What Is Involved
In
Christian Responsibility?
A true Christian is a Christ-like person in words, thoughts and
actions. He denies himself for the sake of Jesus. Jesus 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
in a life changing way by bringing 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 that of being a Christian.
A Christian is a person that has, from the heart, obeyed the
gospel of Christ. (Acts 2:36-41) The world can see the difference as this
person lives a Christ-like life. (2 Timothy 2:19) 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 unshakable in the
faith of Jesus Christ; thus accepting his or her Christian responsibility. What
is involved in Christian responsibility?
Christian responsibility includes living a consistent Christian life. The
Bible teaches personal responsibility and accountability to
God. We are accountable to God
for the life we live. The sadness of all sadnesses
would be for death to come and find us as failures in living a consistent
Christian life. And certainly we all know that 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 the point of a life of love, peace, joy and
meekness. We should be like our master, Jesus Christ. 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. We read, "In the beginning God created the
heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1) It is from the Bible that we learn
God's will for man. It is from the Bible that we learn our responsibility
toward God. The Bible is God's word. When we think of the Bible
"Revelation" is the key word. I do not here speak of the book of
Revelation, but that 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 that will determine our
eternal destiny. Is my attitude toward others what a Christian's attitude
should be? A true Christian must always have the right attitude about life. 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. (Hebrews 10:24-31)
Christian responsibility includes a daily prayer 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 prayer 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 can not
even receive all that He gives. (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." (II Timothy 2:2) Evangelism is a command of the Lord Jesus.
"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to
every creature." (Mark
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. (I Peter 1:22-23) Trust in Jesus as Lord and Christ leads to true repentance. (Acts 17:30-31) We are born into God's family by being baptized in obedience to the truth. (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?