How does Ezekiel 18:20 connect with Romans 6:23 about sin's consequences? Overview of the Two Verses • Ezekiel 18:20: “The soul who sins is the one who will die. A son will not bear the iniquity of the father, nor will a father bear the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked man will be charged against him.” • Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Personal Accountability in Ezekiel 18:20 • God makes clear that every individual stands responsible before Him. • No inherited guilt or righteousness can override personal choices. • Justice is measured on an individual basis: righteous deeds credited, wicked deeds charged. Universal Principle Clarified in Romans 6:23 • Sin always earns a paycheck—death. • “Wages” underscores that death is deserved, not arbitrary. • God, however, offers a contrasting “gift”—eternal life through Christ. How the Two Verses Interlock • Ezekiel stresses the principle: each sinner dies for his own sin. • Romans expands that principle universally: all sin leads to death (cf. Romans 3:23). • Together they present a consistent pattern: – Sin → Death (Ezekiel 18:20; Romans 6:23) – Righteousness/Gift → Life (Ezekiel 18:20: credited righteousness; Romans 6:23: gifted eternal life) • Ezekiel highlights responsibility; Romans reveals the redemptive provision. Supporting Passages • Genesis 2:17—death decreed for disobedience. • Deuteronomy 24:16—fathers/sons not punished for each other’s sins. • Proverbs 11:19—“He who is steadfast in righteousness attains life, but he who pursues evil brings about his own death.” • James 1:15—sin conceived gives birth to death. Living in Light of These Truths • Recognize personal accountability: no blaming ancestry, culture, or circumstance. • Acknowledge the inevitability of sin’s wage unless we receive God’s gift. • Embrace Christ’s offered life, moving from earned death to gifted life. |
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