What is the meaning of Ezekiel 18:26? If a righteous man turns from his righteousness A person who has been walking rightly with God can choose to change course. Scripture consistently treats this as a genuine possibility (Ezekiel 33:12; Hebrews 3:12). God never portrays righteousness like an automatic pilot; it calls for daily trust and obedience (Luke 9:23). • Righteousness is lived out, not banked from the past. • Turning is a deliberate decision, not a slip of the tongue (1 Corinthians 10:12). • God holds each individual responsible for the direction he or she takes (Romans 14:12). and practices iniquity The Hebrew prophet moves from “turns” to “practices,” highlighting ongoing conduct. It’s one thing to stumble, quite another to settle into sin (1 John 3:8). Galatians 5:19-21 catalogs the works of the flesh that, if embraced as a lifestyle, shut people out of God’s kingdom. James 1:14-15 shows how temptation, when welcomed, gives birth to sin, which grows until it brings forth death. • Sin practiced is sin owned. • Good intentions cannot camouflage a sinful pattern (Matthew 7:21-23). • The longer sin is practiced, the harder the heart becomes (Hebrews 3:13). he will die for this “Die” in Ezekiel often includes both temporal judgment and eternal consequence. Romans 6:23 echoes the same truth: “For the wages of sin is death...” Spiritual death is separation from God now, leading to eternal separation later (Revelation 21:8). Proverbs 14:12 reminds us that self-chosen paths “end in death.” • God’s justice is certain, not arbitrary. • Death is not merely natural; it is moral, tied to rebellion. • Mercy remains available as long as there is repentance (2 Peter 3:9). He will die because of the iniquity he has committed. The closing line underlines personal accountability. No one inherits guilt from someone else, nor can anyone transfer blame (Deuteronomy 24:16; Ezekiel 18:20). Romans 2:6-8 promises God “will repay each one according to his deeds.” • Consequences track the sin, not the heritage. • God’s judgment is perfectly fair; He weighs what each person actually does. • Turning back to righteousness reverses the outcome (Ezekiel 18:21-22; 1 John 1:9). summary Ezekiel 18:26 teaches that a life once marked by righteousness can end in judgment if a person consciously abandons God’s ways and persists in sin. Righteousness must be maintained, sin must be rejected, and every individual answers personally to God. The verse is both a sober warning and an invitation to remain steadfast, trusting God’s grace to keep us walking in the right path. |
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