The Way of the Lord is not Fair! Ezekiel 18:29-30

Rewards "Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father As well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die. 5 But if a man is just And does what is lawful and right. Ezekiel 18:4-5 Rewards A. Ezekiel 18:4-5 1. “all souls are mine” – tells us that God is in control. 2. Live or die – in these verse has to do with heaven and damnation. 3. Thus, it is God who decides who goes to heaven and who ends up in damnation.

Rewards If he has walked in My statutes And kept My judgments faithfully —He is just; He shall surely live!“ Says the Lord God. Ezekiel 18:9 I. Rewards B. Ezekiel 18:9 1. Being faithful to God has always had its rewards. 2. Notice “He shall surely live!” Without question, the faithful will have heaven as their home.

Punishment "If he begets a son who is a robber Or a shedder of blood, Who does any of these things. Ezekiel 18:10 II. Punishment A. Ezekiel 18:10,13 1. Being a robber or a shedder of blood is clear that God is referencing a sinner. (v.10) 2. Specific sins are mentioned, but sin is sin. Those guilty of sin will die (live eternally in damnation). (v.13) 3. “his blood shall be upon him” – The sinner will bear his own guilt. No one can carry the weight of your sins for you.

Punishment If he has exacted usury Or taken increase —Shall he then live? He shall not live! If he has done any of these abominations, He shall surely die; His blood shall be upon him. Ezekiel 18:13 II. Punishment A. Ezekiel 18:10,13 1. Being a robber or a shedder of blood is clear that God is referencing a sinner. (v.10) 2. Specific sins are mentioned, but sin is sin. Those guilty of sin will die (live eternally in damnation). 3. “his blood shall be upon him” – The sinner will bear his own guilt. No one can carry the weight of your sins for you.

Punishment " If, however, he begets a son Who sees all the sins which his father has done, And considers but does not do likewise. Ezekiel 18:14 II. Punishment B. There is always a way to avoid punishment. 1. By refraining from sin a man avoids punishment. 2. Only be recognizing error and choosing a different path does man avoid the wrath of God.

Punishment Who has withdrawn his hand from the poor And not received usury or increase, But has executed My judgments And walked in My statutes —He shall not die for the iniquity of his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, Robbed his brother by violence, And did what is not good among his people, Behold, he shall die for his iniquity. Ezekiel 18:17-18 II. Punishment C. No punishment because of the sins of others. (v.17) 1. Man is punished for his own sins, this is clear from the text. a. Thus no paying for the sins of Adam & Eve like some teach today. 2. However the wicked (v.18) is punished for their sin.

Yet you say.. "Yet you say, 'Why should the son not bear the guilt of the father? ' Because the son has done what is lawful and right, and has kept all My statutes and observed them, he shall surely live. Ezekiel 18:19 III. Yet you say… A. Man has long argued with God’s ways (v.19) 1. Man would be wise, to say the least, to love God enough to obey & follow Him (Jeremiah 10:23)

Yet you say.. O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps. Jeremiah 10:23 III. Yet you say… A. Man has long argued with God’s ways (v.19) 1. Man would be wise, to say the least, to love God enough to obey & follow Him (Jeremiah 10:23) 2. God allows no man to bear the sin for another. (v.20)

Yet you say.. The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. Ezekiel 18:20 III. Yet you say… A. Man has long argued with God’s ways (v.19) 1. Man would be wise, to say the least, to love God enough to obey & follow Him (Jeremiah 10:23) 2. God allows no man to bear the sin for another. (v.20)

Yet you say.. "Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not fair. ' Hear now, O house of Israel, is it not My way which is fair, and your ways which are not fair? 26 When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity, and dies in it, it is because of the iniquity which he has done that he dies. Ezekiel 18:25-26 III. Yet you say… B. It’s God’s way that is fair and man’s way that is not fair. (v.25) 1. God then gives reasons why (v.26) 2. It is man’s fault when man dies in sin, God is not a fault and should not spare the wicked.

Yet you say.. Yet the house of Israel says, 'The way of the Lord is not fair. ' O house of Israel, is it not My ways which are fair, and your ways which are not fair?30 " Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways," says the Lord God. " Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. Ezekiel 18:29-30 III. Yet you say… C. Because of their sins Israel is judged. 1. God tells them they will be judged because of their sins. 2. They are warned to repent & turn from their sins.

Conclusion Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies," says the Lord God. "Therefore turn and live!" Ezekiel 18:31-32 Concl God wants us to have a new heart & a new spirit. He says “why should you die” (v.31b). God has no pleasure in death and wants you and all mankind to avoid hell. Therefore we see He pleaded with them to turn and pleads with us still today from His word (Ezk 18:32b)