Ezekiel 18:25-29 (ESV)
“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die. Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?
The above passage sums up the thoughts of this entire section of Ezekiel. God rewards the righteous and brings discipline to the wicked. That is this entire section. The discipline brought onto Judah was directly proportional to their sin. Yes, God is a God of judgment. But God is also a God of mercy. God has mercy on those who walk in His ways. Man is unjust if he thinks he can live the way he wants without impunity. He can’t. God sent Ezekiel to remind this nation of His holiness and His judgment. What was true then is true now:
Galatians 6:7 (ESV)
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
We can’t live our lives with complete disregard for God’s holiness. Even those who are believers stand in the way of judgement if they don’t repent:
James 5:20 (ESV)
let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
Judgement is still an option to God when we fail to walk with Him. God is the God of love. But He is also a holy God and must keep His word about holiness.
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