Ezekiel 18:19-32
19 “Yet you say, ‘Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?’ When the son has done what is just and right, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live. 20 The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.
21 “But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 22 None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live. 23 Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? 24 But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die.
25 “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? 26 When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die. 27 Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. 28 Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 29 Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?
30 “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Eze 18:19-32). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
How can anyone say that the way of the LORD is not just? There are still people today which claim the LORD is unjust. The problem is people do evil in their hearts but do not recognize it. The unrighteous person must be shown his wicked ways. The wicked person needs to turn from his iniquity.
People face struggles and hardships. People struggle with disease and destruction. The people of Ezekiel's day recognized children were suffering, but they could not see their sins. Therefore, the LORD must be unjust, because people are suffering in the world.
The world is full of wickedness. These people have abandoned the righteousness of God. But if you turn from your wickedness you will be saved. The LORD says that the wicked person can turn from his sins and he shall live. But if the righteous person turns or falls from his righteousness he will die.
Hear O House of Israel, the Way of the LORD is just. He has justified you through Jesus Christ our LORD. In Christ's death and resurrection you have been justified. You are made righteous through the blood of Christ.
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