Your Personal Your Personal Accountability to GodAccountability to God

Proverbs 22:6Proverbs 22:6 Romans 14:12 Romans 14:12

Ezekiel 18Ezekiel 18

Personal AccountabilityPersonal Accountability

The Babylonian Captives complained The Babylonian Captives complained that they were being punished for that they were being punished for the sins of their fathers (Ezekiel 18:1-the sins of their fathers (Ezekiel 18:1-2)2)

The Lord made it clear that this was The Lord made it clear that this was not the case (Ezekiel 18:3; not the case (Ezekiel 18:3; Deuteronomy 24:16; Jeremiah 24)Deuteronomy 24:16; Jeremiah 24)

Each person is accountable for his Each person is accountable for his own conduct (Ezekiel 18:4)own conduct (Ezekiel 18:4)

Cases of Personal AccountabilityCases of Personal Accountability

The Righteous Father – Ezekiel 18:5-9 The Righteous Father – Ezekiel 18:5-9 The Unrighteous Son – Ezekiel 18:10-The Unrighteous Son – Ezekiel 18:10-

1313 The Righteous Grandson – Ezekiel The Righteous Grandson – Ezekiel

18:14-18 18:14-18

The Principle of Individual Free WillThe Principle of Individual Free WillEzekiel 18:19-20Ezekiel 18:19-20

Correcting the erroneous doctrine of Correcting the erroneous doctrine of inherited guilt as taught by Calvinists:inherited guilt as taught by Calvinists:

John Calvin said, “Original sin…may be John Calvin said, “Original sin…may be defined as hereditary corruption and defined as hereditary corruption and depravity of our nature, extending to all depravity of our nature, extending to all parts of the soul, which first makes us parts of the soul, which first makes us obnoxious to the wrath of God, and then obnoxious to the wrath of God, and then produces in us works which in Scripture are produces in us works which in Scripture are termed works of the flesh” (Institutes of termed works of the flesh” (Institutes of the Christian Religion, 2.1.8).the Christian Religion, 2.1.8).

The Principle of Individual Free WillThe Principle of Individual Free WillEzekiel 18:19-20Ezekiel 18:19-20

Correcting the erroneous doctrine of Correcting the erroneous doctrine of inherited guilt as taught by Calvinists:inherited guilt as taught by Calvinists:

"Original sin: this includes both guilt and "Original sin: this includes both guilt and pollution. The guilt of Adam's sin is pollution. The guilt of Adam's sin is imputed to us. Because he sinned as our imputed to us. Because he sinned as our representative, we are guilty in him. representative, we are guilty in him. Moreover, we also inherit his pollution, and Moreover, we also inherit his pollution, and now have a positive disposition toward sin. now have a positive disposition toward sin. Man is by nature totally depraved" (Louis Man is by nature totally depraved" (Louis Berkhof, Summary of Christian Doctrine, p. Berkhof, Summary of Christian Doctrine, p. 76 76

The Principle of Individual Free WillThe Principle of Individual Free WillEzekiel 18:19-20Ezekiel 18:19-20

Correcting the erroneous doctrine of Correcting the erroneous doctrine of inherited guilt as taught by Calvinists:inherited guilt as taught by Calvinists:

Presbyterian Creed: "By this sin they [Adam & Presbyterian Creed: "By this sin they [Adam & Eve] fell from their original righteousness and Eve] fell from their original righteousness and communion with God, and so became dead in communion with God, and so became dead in sin, and wholly defiled in all the faculties and sin, and wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of the soul and body. They being the root parts of the soul and body. They being the root of all mankind, the of all mankind, the guilt of this sin was imputedguilt of this sin was imputed and the and the same death in sin and corrupted same death in sin and corrupted nature conveyed to all their posteritynature conveyed to all their posterity descending from them by ordinary generation. descending from them by ordinary generation. From this original corruption, whereby we are From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil, do proceed all actual transgressions" evil, do proceed all actual transgressions" (Westminster Confession of Faith, 6.2-4).(Westminster Confession of Faith, 6.2-4).

The Principle of Individual Free WillThe Principle of Individual Free WillEzekiel 18:19-20Ezekiel 18:19-20

People can People can choose! (Joshua choose! (Joshua 24:14-15)24:14-15)

God is Just and MercifulGod is Just and MercifulEzekiel 18:25-29Ezekiel 18:25-29

The Lord The Lord wants all men wants all men to repent and to repent and live! live! (Romans (Romans 3:4; 2 Peter 3:4; 2 Peter 3:9)3:9)