Does Ezekiel 18:24 imply that salvation can be lost through unrighteous actions? Text “But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, committing the same abominations as the wicked, will he live? None of the righteous deeds he has done will be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness and sin he has committed, he will die.” — Ezekiel 18:24 Immediate Context (18:21–32) Ezekiel contrasts two hypothetical individuals: a wicked man who repents and lives (vv 21–23) and a righteous man who apostatizes and dies (v 24). The focus is judicial fairness under the Mosaic covenant: “The soul who sins is the one who will die” (v 20). Verse 24 must be read against this literary background, which emphasizes personal accountability rather than the transmissibility of guilt or merit across time. Historical Setting Written c. 592–571 BC during the Babylonian exile, the oracle addresses Israelites who blamed their suffering on their fathers’ sins (cf. 18:2). The prophet corrects this fatalism, insisting that each generation—and each individual—is answerable for present conduct under the covenant’s blessings and curses (Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28). Theological Theme: Individual Responsibility Ezekiel 18 redirects Israel from inherited guilt to personal decision. The rhetorical device (“none of his righteous deeds will be remembered”) underscores that prior obedience cannot be banked against present defiance. The concern is moral congruity, not the mechanics of forensic justification as later clarified in the New Testament. Old Covenant Vs. New Covenant Framework Under the Sinai covenant, life in the land was conditioned on corporate and personal obedience (Deuteronomy 30:15–20). The promised New Covenant (Ezekiel 36:25–27)—fulfilled in Christ—shifts the locus of righteousness from external compliance to internal regeneration. Therefore, applying Old Covenant sanction formulas to the question of eternal security without adjustment to progressive revelation conflates distinct covenants. Exegetical Options On “Loss Of Salvation” 1. Temporal Covenant Sanction View The “death” threatened is temporal: sword, famine, pestilence, or exile (cf. Ezekiel 33:27). A theoretically righteous Israelite who defected would forfeit earthly wellbeing, not necessarily eternal life. This preserves canonical harmony with passages promising security to true believers (John 10:28–29). 2. Phenomenological/Apostate View Verse 24 depicts a person outwardly righteous yet lacking regenerative faith. His apostasy unveils his true state (cf. 1 John 2:19). The loss is apparent, not actual; genuine salvation cannot be revoked, but pseudo-righteousness can—and does—collapse. 3. Hypothetical Warning View God employs “if” warnings as instrumental means to secure perseverance. The threat is real, but it functions covenantally to keep the elect within the path of faithfulness (Philippians 2:12–13). Failure proves reprobation, success confirms salvation. Canonical Harmony: Scripture On Security • John 5:24—“whoever hears My word…has eternal life and will not come under judgment.” • John 10:28—“no one will snatch them out of My hand.” • Romans 8:30—those justified are also glorified. These unconditional promises interpret transient Old Covenant sanctions through the lens of redemptive fulfillment in Christ. Warnings As Means Of Perseverance New Testament warnings (Hebrews 6:4–6; 10:26–31) mirror Ezekiel’s rhetoric. Such admonitions are diagnostic and preservative. Behavioral science affirms that clear contingency statements strengthen commitment; divine warnings thus function both cognitively and motivationally to cultivate holiness. Archaeological Corroboration Babylonian ration tablets naming “Jehoiachin, king of Judah” corroborate the exile setting Ezekiel describes (2 Kings 25:27–30), situating 18:24 within verified historical strata and lending credibility to the prophet’s covenant lawsuit motif. Pastoral Implications 1. Assurance: True believers rest in Christ’s finished work (Ephesians 2:8–9). 2. Holiness: Professors of faith examine themselves (2 Corinthians 13:5) lest they reveal an unregenerate heart. 3. Evangelism: The clarity of accountability underscores mankind’s need for the atonement secured by the risen Lord (1 Peter 3:18). Conclusion Ezekiel 18:24, read in its covenantal, historical, and canonical contexts, does not teach that genuinely converted people forfeit eternal salvation by post-conversion sin. Instead, it affirms personal accountability under the Old Covenant, exposes false righteousness, and foreshadows the New Covenant promise whereby God grants an everlasting, secure righteousness in Christ to all who believe. |
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