Yes, Ezekiel's message is fully consistent with the rest of the Bible.
Ezekiel's statement that 'the soul that sinneth, it shall die' reflects the same principle God established in the Garden of Eden when He warned Adam and Eve that disobedience would bring death. The Apostle Paul also confirms this universal truth in Romans, showing that all have sinned and are subject to death. Thus, Ezekiel, Genesis, and Romans agree on the inseparable link between sin and death.
Ezekiel 18:4 — This verse directly states the principle that the soul that sins shall die, which is the core of the question.
Romans 3:23 — Paul's declaration that all have sinned reinforces that Ezekiel's principle applies universally.
In Genesis 3:3, Eve tells the serpent that God warned them not to eat of the forbidden tree, lest they die. This establishes the foundational truth that disobedience to God's command results in death. The death spoken of is both spiritual and physical, as sin separates from God and leads to physical mortality. Ezekiel 18:4 repeats the same principle: 'Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.' This demonstrates that God's judgment on sin is consistent across the Old Testament. In the New Testament, Paul confirms this in Romans 3:23, 'For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.' He also states in Romans 5:12 that death passed upon all men because all have sinned. These passages together show that the Bible consistently teaches that sin leads to death.
Les Feldick explains that Ezekiel's message is simply a repetition of the first law God gave to mankind in the Garden of Eden. He calls this 'the very first fundamental law in Scripture': when anyone disobeys God's revealed will, that is sin, and the result is death—both spiritual and physical. Les emphasizes that Ezekiel 18:4 restates the same truth: 'the soul that sinneth shall surely die.' He then shows that Paul in Romans 3:23 confirms this for both Jews and Gentiles. Les points out that since all have sinned (both Jews and Gentiles), death is an inevitable consequence for everyone, except for those who trust in Christ's death on the cross as their own death, which is the 'loophole' that allows escape from the penalty of sin.
Paul in Romans 3:23 states that 'all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,' which encompasses both Jews and Gentiles. This aligns with Ezekiel's statement that the soul that sins shall die. Les Feldick points out that Paul's use of 'all' confirms that no one escapes the penalty of sin, matching the universal scope of Ezekiel's principle.
Les Feldick explains that while the human race faces the certain death that comes from sin, there is a way of escape. This loophole is found in being identified with Christ: when He died on the cross, the believer dies in Him. Through faith, a person can accept Christ's death as their own, thus satisfying the requirement of death while gaining eternal life.
Paul in Romans 5:13-14 indicates that death reigned even over those who did not sin in the same way Adam did—they were not given a specific command like the forbidden tree. Yet, death still affected them. Les notes that this is because all are descendants of Adam and inherit the sin nature, so death passes to all.
Genesis 3: The First Law of Sin and Death
Les shows that Eve's warning about the forbidden fruit established that disobedience to God brings death, both spiritual and physical.
Ezekiel 18:4: Repeating the Same Principle
Les highlights that Ezekiel repeats the same truth that sin brings death, saying 'all souls are mine,' and the soul that sins will die.
The Loophole of Identification with Christ
Les explains that while sin guarantees death, the believer can escape by being identified with Christ's death on the cross.
The Soul That Sins Must Die
Les connects the fundamental law from Genesis and Ezekiel with Paul's statement in Romans that all have sinned, reinforcing that death is inevitable.
Death Entered Through Adam
Les explains that before Adam ate, there was no death; sin brought death, and it passed to all men because all have sinned.
Death Reigned from Adam to Moses
Les points out that death reigned even over those who did not sin like Adam, showing the universality of sin and death.
Why Death Passes on All
Les explains that all are sinners because of Adam, and death is the result, which God used to give man a choice between good and evil.
Paul Confirms Ezekiel's Principle
Les shows that Paul's statement 'all have sinned' in Romans 3:23 directly echoes Ezekiel's truth about the soul that sins.
Genesis 3:3: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Eve acknowledges God's warning that disobeying His command would result in death, establishing the principle.
Ezekiel 18:4: Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
This verse directly states that the soul that sins will die, affirming the same principle as Genesis.
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Paul states the universality of sin, which aligns with Ezekiel's statement that all souls belong to God and sin leads to death.
Romans 5:12: Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
This explains that death entered the world through Adam's sin and passed to all people, confirming the universal consequence.
No, it doesn't. Ezekiel 18:4 repeats the same principle found in Genesis 3:3, where disobedience brings death, and Romans 3:23, where all have sinned. It is a consistent biblical truth.
The 'soul that sinneth' refers to any individual who disobeys God's revealed will. As Les Feldick explains, this disobedience is sin, and the result is death, both spiritual and physical.
According to Les Feldick, the only escape is through faith in Christ's death. By being identified with Christ's death, the believer dies in Him, satisfying the penalty and receiving eternal life.
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