Individual and Generational Judgment 

Individual and Generational Judgment 

There are two seemingly contradictory statements. On the one hand, Scripture tells us that each individual should bear the guilt for his/her own sins. 

In those days people will no longer say: “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.” Instead, everyone will die for his own sin; whoever eats sour grapes—his teeth will be set on edge. (Jeremiah 31:29–30) 

On the other hand, Scripture says that God visits the guilt of fathers upon their children. 

You show steadfast love to thousands, but you repay the punishment for fathers’ sins into the laps of their children after them. (Jeremiah 32:18a) 

How do we reconcile these two different scriptures spoken by the Prophet Jeremiah? They are not different. They both refer to the same Law. These two references describe two different outcomes of the same spiritual reality that govern the Law of God. The spiritual roots are identical and must be dealt with similarly through confession, repentance, and forgiveness. 

Individual Judgment 

Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers. Each is to die for his own sin. (Deuteronomy 24:16)

The Prophet Ezekiel, like the Prophet Jeremiah, brings the same message.

For every living soul belongs to me, the father and the son—both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die (Ezekiel 18:4).  

First, even though the retribution for sin is passed to the next generation, that generation, if righteous, is guilt-free. Life may not go well with that generation due to the outstanding generational debt, but the generation is not condemned. If the children reject the sinful practice of their parents, they are set free from the enslaving power of that particular sin. The debt of their parents’ offense, however,  is still outstanding. It is canceled only when the sins of the fathers are confessed and atoned for by the children, in a manner which Daniel, Ezra, and Nehemiah did (described below). 

Second, the biblical references above are spoken prophetically for a time when the curses associated with the Law would be broken, when Christ would cancel their power of death and destruction. This is a well-known biblical pattern of weaving through now and then, between the current and the prophetic; it is an example of what Jesus often referred to, “Let the reader understand” (Matthew 24:15), or “Whoever has ears let them hear” (Matthew 13:9; 13:43;23.35; Luke 8:8;14:35; Mark 4:9). Today, the children of God are free from the guilt of their own sins. They have severed the generational curse. It will not be passed on to their children. However, there might be an outstanding guilt inherited from their ancestors. The guilt, once identified, must be confessed and repented immediately. Only then will the genealogical account be cleared of any spiritual debt. Such is the mechanism and the function of God’s eternal Law. 

Today, the Law concerning generational sins, in Leviticus 26, continues to be in effect. Because of the power of the Cross of Christ, however, the dreadful consequences to the next generation are negated. There is a condition, though: To negate the guilt of fathers' sins upon the children, the sins of the fathers must be confessed and repented by the consecutive generation.            

Despite the different spiritual implications of being “under the Law” (Old Testament) or “under grace” (New Testament), the outcome of generational curses is the same. The same is also the biblical way to negate them by repenting, renouncing, and atoning for the sins committed. Humility before God ultimately cancels the power of sin over consecutive generations. Under these conditions, the words from the Scripture are true:

Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest. (Proverbs 26:2)

Generational judgment 

As mentioned earlier, the Law of God comes with blessings and curses. These are conditions that come with the covenant between God and His people. To this day, the postulations of the Law of God continue to be valid (Exodus 20:5–6; Deuteronomy 5:9). Prophet Jeremiah lamented because he recognized the exile as generational judgment. 

Our fathers sinned, and are no more; and we bear their punishment. (Lamentations 5:7) 

The Old Testament abounds with examples of children falling under the judgment of their fathers: The generation of Noah (Genesis 7:21); Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24–25); Ahab (1 Kings 21:21–22). The people asked Jesus if the condition of an invalid man was associated with this Law. He responded, 

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in his life.” (John 9:3) 

Jesus did not negate the existence of generational curses; He clarified the purpose of man’s condition. Suffering for the sins of a previous generation was a common explanation for the misfortunes in life at that time. Today, we cancel the power of these sins by seeking repentance and forgiveness from God for ourselves and our forefathers. The sins of the father continue to affect the consequtive generations ONLY if they are not confessed and atoned. 

Task:  Examine your family tree. Do you see a pattern of persistent health conditions or behaviors from generation to generation? For example, alcoholism, anger, violence, promiscuity, laziness, addictions, adultery, fear, high anxiety, or sexual deviations. How have these behaviors affected your life? Make a list of all the issues that run in your ancestral bloodline that might have affected your life. 

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