Good day People of God in Christ. You are all welcome to another episode of our daily study of the Word of God. We thank God for the gift of life.
In our today’s episode 555 of studying and understanding the Bible, we shall be looking into the book of Ezekiel Chapter 18 titled:
This Parable Must Stop! Parents Ate Sour Grapes; Children Got Sour Teeth
I have witnessed in some churches where they always raised prayer points like:
“Forgive me all the sins of my forefathers that are affecting me Oh Lord”
Or something like this…
“Deliver me o Lord from generational sins or curses…inherited from my forefathers”
I have also taken part in praying those prayers in the past too. At that time, I did not know completely who I was in Christ and therefore, whatever was coming out of the pulpit, I always took them hook, line and sinker, without properly examining such prayers in the light of the rightly divided Word of God.
So, in this post, I will be making some clarifications and revealing some Bible texts to debunk the claim that God can visit the sins of forefathers on children.
Starting with our Chapter under study. God already instructed Prophet Ezekiel to tell the Israelites to stop making such claim that God was punishing them for the sins of their forefathers. You will find this in verse 3.
You will remember also when we were studying the book of Jeremiah, God also told him the same thing in Chapter 31:29-30.
That they should stop saying that their parents ate sour grapes and the teeth of the children were set on edge. It’s a parable that means they got punished for the sins of their parents.
Reading Jeremiah chapter 31 further, you will notice that God promised them a new covenant to replace the old one from which they derived that proverb or parable. Please read Jeremiah 31:31-32.
Now, let’s take a step further by examining what the Epistles have to say about this.
In Galatians 3:13, the Bible says that:
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree…
The idea of the teeth of the children becoming sour as a result of the sins of their forefathers was a product of the Law.
The Good News is that the Laws no longer apply to New Covenant believers.
And I have also said it repeatedly on this platform the reason the Laws were given and who gave them.
According to the Epistle of Paul to the Galatians, the Laws were not given by God. God’s original plan was the New Covenant.
The Law was the arrangement made by Angels and Moses introduced it to the Jews because of their stubbornness until the Messiah should come to rescue humanity from the curse of the law and He has done that already.
And the moment the Messiah showed up, the regime of the Law ended because all its requirements have been fulfilled in Christ.
One of its demands was to visit the sins of parents on their children. As fierce as this may look, not all of them was affected. Thousands who chose to pitch their tents on the Lord’s side (they believed; they obeyed), enjoyed God’s mercy.
Let’s quickly read what Apostle Paul says about the law.
Galatians 3:19
Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Now, let’s pay attention to some key words in the above verse:
We see clearly the reason the Law was introduced – because of their transgression.
We also see it’s expiry date, which is the arrival of the Messiah.
We also see those who arranged the Law for the Jews – Angels and Moses (as the mediator).
This means that the law was never in God’s original plan for man.
Let’s read what God says in verse 3
As I live, saith the Lord God, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.
It means that every individual must take responsibility for their actions. Verse 4
If that is the case, why do many people, especially believers still believe that they need to confess the sins of their forefathers or praying against inherited curses?
As a believer, you are not under any curse and neither is there any forefather’s sins acting on you. The devil is simply playing prank on the mind of such individuals. Read Col 1:13-14 to understand who you truly are in Christ Jesus.
Your concern should be how to live your life in fulfilling God’s purpose on earth. How you will continue to exhibit God’s true nature to humanity.
Because on the last day, people’s works will be tested with fire. Will your work stand the test or fail the test? Read 1 Cor 3:13-15
Amendments can still be made now while there is time.
Let me wrap it up with this: God is not interested in the death of sinners but for them to come to repentance and be saved. Please read verse 23.
To be continued…stay tuned and stay blessed.
Let us pray:
I declare by the authority in the name of Jesus, every satanic manipulation targeted against you and your family, be rendered to nought, in Jesus name.
You are already free from any form of curses or negative entanglement. Receive the capacity to operate in this freedom fully, in Jesus name.
The power of God is working wonders in your life already as new windows of amazing opportunities are opened unto you in this new week and new month, in Jesus name.
Bible Readings For Today: Jeremiah Chapters 22, 23 & 24 with Isaiah Chapter 18
I call you blessed now and always.
Sunday October 4, 2020 (DDMI)
