The Responsibility of Man

By Roy Loney

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     "So then every one of us shall give an account of himself to God" (Rom. 14:7). The responsibility of man for his actions, that he is the arbiter of his own destiny, is the mainspring of all Bible teaching. When Adam sinned the Lord held him responsible for his conduct, ignoring man's efforts to absolve himself by throwing the blame on the woman (Gen. 3: 9). In all cases of misconduct God never accepts excuses. It is the definite law of God that each person must bear the blame for his own conduct. God blest Abraham when he obeyed him, and rejected Saul, the King, when he disobeyed him. Abraham, convinced that the Judge of all the earth would do right, knew that he would not destroy the righteous with the wicked (Gen. 18:23-25). Noah was saved because he walked with God, and the world of the ungodly perished in the flood. All received their just recompense of reward. God has never blest man in disobedience, nor punished him without a justifiable reason. On man's own head rests the ultimate decision as to whether he will receive an eternity of suffering or an endless life of never fading joys. To the Jews God once said, "Behold I set before you the way of life and the way of death" (Jeremiah 21:8). The decision of life or death was theirs to make, not God's. God's judgment was to be according to their own choice. No arbitrary whim of God would decide their destiny.

     The rich man (in Luke 16:19-31) suffering the just reward of his selfishness was made to realize that his case was hopeless, so he wished to save his brethren. His request for the resurrection of Lazarus to be a missionary to his brethren, was refused on the ground that "they have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them," which means that people at all times have been supplied with all things necessary to their salvation, and hence, they are without excuse if their present lives are out of harmony with the will of God. God has never left himself without witness, and man's ignorance of the plan of salvation cannot be blamed on the Lord. And inasmuch as Paul's statement is true that "every man shall bear his own burden" (Galatians 6:5), man cannot therefore claim justification for his undone condition in the day of judgment.

     God's greatest interest is man's salvation, and he is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and live (2 Peter 3:9).

     Everything that a loving Father could do to save man has been done, even to the sending of his only begotten Son to pay the price of man's redemption on Calvary's tree. Now salvation, full and free, is offered to all, for "whosoever will may come." Peter pleaded with the apostate Jews on Pentecost to "save yourselves from this untoward generation." This meant that their salvation was now in their own hands, not God's. If man rejects God's mercy, he must then receive God's judgment, and that judgment will be according to man's own conduct. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that everyone may receive for the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad" (2 Cor. 5:10). At the judgment when the books are opened each person will be judged out of those things which are written in the books according to their works" (Rev. 20:12).

     We cite these examples and scriptures because we have a deep interest in your soul, and it is our greatest desire that we might bless you through an increased knowledge of God's word. These messages are sent out with no selfish purpose. We seek only to share the angels' happiness who rejoice over each soul that is added to the kingdom of God.

     You have nothing that we covet. We have much that we wish to share with you. As the setting sun casts its lengthening shadows over the meadows of life,

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and the chill of the approaching night of death brings unrest to your heart, we wish to bring to you the certainty of a Father's love and a Saviour's mercy and grace. You have but one life to live, and one soul to save. Life is short and death is certain. Heaven is very beautiful and hell will be terrible. Through God's infinite grace one can face the coming of death with absolute hope and assurance. This hope and this assurance we wish to bring to you.

"THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST SALUTE YOU" (Romans 16: 16).

     (This article is in tract form and may be secured in quantity from Roy Loney, 927 Louisiana St., Lawrence, Kansas. You may write him for samples and prices).