Books

Focus On The Fundamentals Of The Faith

By W. Douglass Harris

What Determines Accountability to God?

No greater thought is conceivable than that of personal responsibility to God (Romans 14:12). This accountability cannot be ignored without suffering the consequences, which are horrible to contemplate.

Not enough serious attention has been given to what determines our accountability. Such is the aim of this article.

1. Ability determines accountability (Matthew 25:15). Each of the servants in the parable of the talents was held responsible for what he was capable of doing. The two-talent servant’s gains were not as much as the five-talent’s, but he did his best and received the same high praise. But the one-talent servant failed to produce in proportion to his ability.

Our Lord taught the same thing in Luke 12:48. If one has the ability to use five talents, he is required to use that many. If one allows his talents to lie dormant or squanders them, he will bring upon himself the condemnation of God. God’s mercy is indicated in the fact that He does not impose upon anyone more than he is capable of doing. Too many use their limited ability as an excuse for doing nothing in the Lord’s service. Capability can be increased by use and exercise (Matthew 13:12).

2. Knowledge determines accountability. The writer of Hebrews warns against sinning against knowledge (Hebrews 6:4-6). Peter expounds the fate of those who act contrary to knowledge (2 Peter 2:20-22). Our blessed Lord taught the same concept (Luke 16:10; Matthew 13:12). All these passages should be studied prayerfully in their context.

3. Privilege and advantage determine accountability. Jesus taught that the least in the kingdom is greater than John the Baptist. Why? Because of his greater advantages. People in Christ’s day will be held accountable for more than those in the past (Matthew 11:21-24; 12:41,42). Why? Because of greater advantages. Christ’s first coming gives us greater advantages than those before His coming (John 15:22-24). This passage suggests two principles that are involved: (1) The degree of sin is determined by the measure of our opportunities, (2) Increased knowledge and increased opportunities bring greater responsibility. What a sobering and thought-provoking concept which determines our eternal destiny!

There is no better example of the foregoing than the Jewish nation. In the only recorded sermon of Stephen, he pointed out to his Jewish audience the greater advantages they had enjoyed. (1) They had received the oracles (revelation) from God (Acts 7:38; Cf. Romans 3:1,2). (2) God had sent them a succession of prophets, which He had never done for any other nation (Acts 7:42). (3) They had the tabernacle of witness — the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, which stood over the tabernacle as a constant reminder of God’s presence (Acts 7:44). Paul affirms the same (Romans 9:3-5). They lost all of these privileges and advantages by their failure to use them and were destroyed as a nation.

Application: Our greater advantages: Complete revelation, the prevalence of copies of that revelation (Bible), the freedom to have Bible classes any time we choose, regular worship assemblies, modern teaching aids, our affluence (most of us live like kings did in the time of Christ), abundant printed materials, rapid means of communication, comfortable buildings, rapid and air-conditioned conveyances, a constitution that grants us religious freedom, and greater educational advantages.

What will our answer be in the judgment if we have failed to use them??? The echo comes back: what will our answer be???