Ezekiel 18:4 states "The soul that is sinning - it itself will die."?

Question

I thought that Christianity teaches that the soul is immortal - after all, this is what we are seeking to "save" from eternal torment.

If the soul is immortal, then how can Ezekiel be correct? How can the soul "die" if all of our actions lead only to either eternity in Heaven or Hell?? Is this another contradiction in the faith??

Jesus also taught that people (His followers at least) will be ressurrected on Judgement Day. But isnt ressurrection an unnecessary action if our soul is immortal? Or, another contradiction?

Answer 1

One must not assume a religion calling itself 'Christian' is christian.
Many churches teach lies ....the immortal soul is an example.
The trinity and life in heaven are others.
You'll get a kick at adding Ecclesiastes 9:5,10 to your Ezekial 18:4.

Answer 2

The context of Ezekiel 18 is to explain to the Jews that God will no longer impugn the sins of the fathers to the sons, as was done in times past. However, you've also stumbled upon one of several "proof texts" that I (and others who hold my beliefs) use to show Christians that God will not torment sinners in Hell forever. Verse 4 points to the "second death" mentioned in Revelation 20:14 and 21:8. Sinners die and are sent to Hell. After Jesus reigns on the earth for 1,000 years, He resurrects their bodies and rejoins them with their souls. They are then judged, found guilty, and tossed into the Lake of Fire, which annihilates them. Therefore, they die twice. The second death is permanent.

God only grants an immortal soul to those who've been saved by belief in Jesus Christ (this includes the OT saints, who also believe, but that's a different subject).

Those who have been Born Again and have died before Jesus' Second Coming are resurrected bodily at the Rapture (1 Thes. 4:16). It's only the unsaved that must wait to be resurrected.

Peace.

EDIT: "Paulsamuel," see Exodus 20:5.

Answer 3

The death mentioned here is otherwise known as The Lake of Fire, or the 2nd death, see Rev.20:11-15, or spiritual death. In a way you are right, our souls are eternal and thus will never die. According to Scripture, when people die in the flesh -bodily- their souls either rest peacefully until the Resurrection mentioned in 1Thess.4:16,17 and Rev.20:5,6-for believers- or are without rest in Hell until the 2nd Resurrection mentioned in Rev.20:11-15. Know this, the Bible never contradicts itself. We just need to read it in context, study it thoroughly and ask God to teach us from it.

Answer 4

Or perhaps nominal Christianity doesn't REALLY teach what the the Bible does!

And death = unconciousness, according to Eclesiastes 9:5 and Psalm 146:4.

Answer 5

The life or light in the soul is diminished or extinguish from grace due to mortal sins and venial sins. This is the effect of sin on the soul. The Sacrament of Reconciliation restores that grace.
Your body will be united to your soul in the resurrection of your body. Jesus resurrected Lazarus to show whoever believes in Him they also will be resurrected. The Bible is not contradictory only the people that interpret them.

Answer 6

Ezekiel was refuting a false doctrine of the people that sin was inherited on the son from the father (past down from generation to generation). He was basically saying that the person was responsible for his own sin...... he would die for his own sin.
The use of the word soul here is "life".

Answer 7

The soul is your breath, your life. The dead rest in Sheol (grave). Those that are resurrected and judged and do not enter Paradise will die. I.e., they will rest enternally in Sheol.

Matthew 10:28: "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."

Answer 8

Reading one verse out of the bible may often confuse you or make it seem contradictory but the Bible does not contradict itself. I hope the following verses from Ezekiel 18 will help :)

4 For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son—both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die.

25 "Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Hear, O house of Israel: Is my way unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust? 26 If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin, he will die for it; because of the sin he has committed he will die. 27 But if a wicked man turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will save his life. 28 Because he considers all the offenses he has committed and turns away from them, he will surely live; he will not die. 29 Yet the house of Israel says, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Are my ways unjust, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust?

Answer 9

you lack a teacher and understanding of the word - death in the Bible usually refers to hell and separation from God. The soul is imortal, and will live in eternity somewhere, whether it be heaven or hell.

sin = Separation from God

Answer 10

Death of the soul means that it is not in the presence of God and therefore cannot grow spiritually. the aim of Christianity is to get people saved and to allow for spiritual growth. The soul that dies in sin is forever removed from Christ and is condemned to everlasting darkness and loneliness.