Here God refutes a popular saying in Israel of that day, "The fathers have eaten sour grapes, And the children's teeth are set on edge"(v. 2). Apparently they believed that the children were to receive the punishment according to the sins of their fathers. God tells us in verses 3-18 that this will definitely not be the case. Instead, each individual will receive punishment according to their righteous acts or their evil acts. It has nothing to do with what their parents do, or the opposite, what their children do.
He goes on to tell us in verses 21 and 22 that, "... if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live: he shall not die." This is just another way of saying that when an individual is converted and that individuals life is changed by the in-working power of God, God covers or forgets all of their past sins and wickedness. Wonderful news indeed! However, in verse 24 we find that the opposite is also true. When a righteous person turns from righteousness to wickedness, "All of his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered". Friends, we truly are only safe as long as the precious blood of Jesus covers us. This reminds me of 1 Cor. 10:12, "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." Hold on a second though, don't be discouraged. The very next verse tells us, "... God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."
God has given us everything we need in order to keep us from falling back into the life that we had prior to coming to Christ. He also has supplied all of our needs to come to Him in the first place, when we are stuck in a life of wickedness. Why does God do all of this for us? The answer is found in the closing verses of this chapter (v's. 30-32) "... 'Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. 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? For I have no pleasure in the death of the one who dies,' says the Lord God. 'Therefore turn and live!'"
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