Ezekiel 18:24
““But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, should he live? None of his righteous deeds that he has done will be remembered. In his trespass that he has trespassed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them he shall die.”
What does Ezekiel 18:24 mean?
This passage describes a sobering spiritual reality: having lived faithfully doesn't create a permanent shield against the consequences of turning away from God. If someone who has genuinely walked in righteousness chooses to abandon that path and embrace serious sin, their past goodness won't protect them or count as a bargaining chip with God. It's not that God forgets their former righteousness in a punitive way, but rather that their current choices define their current spiritual standing. The point is to emphasize personal accountability and the seriousness of turning away from God, while also suggesting (in context of Ezekiel's larger message) that repentance remains possible for those willing to turn back.