Ezekiel 18:30-32 “‘Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,’ says the Lord GOD. ‘Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? 32For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,’ says the Lord GOD. ‘Therefore turn and live!’”
This is an awesome passage of scripture. It is a call to live a changed life. The entire chapter leading up to these verses talks about each generation living or dying for their own sin. In other words, the son will not pay for the father’s wickedness nor will the son be acquitted for the father’s righteousness. People will be rewarded according to their own behavior.
Although each generation stands on its own merits, there is a link between them. People have a tendency to repeat the same sins of the previous generations. God’s call in verse 30 is to repent and turn from all transgression (Hebrew = revolt; rebellion) “so that iniquity will not be your ruin.” The word iniquity is the Hebrew word “avon” and it means perversity; moral evil. I have always believed that iniquity is generational sin. It makes sense given the context of this chapter. It also makes sense that God would state in verse 30 that iniquity will ruin you. Haven’t you seen it?
The answer is both natural and supernatural.
Verse 31 instructs us to “cast away” (to throw out; to hurl) all of our transgressions (rebellion). That’s the natural part. You have to thrust them away from you. The supernatural is this: get a new heart and a new spirit. This is amazing. God tells us that it is possible to change that which internally drives us. He can give us a new heart and a new spirit. What a great prayer to offer to God today! “Lord, change me. Give me a new heart and a new spirit so that I may follow You and Your ways.” The options are clear: Turn and live or remain the same and die. It’s a no-brainer …