The verse in Ezekiel is about God’s judgment. Everyone will be held accountable for their actions, individually.
Ezekiel 18:20 “THE PERSON WHO SINS IS THE ONE WHO WILL DIE. The child will not be punished for the parent’s sins, and the parent will not be punished for the child’s sins. Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior, and wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness.”
Galatians 6:4-5 “Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct.”
1 Corinthians 15:3 states that Jesus Christ died for our sins, but it doesn’t mean He automatically removed everyone’s sins and made everyone holy. If that were the case, there would be no sin in the world today. Everyone would love one another and live in peace.
IT MEANS JESUS CHRIST MADE A WAY FOR ALL HUMANS TO GET OUT OF SIN AND DEATH. IT’S AN INVITATION! Still, it’s everyone’s individual choice to do so.
Hebrews 2:14-18 “Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—THE SON ALSO BECAME FLESH AND BLOOD. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. ONLY IN THIS WAY COULD HE SET FREE ALL WHO HAVE LIVED THEIR LIVES AS SLAVES TO THE FEAR OF DYING. We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham. Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.”
Forgiveness is granted only when:
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- a person shows FAITH in Him;
- acknowledges and admits to all their sins,
- has remorseful heart,
- apologizes,
- and asks for forgiveness.
Those who don’t do that – show they have no faith, think they have done no wrong, or simply enjoy their sinfulness and/or delusion they are “saved” because they feel entitled to it despite their sinful lifestyles. So even though Jesus Christ died for them too; it’s only AN INVITATION to leave the sin behind and receive eternal life. Yes, most people refuse that GIFT because they don’t want to change, or don’t believe God has the power to change them.
Zachariah 1:4 “Don’t be like your ancestors who would not listen or pay attention when the earlier prophets said to them, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: TURN FROM YOUR EVIL WAYS, AND STOP ALL YOUR EVIL PRACTICES.’”
The following parable explains it best:
Luke 14:15-24
Parable of the Great Feast
“Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, “What a blessing it will be TO ATTEND a banquet in the Kingdom of God!”
Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out MANY INVITATIONS. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘COME, THE BANQUET IS READY.’ But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’“
The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and INVITE THE POOR, THE CRIPPLED, THE BLIND, AND THE LAME.’ After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’ So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and URGE ANYONE YOU FIND TO COME, so that the house will be full. For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.’”
- Christ isn’t forcing anyone to come to Him. That’s what LOVE is: A FREEDOM TO CHOOSE.
Imagine yourself preparing a party. Would you force people who don’t even like you to come over? OR would you rather see those who want to come because they love you and look forward to celebrating with you?
Now, imagine yourself as a potential guest. Would you rather be dragged to a party you never agreed to? Would you rather not get the invitation at all, or get it the last minute purposely keeping you out and making you feel like you’re an unwanted afterthought? OR Would you prefer the host to send you an invitation ahead of time with a choice to decline it? Wouldn’t that be loving and respectful?
In the end, only those who decided to turn away from their sins and let Jesus Christ transforms them into a new person are the ones who accepted the invitation and showed up for Him. They will get to feast!
All others are “too busy.” Well, that’s just too bad. We all make choices we have to live with. The lukewarm passivity ultimately means “no.”
Revelation 3:15-17 “I KNOW ALL THE THINGS YOU DO, THAT YOU ARE NEITHER HOT NOR COLD. I WISH THAT YOU WERE ONE OR THE OTHER! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.”
Psalm 32:8-9
“The Lord says, “I WILL GUIDE YOU ALONG THE BEST PATHWAY FOR YOUR LIFE. I WILL ADVISE YOU AND WATCH OVER YOU. Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”
1 Corinthians 1:2 ”I am writing to God’s church in Corinth, to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. HE MADE YOU HOLY by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere WHO CALL ON THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, their Lord and ours.“
2 Corinthians 5:15 ”HE DIED FOR EVERYONE,so that THOSE WHO RECEIVE HIS NEW LIFE will no longer live for themselves. Instead, THEY WILL LIVE FOR CHRIST, WHO DIED AND WAS RAISED FOR THEM.”
Abba Father! 🙌🏼