Next we see reference to one's son, and what he does:
10 “Then he may [g]have a violent son who sheds blood and who does any of these things to a brother
11 (though he himself did not do any of these things), that is, he even eats at the mountain shrines, and defiles his neighbor’s wife,
12 oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore a pledge, but lifts up his eyes to the idols and commits abomination,
13 he lends money on interest and takes increase; will he live? He will not live! He has committed all these abominations, he will surely be put to death; his blood will be [h]on his own head.
What does He mean "...his blood will be on his own head?"
The same thing Scripture usually means when it talks about "the blood," which is physical death.
When Scripture states "Without the shedding of blood there is no remission," it is speaking about death. That is because the penalty of sin is death. When we see reference to "the Blood of Christ," it is speaking of His death. When Christ speaks of the blood of the Prophets, we know He is speaking about them being put to death. When the Writer of Hebrews speaks of the blood of bulls and goats, he is speaking about them being put to death.
Here in Ezekiel 18:13, what He is saying is that those who do those things listed will suffer physical death. Again, if we make eternal death to be in view, then we must say that men can obtain eternal life through not doing them, and keeping the works of the Law.
And Paul flat out denies that in many of his teachings.
Next we see the son who does not sin as his father did/does...
14 “Now behold, he has a son who has observed all his father’s sins which he committed, and observing does not do likewise.
15 He does not eat at the mountain shrines or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or defile his neighbor’s wife,
16 or oppress anyone, or retain a pledge, or commit robbery, but he gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing,
17 he keeps his hand from [j]the poor, does not take interest or increase, but executes My ordinances, and walks in My statutes; he will not die for his father’s iniquity, he will surely live.
Does this mean he gains eternal life? Not at all, it simply means he will not come under the penalty for sin, which is death. And in an Old Testament context, that is usually what is in view, not everlasting judgment.
That is just a basic principle of the Law: if you sin...you are put to death.
What about the father that does sin?
18 As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother and did what was not good among his people, behold, he will die for his iniquity.
He will die for his sin...physically.
19 “Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity?’ When the son has practiced justice and righteousness and has observed all My statutes and done them, he shall surely live.
20 The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.
The son will not die due to his father's sin, but will surely live. Not obtain eternal life, but live on physically.
21 “But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
22 All his transgressions which he has committed will not be remembered against him; because of his righteousness which he has practiced, he will live.
23 Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord God, “[k]rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?
Where does someone turn from their ways? Here, while alive. What does it mean he will live? He will live physically.
And as I said, the error of the annihilationist is he imposes an eternal context, then completely skews the text by making a reference to the persons discussed refer to an immaterial aspect of man.
Now Bob, you will either cede this point or teach works-based salvation, and...
...two gospels.
That men can gain eternal life through faith in Christ and they can gain eternal life through obedience to the Law.
God bless.
