We’re still within one week of Valentine’s Day, so this photo seems appropriate. Especially when we consider God’s offer of relationship with Him, every day. Last week we learned about the choice God gives every person to walk with Him, regardless of our family history. The second half of chapter 18 holds even more treasure from God’s Word: an offer of heart renewal and the opportunity to stand righteous before the Lord. 
“The one who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them” (Ezekiel 18:20).
- Each man is held accountable for his own sin.
- Each person’s righteousness is credited to him.
What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:3).
*How is God’s principle of holding each person accountable for his own sin good news?
“But if a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die. None of the offenses they have committed will be remembered against them. Because of the righteous things they have done, they will live. Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?” (Ezekiel 18:21-23)
- If a wicked man turned away from his sins and kept God’s law, he would live.
- God offered forgiveness and justification (“just as if the man had never sinned”) to anyone who would turn from his wayward life and follow God’s decrees.
- God would remember that person’s sins no more.
- Because of his commitment to righteousness, he would live.
- God declared He doesn’t want to see the wicked perish.
- He wants all men to turn from their unrighteousness and live in Him.
“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19).
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write in on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more” (Jeremiah 31:33-34).
*How does God define forgiveness?
*What hope does God offer in these verses?
“But if a righteous person turns from their righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked person does, will they live? None of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness they are guilty of and because of the sins they have committed, they will die” (Ezekiel 18:24).
- What happened when a righteous person turned away and committed all the detestable practices of the wicked?
- God’s Words sound harsh: the person who was unfaithful and guilty would die.
- Unfaithfulness seems to carry the idea of consistency, or a person’s ongoing way of life.
“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear, you Israelites: Is my way unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust? If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and commits sin, they will die for it; because of the sin they have committed they will die” (Ezekiel 18:25-26).
Israel—and readers today—argue God is unfair.
- God said the people of Israel were unjust.
- Malachi said it this way,
“A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty. “It is you priests who show contempt for my name. “But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’
“For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth. But you have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble” (Malachi 1:6, 2:7-8)
- In the context of Ezekiel’s message, why would a faithful person turn from righteousness into a sinful way of life?
*How might we show contempt for the Lord’s name today?
*God calls us to a life of faithfulness—how do we live that out in daily life?
“But if a wicked person turns away from the wickedness they have committed and does what is just and right, they will save their life. Because they consider all the offenses they have committed and turn away from them, that person will surely live; they will not die. Yet the Israelites say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Are my ways unjust, people of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust?” (Ezekiel 18:27-29)
- God made a case for consistency.
- If a wicked person turned away from evil to righteousness, he would save his life.
- God gave the impression there was a heart element involved.
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:24).
- This person turned away from the sin he had committed.
- Why then, if a righteous person turned toward sin, would he still be allowed to live?
- God said He would apply the same standard to all; therefore He is just and Israel is unjust because they want to change the rules.
*What does it mean to consider all our offenses?
*What lasting ordinances (rules) has God set forth for His people?
“Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!” (Ezekiel 18:30-32)
- God stated again that He would judge each person in Israel according to their life.
- He called them to repent.
- “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity (Joel 2:12-13).
- If we turn away from everything we do that offends God, then sin will no longer be our downfall.
- Seek a new heart and a new spirit. This is the second time Ezekiel relays God’s offer of a “new” heart and a new spirit (Ezekiel 11:19).
- God pointed to a change of heart, not only actions.
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws” (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
- Why would Israel choose to die?
- God didn’t want them to perish.
- He doesn’t delight to see anyone die.
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
- God’s final call: Repent and live!
*What does God offer His people, then and now?
*What is our role in this covenant relationship with God?
*What do we learn about God’s character in this passage?