How does Ezekiel 18:24 challenge the concept of eternal security in salvation? Setting the Scene • Ezekiel speaks to exiled Judah, confronting the idea that personal faithfulness—not ancestral merit—determines present standing before God. • The chapter uses a courtroom tone: each individual life is weighed, and God’s verdict falls on current obedience or rebellion, not past reputation. Reading the Verse “But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, practicing all the abominations of the wicked, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered; for the trespass he has committed and the sin he has embraced, he will die.” Key Observations • “Turns from his righteousness” implies deliberate, ongoing departure, not a momentary lapse. • “None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered” shows past faithfulness does not shield deliberate present rebellion. • “He will die” describes covenant judgment—physical in Ezekiel’s context, eternally spiritual when applied to final salvation. How the Verse Challenges Eternal Security 1. Conditional language: Life with God is portrayed as contingent on continuing righteousness. 2. Real possibility of apostasy: A person genuinely called “righteous” can later be condemned. 3. Erasure of past righteousness: Previous obedience is not credited when willful sin becomes the pattern. 4. Divine justice is dynamic: God responds to a believer’s current moral state, not a one-time profession. Other Scriptures Echoing the Warning • Hebrews 3:12–14 — “Take care… that none of you has an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away… we have come to share in Christ if indeed we hold firmly till the end.” • Hebrews 10:26-27 — Ongoing, willful sin after receiving the truth leaves “no further sacrifice for sins.” • 1 Corinthians 10:12 — “So the one who thinks he is standing must be careful not to fall.” • John 15:6 — The branch that “does not remain” in Christ is “thrown away and withers.” • 2 Peter 2:20-22 — Returning to defilements after knowing Christ ends in a “worse” state than before. Possible Responses of Eternal-Security Advocates • They may argue Ezekiel addresses national blessings, not eternal salvation. • Others claim the “righteous” person was never truly converted. • Yet Ezekiel’s straightforward wording—and similar New Testament warnings—presents genuine danger for those once in right standing with God who later rebel. Bringing It Home • Perseverance is not passive; ongoing trust and obedience matter (Philippians 2:12-13). • Assurance is found in present faithfulness, not just past decisions (2 Peter 1:10). • God’s grace empowers perseverance, but Scripture calls believers to cooperate actively (Jude 20-21). Key Takeaways • Ezekiel 18:24 presents apostasy as a sober reality, challenging the view that salvation cannot be forfeited. • The verse insists that a living relationship with God must be maintained; former righteousness alone won’t secure a rebellious heart. • Consistent scriptural testimony urges believers to abide, watch, and remain faithful until the end. |
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