[The Lord gave this message to His prophet, Ezekiel:] " 'What?' you ask. 'Doesn't the son pay for his father's sins?' No! For if the son does what is right and keeps My laws, he shall surely live. The one who sins is the one who dies. The son shall not be punished for his father's sins, nor the father for his son's. The righteous person will be rewarded for his own goodness and the wicked person for his wickedness.
   "But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins and begins to obey My laws and do what is just and right, he shall surely live and not die. All his past sins will be forgotten, and he shall live because of his goodness. 'Do you think I like to see the wicked die?' asks the Lord. 'Of course not! I only want him to turn from his wicked ways and live. However, if a righteous person turns to sinning and acts like any other sinner, should he be allowed to live? No, of course not. All his previous goodness will be forgotten and he shall die for his sins.'
  "Yet you say: 'The Lord isn't being fair!' Listen to Me, O people of Israel. Am I the One Who is unfair, or is it you? When a good man turns away from being good and begins sinning and dies in his sins, he dies for the evil he has done. And if a wicked person turns away from his wickedness and obeys the law, and does right, he shall save his soul, for he has thought it over and decided to turn from his sins and live a good life. He shall surely live - he shall not die. And yet the people of Israel keep saying: 'The Lord is unfair!' O people of Israel, it is you who are unfair, not I. I will judge each of you, O Israel, and punish or reward each according to your own actions. Oh, turn from your sins while there is yet time. Put them behind you and receive a new heart and a new spirit. For why will you die, O Israel? I do not enjoy seeing you die, the Lord God says. Turn, turn and live!"
   We started out bad, being born with evil natures, and were under God's anger just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy; He loved us so much that even though we were spiritually dead and doomed by our sins, He gave us back our lives again when He raised Christ from the dead . . . Now we can come fearlessly right into God's presence, assured of His glad welcome when we come with Christ and trust in Him.

Taken from Ezekiel 18, Ephesians 2, 3,
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