We can be adopted into God’s family and inherit a new nature.

We are all given the option to accept Jesus’ cleansing (Romans 6:23). The sins of the parents will affect their children. We are all born with sinful natures because Adam chose to disobey God. Even more obviously, Adam and Eve’s sin has affected all of us. The relatively new field of epigenetics is suggesting that trauma can leave “molecular scars” on our DNA-and that those scars are passed down genetically to the third and fourth generation. Certain sins take parents out of the home or inhibit their ability to be loving caregivers, setting the children up for possible problems in the future. Those who grow up watching sinful behavior are often more likely to engage in it themselves. Today, we see how parental sin affects children. The Israelites, as a nation, were punished by God for their sin, and that punishment sometimes affected the children as well. David and Bathsheba’s first son died soon after birth due to David’s sin. On the other hand, it is obvious that the sins of parents do affect their children. Verse 18 says, “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” Clearly, salvation is offered to all, regardless of the actions of one’s parents. Ezekiel 18:30 says, “Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways.” John 3:16 says that “ whoever believes in shall not perish but have eternal life” (emphasis added). In Genesis we see God treat Cain differently from Abel, based on their different actions.

In both the Old and New Testaments, we see God interact with people based on their own faith. The one who sins is the one who will die.’” At the same time, Exodus 20:5–6 says, “For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” So, do children bear responsibility for their parents’ sin? Yes and no. For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child-both alike belong to me. Verses 1 through 4 say, “The word of the Lord came to me: ‘What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel: “The parents eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge”? As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel. Ezekiel 18 makes it clear that God holds each individual responsible for his or her own sin.

The sins of the father