of the second generation.

Se in this example we had three people, of three different generations, and all three of them remained as the were at birth. The example that is made so far is that you answer for your own sins, and not for your parents or children. The true father of your soul is the living God, that Father is the only one that can save or destroy your eternal soul.

However there is hope, and allowance for those that change from what they were.

Ezekiel 18:21 "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."

If that second generation, that wicked son turn from his wicked ways, and repent, and "keep all My statutes, God says that his soul shall be saved, and "he shall not die".

When people today cry out and accuse themselves of committing the unforgivable sin, they cry out in ignorance; because the unforgivable sin cannot even be committed at this time. That time of the unforgivable is not far off, for it is committed only by those that know who the Antichrist is, and what his religious system is; and then when they are delivered up to give account during the time of the Antichrist, they refuse to allow the Holy Spirit of God work through.

This is found in Mark 13:11; "But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought before hand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost." That is the unforgivable sin. In the time of the tribulation of the Antichrist, when the churches deliver you up to account of what you know to be true, and you refuse to allow the Holy Ghost [Spirit] of God speak through you, you have committed the only act that God will not forgive you for.

The transgressions we are speaking of in this twenty first verse are wickedness of the flesh, and not in reference to the sin of Mark 123:11. God will give you faith and hope when you repent, and turn for those wicked ways, and put them out of your life.

Ezekiel 18:22 "All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live."

That no-good skunk of a man that had committed every sin possible, once he had repented and changed in his heart and mind, all that sins are blotted out from God's mind and judgment of him. That wicked man now has the righteousness of Jesus Christ, for the blood of Christ covered those sins just as if they were never committed. Of course, the Devil will try to make you remember them, and commit yourself to guilt, and that is the time that you command Satan out of your life.

There is no sin that you could ever commit, including drugs, murder, adultery, idolatry, and on and on that the precious blood of Jesus Christ will not cover, and that can not be blotted out for before the judgment seat of God. It is only at God's judgment seat that the eternal condition of your soul has any effect. God has said here that the repentive soul "shall live".

God said that He is not ever going to even mention them to you, once they are forgiven, so why would you allow this to torment you. This is the Hope that we have in Christ, that once our sins are forgiven, that cease to exist. Then God tells us that once your sins are forgiven, I don't even want to hear about them.

Ezekiel 18:23 "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?"

This is God asking you; "do I have any pleasure in seeing the wicked die?" Put this in common sense; why would anyone have any pleasure in seeing one of His children be put to death? Of course He doesn't. Does God take pleasure in sending someone to hell, the lake of fire?

God is longsuffering, and He wants all of His children to turn for their wicked ways and live. God has hope for you, and He wants you to have hope for yourself. In II Peter 3:9; "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

Friend, right now as each day passes by, your are making your eternal bed, and God promises us that each of will sleep in that bed that we have made here on earth. God prefers that you repent and seek Him, but He gave each of us free will to chose for ourselves which way we will go.

Ezekiel 18:24 "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."

Now here we are looking at Grandfather, the righteous one, and now in his old age, he turns from his ways of righteousness, to follow in his sons wicked ways. God is telling us that even though he has lived an entire life in righteousness, and in the end seeks after wickedness, he will die. The soul that sinneth shall surely die.

God states that for turning from righteousness to wicked ways, not one bit of his righteousness will by given to him, or remembered by the Father. The one thing that we should remember, and thank God for is our Lord Jesus Christ. For even after we repent and turn to God, our sin nature continues to sin, and it will as long as we are in the flesh. This is why we must be mindful to repent when we see that we have sinned.

The Apostle Paul spoke of this in I Corinthians 15:31; "I protest [affirm] by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily." Paul is telling the Corinthians that even in their rejoicing in their salvation that they have in Christ Jesus, it is a must to die daily to yourself. This is done by repentance for the sins that are committed by the flesh, in the flesh. Our hope in Jesus Christ is that we can look to the saving power in His blood, to cover all of our sins.

Ezekiel 18:25 "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?"

Though the people say, "The way of the Lord is not fair." God is telling you that His ways are always fair. God is telling you and I that God's ways and man's ways are not the same ways. Though man creates contracts, agreements, and treaties they never work, because they are designed for mans corrupt mind, and are not absolute. They are designed to be broken, and in the long run, twisted by man to serve his own purpose.

Ezekiel 18:26 "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."

This is stating it again, that when a righteous man turn to wickedness, he shall pay the price for his own sin. That is fair and it is equal. If you got it coming, God is saying that you shall surely get what is coming to you. If you die the physical death in wickedness, and with an unrepentive heart, your soul shall surely die. God is saying that what ever came upon yourself, you cannot blame your father our anyone else.

Ezekiel 18:27 "Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive."

God is repeating what He had said above, did it say that the father would save his son and allow his son's soul to live? No, it said that when the wicked man turned from his wicked ways, he saved his own soul alive. You are responsible for your own soul only.

We are to plant the seeds of truth, and advise our children and loved ones, but it is God that will convict, and that person the must make the decision to accept or reject God's ways. It is that person himself that will be saved through his repentance, or go to the lake of fire in his own rejection of the blood of Christ.

God wants his intent made entirely clear as to who is responsible for the soul to live or die. It is the person himself. God know the heart, the thoughts and intents of the mind, and only God is the judge of your eternal soul.

Ezekiel 18:28 "Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die."

We are living in a time where it is hard to keep your heart and mind on Christ, and away for the things of the world, However, God is saying that when we try to follow his ways, and when we fail [commit transgressions], turn from them and repent, then that soul shall live.

Ezekiel 18:29 "Yet saith the house of Israel, 'The way of the Lord is not equal'. O house of Israel, are not your ways unequal?"

What God is saying is that before you say God is unjust, you had better stop and think about what you are saying. Just for questing God, God will condemn you, and for accepting God's ways, He will bless you.

Ezekiel 18:30 "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."

God is telling each of us just who the Judge that counts is, and He is the Judge. It is a good idea to keep the judge happy, for he has the right to pass the final judgment on your soul. God does not judge every tribe according to it's ways, but every one, every person according to his ways. It is your responsibility to repent for yourself, for only you can cause your ruin from the transgressions [sins] that you have committed.

Friend, it is time to get to your feet, and face up to the shortcomings in your life. Call those sins for what they are, and then repent of God for them, and turn from those sinful ways. Then God will begin to bless you. Stop wallowing in the filth of self pity and self-righteousness, and face life as a true man of God.

Ezekiel 18:31 "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?"

You cast away your transgressions by repenting, and you make a new heart and new spirit, which is a new start of direction in life. God is asking Christians, and all people, why would you not want to repent and save your life?

Ezekiel 18:32 "For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye."

God is pleading with you there. He is telling you that He finds no pleasure in destroying your soul, and causing it to die. He is begging you to turn form your sins, to repent and to seek His ways. God is offering you eternal life, and the right to reign in His kingdom and joint heirs with Christ. Why in the world would anyone of a sane mind, and the ability to reason refuse such an offer.

Regardless what state of wickedness you have lived in, as God has stated in the verses of this chapter, they are all forgiven, every last one of them if you just repent of them in Jesus Name. Jesus Christ's blood paid the price, and there is nothing that you can do except take what has been offered to you. In return, God offers you, by His Word, eternal life.