But if a upright man renounces his integrity,commits sin, copies the wicked man and practices every kind of filth,is he to live? All the integrity he has practices shall be forgotten from then on; but this is because he himself has broken faith and committed sin, and for this he shall die. But you object, “What the Lord does is unjust”. Listen, you House of Israel: is what I do unjust? Is it not what you do that is unjust? When the upright man renounces his integrity to commit sin and dies because of it, he dies because of the evil that he himself has committed. When the sinner renounces sin and becomes law-abiding and honest, he deserves to live. He has chosen to renounce all his previous sins; he shall certainly live; he shall not die. Ezekiel 18:24-28 Jerusalem Bible
‘But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, “son out and work in the vineyard today.” The son answered, “No,I won’t go,” but later he changed his mind and went anyway. The the father told the other son,”You go,”and he said,”Yes, sir, I will.” But he didn’t go.
Which of the two sons obeyed his father?’
They replied, ‘The first.’
Then Jesus explained his meaning: ‘I tell you the truth, tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do. For John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you did not believe him while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to believe him and repent of your sins.’ Matthew 21:28-32 New Living Translation
With the example of the two sons, Jesus explains Ezekiel in a way that we should grasp clearly, If we turn from sin, and repent, not to return to sin then we are saved, we are to see the Kingdom of God. But if we say,”Yes Lord,” but do not repent but continue to sin, we will not see the Kingdom of God but will indeed die in our sins. Do not cry that the Lord is unjust, for he is true Justice, merciful as He is, His justice is Divine. Refusing to believe and repent, to renounce our sins and to live upright, (holy) lives is to not work the vineyards. For how can we work the vineyards of Faithfulness if we reject His Word by continuing to live with sin as our companion. Why mock those who continually repent of sins and say, “We are saved, we do not need to repent.” when you have not repented at all and continue to sin? It is better to confess,repent and seek reconciliation daily than to mock the Lord with you continued sin. For surely you shall die with your sins binding you. John the Baptist had one message; “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.” Yet the priest and leaders of the “church’did not repent,only the tax collectors (such as Matthew) and the Prostitutes ( as with Mary Magdalene) became the beloved of God and followers of upright living.
Who then shall be saved? the repentant,those who after having said no to the Lord, return to the vineyard and work,having repented. For the vineyard is ripe and ready but the workers are few, many have said yes to the Lord but do not work. Which son are you? In your heart, do you trully repent and go into the vineyard? Or you the proud son who says yes an does noting? Are you the one who cries,”Unfair!” or are you the one who cries, “Have mercy on me.” Do you eat of the fruit of the Spirit or do you stand by and starve from the Grace of the Holy Spirit? Salvation come to those who serve the Lord and obey His every commandment. But to say, “I do not need to obey, for the Lord is merciful and forgives me even as I sin,” makes mockery of His Love. Is your life one of repentance? Or is it one of pride and vanity? Are you a reconciled tax collector or a unrepentant “priest” who thinks himself holier than thou? Do you see the glory of God in those who have repented or are you blind to your own self righteousness? Examine yourselves carefully,and seek after God, Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand, He is here among us.