Ezekiel 18:4, 20, 23, 30, 32 NIV “For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child—both alike belong to me. 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. 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? “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. For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!” https://bible.com/bible/111/ezk.18.4-32.NIV
Ezekiel’s words were radical when delivered to Israel. Generational cursing and blessing were believed to be God’s ways. God, through Ezekiel, was preparing us for the arrival of Jesus by transitioning a collective view of sin and righteousness to an individual responsibility to obey God to receive His approval. The collective impacts the individual, and the individual influences the collective, but God will hold each person, parent, and child, individually and separately responsible for their obedience to His commands. When our children go astray, we need to own our portion of that cause, but in the end, they will stand before God alone to answer for their rebellion against Him. Likewise, when our children follow the Lord, and we are passive, disinterested, and half-hearted towards the Lord, we mustn’t deceive ourselves into thinking that their righteousness is proof that we are godly people. God came in Jesus to save sinners among whom all of us exist. He did this because He desires that no one should live forever away from Him in torment and suffering but for all to live with Him in abundance of love, joy, peace, and health. Yet only those but all those who repent from their evil ways on earth and live faithfully in obedience to His commands all their days will enter into the kingdom of God forever.
