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Christian Responsibility
Christian Responsibility
A Christian is a Christ-like person in words, thoughts and actions. He denies himself for the sake of Jesus. Jesus has said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23) The Christian works to bring every thought into subjection or captivity to Christ. “Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5) There is no privilege on earth greater than being a Christian.
A Christian is a person who has become a Christian by gospel obedience and then lives a Christ-like life. When a person dies to sin, and is buried with Christ in baptism, they are to arise to walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:1-4) A true Christian will be steady and unshakeable in the faith; thus accepting Christian responsibility. What is involved in Christian responsibility?
Christian responsibility includes living a consistent Christian life. The Bible teaches personal accountability to God. We are accountable to God for the life we live. The sadness of all sadness would be for death to come and find us failing in living a consistent Christian life. And death will come for, “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27) If death should come now how would it find you spiritually? “But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: ‘As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.’ So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:10-12)
Christian responsibility includes being a Christian example. Christian growth should bring us to a point in life where there is love, peace, joy and meekness. Paul wrote, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” (Galatians 5:22-26) Following this simple teaching will produce a powerful Christian example.
Christian responsibility includes daily Bible study. It is from the Bible that we learn of God and man’s responsibility toward Him. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) The Bible is God’s word. When we think of the Bible “Revelation” is the key word. The Bible came by revelation of God. (2 Peter 1:21) The Bible is trustworthy and dependable. Have you read your Bible today?
Christian responsibility includes having the right attitude. Our attitude toward our spouse, children, parents, siblings, neighbors, co-workers and fellow Christians will be one factor which will determine our eternal destiny. Is my attitude toward others what a Christian’s attitude should be? A true Christian can always have the right attitude about things. He can, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4) Why would I not keep my attitude right if I believe that “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose?” (Romans 8:28)
Christian responsibility includes attending all the services of the church. Christians are warned to, “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25) I need the strength of Christian fellowship. I want my attitude to be that of David when he said, “I was glad when they said to me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.” (Psalm 122:1) Jesus will be present in the assembly, will you? “It is a fearful thing to fall into God’s hands” guilty of willfully forsaking the assembly of the church.
Christian responsibility includes a daily pray life. Prayer is both a responsibility and a privilege for a Christian. Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7) Many of the great promises of Jesus relate to prayer. For example, Jesus said, “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (Matthew 21:22) God does answer the prayers of a faithful Christian. The Christian life must be a life of daily prayer.
Christian responsibility includes scriptural giving. Our giving must include the giving of our time, talent and money. But, if we do not give our money it is difficult to give anything else. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:19-20.) What a statement -- “Where your treasure is there will your heart be also.” Where is your heart? Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38) Our giving or lack of it can either cause God to withhold blessings from us or to give so much we cannot even receive all that He gives. “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” (Malachi 3:8-11) Let us learn to be liberal in our giving.
Christian responsibility includes our efforts to save those who are not Christians. It is the responsibility of one Christian to teach another about Christ. “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2) Evangelism is a command of the Lord Jesus. “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15) Christians must teach the lost about Christ. The joy of Christianity is in bringing others to Christ.
Before you can fulfill Christian responsibility you must become a Christian. This means you must be born again. (John 3:3-5) When God’s word is planted in our hearts we are begotten of the Spirit. (1 Peter 1:22-23) Trust in Jesus as Lord and Christ leads to true repentance. (Acts 17:30-31) We then obey the truth by being baptized to be born into God’s family. (Romans 6:3-4) The Bible says, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Galatians 3:26-27) Are you a Christian? Are you fulfilling your Christian responsibility?
- - - - Charles Box
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