I understand why one might be tempted to think that the substitutionary death of Jesus for the sins of the whole world can be seen as a contradiction of Deuteronomy 24:16 and Ezekiel 18:20.  Both of these passages state in crystal clear terms that human beings are only held accountable for the sins they have committed, and that they are not accountable for the sins committed by others, including their children or their parents.  Simple justice says that we only ought to be held accountable for our own acts, and not for the acts of other free will agents. The Christian idea of Jesus taking on the consequences of our sins, at first glance, seems to be in conflict with this principle.

However, I believe that this is not a bona fide contradiction for a simple reason.  Jesus voluntarily took the penalty for our sins.  Jesus willingly offered himself as a sacrifice for our sins.  If God had forced the consequences of our sins on his Son, then this would be a violation of the laws of justice, as expressed in Deut 24:16 and Exodus 18:20.  But this is not the case.

God has two primary qualities, which are his love for us and his justice.  His justice demands retribution for rebellion against what is right.  Like is stated in Ezekiel 18:4, “The soul who sins is the one who will die.”   However, God loves his created children.  When Israel committed idolatry, the penalty was that they would be rejected as God’s people, yet, we learn from Hosea that God’s love makes him unwilling to give up his people *Hosea 11:8, Hosea 3:2-3).  God’s love wants a relationship with his people, but his justice demands holiness and separation for those who are not holy.  The solution for the Jews was substitutionary sacrifice.  The blood of bulls, goats and lambs atoned for the sin of the people, so that God’s wrath could be appeased, and his love satisfied.

What is true in the Old Testament is also true about God in the New Testament.  In the New Covenant, it is not the sacrifice of unwilling goats, bulls and lambs, but it is the willing sacrifice of Jesus for our sins.

Again, like I said, if God had forced Jesus to give his life for our sins, then this would violate the theology of Deuteronomy 24:16 and Ezekiel 18:20. Justice does ot allow one person to be forced to take the penalty for the sin of another.  However, neither in the New nor in the Old Testament does God punish a person for the sin of another against their own will.

You make a good point which needs a careful response, but I believe that the solution to the problem of sin in both the Law of Moses and in the Law of Christ is similar. Both resolve the seeming conflict between God’s love and his justice.

John Oakes