What does Ezekiel 18:26 teach about the consequences of turning from righteousness? Text of Ezekiel 18:26 “When a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall die for it; he shall die for the iniquity he has committed.” Setting the Scene • Ezekiel addresses exiles who thought they were suffering for their ancestors’ sins (Ezekiel 18:2). • God corrects them: each person stands or falls before Him on the basis of personal choice and conduct (Ezekiel 18:20). • Verse 26 crystallizes the principle: prior righteousness does not shield a person who deliberately abandons it. Key Truths Revealed • Sin’s consequence is death—spiritual separation from God—no matter one’s past record. • Righteousness is not a banked credit; it must be walked in day-by-day (cf. Galatians 6:7-9). • God judges impartially; there is no favoritism or grandfathering of earlier faithfulness. Personal Responsibility Emphasized • Each heart is accountable (Jeremiah 17:10). • No one inherits righteousness; it is lived, not stored (Matthew 3:8-10). • Turning “from” righteousness is deliberate; sin is neither trivial nor excusable (Hebrews 10:26-27). The Finality of the Outcome • “He shall die”: not mere discipline but the ultimate penalty (Romans 6:23). • The phrase is repeated to stress certainty; God does not bluff. • This death is avoidable only through repentance (Ezekiel 18:30-32). Consistency Across Scripture • Proverbs 14:14—“The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways.” • John 15:6—branch that “does not remain” is thrown away and burned. • 2 Peter 2:20-22—returning to defilement ends worse than the starting point. • Revelation 2:5—“Remember…repent…or I will come and remove your lampstand.” Takeaway for Believers Today • Ongoing faithfulness matters; yesterday’s obedience cannot cover today’s rebellion. • Grace empowers righteous living, but grace never nullifies God’s moral order (Titus 2:11-14). • Regular self-examination keeps the heart tender (2 Corinthians 13:5). • The Lord longs to forgive, yet He will not overrule a will that chooses sin. Persistent righteousness, not a one-time profession, marks those who truly belong to Him (1 John 3:7-10). |
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