We have been told, no one can be righteous as we are born sinners. We’ve been told we cannot stop sinning as it’s because of our fallen state/nature. We have been told the reason for Jesus coming to earth is that we are no longer punished for our sins as the punishment of our sins is taken on Him. No matter how many times we fall to sin we are covered by the blood of Jesus. Once you come to faith in Jesus, no matter how much you sin you are saved by Jesus’s grace. Is this the whole truth?
Let’s read what scripture says about this important issue.
Noah, Job, Enoch and Abraham to name a few were known to be righteous. If they could be righteous, why is it impossible for us to be righteous.
As parents we tell our children anything is possible when you put your mind to it. Keep trying, you will achieve your goal, pass your exam, run your fastest lap, practice makes perfect, receive a diploma etc. But when it comes to stop sinning then this is impossible to do because the pastor, priest, elder, rabbi or the church doctrine says so.
In Ezekiel 18:4 it states: The soul that sins, it shall die.
Clearly, here this scripture shows that souls are not immortal, which is a medieval doctrine out of paganism, but a soul can die and sin will bring eternal death.
In Ezekiel 18:5 it says a man/woman can be righteous: “But if a man is righteous and shall do right-ruling (just) and righteousness (right).
How do we become righteous? Yahuah tells Ezekiel the prophet when a person is righteous in His eyes.
To be righteous in the eyes of Yahuah the following must be done.
1) Not to sacrifice on high hills. This sacrifice on hills is still done today.
2) Do not worship idols. Modern day idols.
3) Commit adultery. Defile the neighbor's wife.
4) Not come near to a menstruating woman. Meaning to be unclean.
5) Do not oppress anyone. The poor and needy.
6) Returns his pledge to the debtor.
7) Does not commit robbery.
8) Feeds the hungry.
9) Give garments to the poor. Give clothing to the needy.
10) Do not lend on interest. Asks for interest when borrowing.
11) Has not taken increase. Asks for more.
12) Turns back his hand from injustice.
13) To be just and right in truth.
14) Walks in Yahuah’s laws/commands (Torah).
15) Keeps Yahuah’s judgments to deal truly.
If you do above Yahuah says in Ezekiel 18:9 he is righteous. Surely, he shall live, declares Yahuah.
Ezekiel 18:20 The soul that sins, it shall die. A son shall not bear the iniquity of the father. And a father shall not bear the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be on him.
Each person will either be rewarded or punished for his own actions.
What happens to a sinner when he/she turns away from sin?
Ezekiel 18:21-22 “But the wrong, if he turns from all his sins which he has done, and he shall guard all My laws, and shall do rightruling and righteousness, he shall certainly live, he shall not die.“All the transgressions which he has done shall not be remembered against him – in his righteousness that he has done, he shall live.
A true repented person’s sins shall be forgiven and he/she shall live.
Yahuah does not have any pleasure in punishing the sinner. Ezekiel 18:23 “Have I any pleasure in the death of the wrong?” declares the Master Yahuah. “Is it not that he should turn from his ways, and live?
What happens to someone that repented and lives righteous but then turns back to do wrong/sin?
Ezekiel 18:24 But when the righteous turns from his righteousness and does injustice, according to all the abominations that the wicked do, he also does, shall he live? All his righteousness that he has done shall not be remembered in his treason that he has betrayed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them he shall die.
This scripture is a good example why goodworks alone cannot earn salvation, as a good deed cannot equal a bad deed (sin). To turn from Yahuah, even if one had done many good deeds is considered treason. Loyalty is an extreme per-requisite to enter the Kingdom.
In Hebrews 6:4-6 it says a repented person that turns back to sin would be difficult to repent again.
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Set-apart Spirit, and have tasted the good Word of Elohim and the powers of the age to come, and fall away, to renew them again to repentance – having impaled for themselves the Son of Elohim again, and put Him to open shame.
Hebrews says further in 10:26-31, For if we sin purposely after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a slaughter offering for sins, but some fearsome anticipation of judgment, and a fierce fire which is about to consume the opponents (Read Isaiah 26:11). Anyone who has disregarded the Torah of Moses dies without compassion on the witness of two or three witnesses (Read Deuteronomy 17:6). How much worse punishment do you think shall he deserve who has trampled the Son of Elohim underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was set apart as common, and insulted the Spirit of favour? (Read Numbers 15:30, Matthew 12:32 and 1 John 5:16-17). For we know Him who has said, “Vengeance is Mine, I shall repay, says Yahuah.” And again, “Yahuah shall judge His people” (Read Deuteronomy 32:35-36 and Psalm 135:14). It is fearsome to fall into the hands of the living Elohim (Matthew 10:28).
If you are blinded and don't know the truth, then Yahuah can judge your heart and intention on judgment day (Luke 12:48, Romans2:14-16), but if you have been baptized into the New Covenant and have received His Holy Spirit and your mind knows the truth and you willingly turn back on it and continue to sin, then that person would be so hardened by the sin that he would never repent and therefore go to the Lake of Fire. (Read John 9:39-41).
Matthew 7:21-23.“Not everyone who says to Me,‘Master, Master,’ shall enter into the reign of the heavens, but he who is doing the desire of My Father in the heavens. “Many shall say to Me in that Name?’ day, ‘Master, Master, have we not prophesied in Your Name, and cast out demons in Your Name, and done many mighty works in Your Name“ And then I shall declare to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from Me, you who work lawlessness!’
Some people accuse Yahuah of been unfair in Ezekiel 18:25. But Yahuah explains in Ezekiel 18:26-28 between the right and the wrong.
25 “And you said, ‘The way of Yahuah is not right.’ Hear now, O house of Yisra’el, is My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right?
26 “When a righteous one turns away from his righteousness, and does unrighteousness, and he dies in it, it is because of his unrighteousness which he has done that he dies.
27-28 “And when the wrong turns away from the wrong which he has done, and he does right-ruling and righteousness, he keeps himself alive. “Because he sees and turns away from all the transgressions which he has done, he shall certainly live, he shall not die.
Yahuah declares in Ezekiel 18:30; “Repent, and turn back from all your transgressions, and let not crookedness be a stumbling-block to you.
Yahuah says a second time in Ezekiel 18:32 “For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” declares the Master Yahuah.“So turn back and live!”
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