WORD ASSOCIATION:  ACCOUNTABILITY (2)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   Last week, we began a lesson entitled:  “Word Association:  Accountability.”

1.    The reason we wanted to study this topic is because God is a God of accountability.

2.    We noted that this is clearly revealed in the accounts found in Genesis 3 of Adam and Eve and Genesis 4 regarding Cain and Abel.

 

B.   We examined three words in last week’s less that are associated with accountability.

1.    Relationship:  a hierarchal relationship exists between two or more individuals when accountability is involved.

2.    Law:  in order to be held accountable, there must be something required by the superior:  a command, a law, or a covenant.

3.    Free moral agency:  again, in order for a superior to hold an inferior accountable, the inferior must have the ability to choose to obey or disobey. 

 

C.   We want to continue this lesson and examine two more words associated with accountability.  Then, we will make some practical application of accountability to our lives.

 

I.             RECKONING

 

A.   Accountability can only take place if there is eventually a day of reckoning with regard to one’s choices. 

1.    If there is no reckoning, the command(s) means nothing.

2.    If there is no reckoning, man is free do to as he pleases with no regard to God’s commands.

3.    If there is no reckoning, the authority figure has no authority at all.

 

B.   God reckoned with Adam and Eve.

1.    The Revelation:

a.    God was in close fellowship with Adam and Eve.  After they had sinned, He came “walking in the garden in the cool of the day” (Gen.3:8).

b.    They hid themselves from God’s presence.  Therefore, God called out, saying unto Adam:  “Where art thou?” (Gen. 3:9).

c.    “And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and hid myself? (Gen. 3:10).

2.    The Reckoning (Gen. 3:11-19)

a.    Adam:  “And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked?  Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?” (Gen. 3:11).

b.    Eve:  “And the Lord God said unto the woman, what is this that thou hast done?...” (Gen. 3:13).

c.    Satan:  “And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this…” (Gen. 3:14).

d.    Abel:  “…And the Lord has respect unto Abel and his offering” (Gen. 4:4).

e.    Cain:  “But unto Cain and his offering he had not respect” (Gen. 4:5).

 

II.           CONSEQUENCES

 

A.   If an authority only pointed out a person’s transgression of the law, but failed to inflict consequences for those violations, three things would happen.

1.    Transgressors would continue to transgress.

2.    Others would no longer fear the authorities and would commit transgressions also.

3.    Organizations and societies would be turned into lawless environments.  It would be a struggle to survive, and only the strongest would survive.

 

B.   God meted out punishment for all of those who violated his laws.

1.    Satan (Gen. 3:14-15)

 

And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life.

 

2.    The woman (Gen. 3:16)

 

Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

 

3.    The man (Gen. 3:17-19)

 

And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of they wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it:  cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken:  for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

 

III.         APPLICATION

 

A.   There is a relationship that exists between God and man, God and the church today.

1.    Creator/creature

2.    God/man

3.    Spirit/flesh

4.    Father/child

 

B.   God has given man a law by which to live today.

1.    Jesus is the mediator of a new covenant (Heb. 8:6).

 

But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

 

2.    All men will be judged according to Jesus’ words (John 12:48).

 

He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him;  the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

 

C.   Men are still free moral agents (Rom. 6:16, 19).

 

Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servant to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?...I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh:  for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

 

1.    We can choose to obey.

2.    We can choose to disobey.

 

D.   There will be a day of reckoning.

1.    Ecclesiastes 12:14

 

And God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil.

 

2.    Matthew 25:19

 

After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

 

3.    Matthew 25:32-34

 

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:  and before him shall be gathered all nations:  and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

 

4.    Acts 17:30-31

 

At the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:  because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

 

5.    Romans 14:12

 

So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

 

6.    2 Corinthians 5:10

 

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

 

7.    Revelation 20:11-12

 

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened:  and another book was opened, which is the book of life:  and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

 

E.   Consequences of both obedience and disobedience will be given.

1.    Psalm 1:5-6

 

Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.  For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

 

2.    Obedience (Matt. 25:21, 23)

 

His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant:  thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things:  enter thou into the joy of thy lord…His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou has been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things:  enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

 

Disobedience (Matt. 25:28, 30)

 

Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents…And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness:  there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

3.    Obedience (Matt. 25:34)

 

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

 

Disobedience (Matt. 25:41)

 

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.

 

4.    Romans 2:6-10

 

Who will render to every man according to his deeds:  to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:  but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil; of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; but glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good; to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:  for there is no respect of persons with God.

CONCLUSION

 

A.   In the opening chapters of the Genesis account, we quickly learn that God is a God of accountability.

 

B.   God is a God “with whom we have to do” (Heb. 4:13).

 

C.   Hearing, trusting, and obeying God are the keys.

1.    Be swift to hear (Jam. 1:19).

2.    Trust in the things God has said (Prov. 3:5).

3.    Do His commandments (Matt. 7:21; James 1:25; Rev. 22:14).