The Bible teaches that everyone is accountable to God. We have “all sinned and fallen short” of the perfect standard He requires of us (Romans 3:24). One day everyone will stand before the judge of all the earth, and “each one of us will give account of themselves to God” (Romans 14:12).
Accountability to God is inescapable. People may be able to deceive other people, Hebrews 4:13 says, “There is no creature that is hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of Him to whom we must give in account.
Our sin, exposed before a Holy God, is bad news because “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). That same verse continues with the good news that “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ our Lord.” Jesus, the Son of God, died on the cross to bear the judgment of God against sin. He rose again defeating sin and death. So we can receive forgiveness and walk in newness of life.
All are accountable to Him,
“Therefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Messiah (Jesus) that each one may receive the things in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” – 2 Corinthians 5:9-10.
Knowing we must answer to God should compel us daily to turn away from sin and pursue purity. And when we stand before God at last, we want Him to say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21).
I would much rather hear God say “Well done good and faithful servant” rather than to hear, “I never knew you, Depart from me, you who work iniquity” -Matthew 7:23.
The Bible is not about “me and God.” The Bible teaches that we are part of His body, the church, and individual members one of another (Romans 12:5). Being accountable to one another is part of what it means to be a follower of Jesus.
Some people say “I don’t need the church to follow Jesus. But the truth is being part of a church helps us stay accountable to Jesus.
Biblical accountabiliirequires committing to a particular group of fellow believers. Being a member in a church is the context for fulfilling the many “one another’ commands in scripture. These scriptures include,
- Romans 12:10
- 2 Corinthians 13:11
- Galatians 6:2
- Colossians 3:13
- 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Accountability in the church is not meant to be a one-way street. All believers are individually accountable before God and should also hold each other accountable, helping each other to bear burdens and grow in holiness. Mutual accountability is a key function of a healthy church.
From Pity to Praise 