The document discusses personal accountability to God, emphasizing that each individual is responsible for their own actions as stated in Ezekiel 18. It critiques the doctrine of inherited guilt propagated by Calvinists, presenting the principle of individual free will where people can make their own choices. The document also asserts God's justice and mercy, encouraging all to repent and seek life.

1. Your Personal Accountability to God Proverbs 22:6 Romans 14:12 Ezekiel 18

2. Personal Accountability The Babylonian Captives complained that they were being punished for the sins of their fathers (Ezekiel 18:1-2) The Lord made it clear that this was not the case (Ezekiel 18:3; Deuteronomy 24:16; Jeremiah 24) Each person is accountable for his own conduct (Ezekiel 18:4)

3. Cases of Personal Accountability The Righteous Father – Ezekiel 18:5-9 The Unrighteous Son – Ezekiel 18:10-13 The Righteous Grandson – Ezekiel 18:14-18

4. The Principle of Individual Free Will Ezekiel 18:19-20 Correcting the erroneous doctrine of inherited guilt as taught by Calvinists: John Calvin said, “Original sin…may be defined as hereditary corruption and depravity of our nature, extending to all parts of the soul, which first makes us obnoxious to the wrath of God, and then produces in us works which in Scripture are termed works of the flesh” (Institutes of the Christian Religion, 2.1.8).

5. The Principle of Individual Free Will Ezekiel 18:19-20 Correcting the erroneous doctrine of inherited guilt as taught by Calvinists: "Original sin: this includes both guilt and pollution. The guilt of Adam's sin is imputed to us. Because he sinned as our representative, we are guilty in him. Moreover, we also inherit his pollution, and now have a positive disposition toward sin. Man is by nature totally depraved" (Louis Berkhof, Summary of Christian Doctrine, p. 76

6. The Principle of Individual Free Will Ezekiel 18:19-20 Correcting the erroneous doctrine of inherited guilt as taught by Calvinists: Presbyterian Creed: "By this sin they [Adam & Eve] fell from their original righteousness and communion with God, and so became dead in sin, and wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of the soul and body. They being the root of all mankind, the guilt of this sin was imputed and the same death in sin and corrupted nature conveyed to all their posterity descending from them by ordinary generation. From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil, do proceed all actual transgressions" (Westminster Confession of Faith, 6.2-4).

7. The Principle of Individual Free Will Ezekiel 18:19-20 People can choose! (Joshua 24:14-15)

8. God is Just and Merciful Ezekiel 18:25-29 The Lord wants all men to repent and live! (Romans 3:4; 2 Peter 3:9)