Responsibility, Huh?
Accountability, Blog, Erik Garthe, Flesh, Good Deeds, Judgment, No Longer Conformed, Responsibility, Responsibility Huh?, spirit
0 Comment
How important is personal responsibility? The Bible reveals much on the subject. First, Jesus believed it. He is merciful and gracious, but He never excused individuals from responsibility. The Sermon on the Mount is all about what Jesus expects in His disciples.
John 8:11 is the end of the encounter with the woman caught in adultery. The Lord forgave her but instructed her to “go and sin no more.” Second, Scripture teaches it. Hebrews 9:27 states that all must face judgment. We will be held responsible and accountable for every action, word, thought, attitude, and motive. For many people (even Christians), who seem to have forgotten what it is, facing accountability before God will be an eye-opening experience. Consider passages such as: Matthew 5:14-48; 12:33-37, Romans 2:1-29, and 1 Corinthians 3:10-15. Third, reality affirms it. There is a law in nature that God placed there which clearly teaches the issue of responsibility. It is the principle of sowing and reaping. The physical illustration is observed repeatedly by anyone who plants a seed in the ground. The spiritual class meets in Paul’s classroom of Galatians 6:7-10. He begins by outlining the principle in verse 7, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” He then goes on to demonstrate the principle in verse 8 – sow to the flesh, reap corruption; sow to the Spirit, reap life. The next verse provides encouragement not to forsake the principle: “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” (v. 9) The apostle concludes the lesson (v. 10) with practical application of the principle, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Regardless of what our society does in providing excuses for us, the Lord has never changed in His call to personal responsibility.
Sin cera, Erik
Erik O. Garthe is Associate Pastor at Canton Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland.
