Personal Accountability

Introduction

It’s good to be back. It seems that it’s been a long while since I was standing here as I was gone the last two Lord’s days. It’s good to be back. Good to see all of you. And I want to ask you are you a faith warrior? And so you’ll have to come back tonight at five o’clock to know more about that question and the answer to it. Are you a faith warrior? Our sharing with each other is designed by God to be an important contribution in our spiritual well being. Others play a significant role in our spiritual progress and maturity. And I would take you to this verse in Proverbs chapter 27 and verse 17, where it says, iron sharpens iron. So one man counsels another.

However important it is that we provide this sharpening of one another as we impart God’s counsel to one another. And that’s what we’ve done as we’ve sung this morning. We have sung to one another psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. We are imparting counsel to each other, but there are limits to what we can do for one another. As important as this is, there are limits. And so we talk about personal accountability. And that is appropriate to talk about because there are limits. And if there is a warning, I can already see I have a font issue. We’ll see if this affects later slides. But what I want to warn you about is that this lesson has responsibility ahead. As we talk about personal accountability. There was a study done by Target Training International, where they found that in over 95% of the jobs that they studied, personal accountability was one of the top seven personal skills required for superior performance on the job.

Take that to work with you tomorrow. It is one of the soft skills that make a great employee, a great leader, and a great person. TTI defines personal accountability as the capacity to take responsibility for one’s own actions, conduct, obligations, and decisions without excuses. And that last statement is one that I want us to focus upon this morning. The capacity to take responsibility for one’s actions, conduct, obligations, and decisions without excuses. It is easier to talk about personal accountability and personal responsibility than it is to live it. And with those thoughts in mind, I want to take you to 2 Corinthians this morning. Well, we’ll be looking at a number of verses there in that book. As we studied not too very long ago, Paul’s relationship with the church at Corinth has become undermined.

The Corinthians have come under the sway of false apostles and false prophets. And Paul says to them as he gets to the nuts and bolts of the problem in the last four chapters, in 2 Corinthians 11 and verse 2, for I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy, for I betrothed you to one husband, that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness that your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. And then he continues in verse 12 but what I am doing, I will continue to do, that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting.

1. What We Do Matters

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan himself disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, but whose end shall be according to their deeds. He has hinted at these problems earlier in 2 Corinthians, as well as hinting at their results. And he has warned about the judgment in 2 Corinthians 5, verses 10 and 11. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body according to what he has done, whether good or bad. That passage speaks to your personal accountability. To receive in the body the things that we’ve done, whether good or bad.

Now, what does Paul say about this prospect of judgment? Certainly in light of the Corinthians’ rejection of him and these deceitful workers, these false apostles who are influencing them. He says, Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord or the terror of the Lord, we persuade men. Iron sharpens iron, one man counsels another. Paul says, in light of the judgment, we persuade men. But that’s the limit to what Paul can do. But we are made manifest to God, and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences, he says. Warning about the judgment. Remember this in Acts 24, as Paul was before Felix, and he reasoned with him. He was discussing righteousness, self-control, and judgment to come. And as a result of that discussion, Felix became frightened and said, and that’s the appropriate response, I might add, when you stand in danger of the judgment, when you realize that your deeds are not consistent with what the Bible teaches, you should respond the way Felix did.

He was frightened. Sometimes I get concerned in our present times when it seems so few are frightened by this message anymore. Felix said, Go thy way. When I have a convenient season, I will call for you. Paul’s warning about the judgment speaks to our personal responsibility and should cause us to shudder. What we do matters. I said that recently to you in a sermon. What we do. In fact, I took that sermon on the road and preached it in Mobile a couple of weeks ago. What we do matters. Does this sound like grace is just going to cover anything and everything that we might do? That’s the modern notion about grace. And yet later on in this epistle in 2 Corinthians 12, 20 and 21, Paul has already warned about judgment, and then he talked about coming to them again.

Well, he’s very, he’s very mighty in letter, but he is weak in personal presence. They’re saying about him. Oh, he can be strong and he writes a letter, but when he’s in your midst, he’s meek and quiet as a lamb, is the idea. But he said in verse 20 of 2 Corinthians 12, for I am afraid that perhaps when I come, I may find you to be not what I wish. And may be found by you to be not what you wish. That perhaps there may be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances. He says, if I find those things among you when I arrive, you’re going to wish I was Mr. Meek and mild mannered Paul, who has been with you in the past.

That’s not the way I will come. He will come with more severity if those things are present. He says, I am afraid that when I come again, my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality, and sensuality which they have practiced. Now, that’s sort of sounds like that immorality, impurity, and sensuality matter. And as a result of these things, the judgment of God will come. That’s why the previous warning exists about the judgment. So what we do matters, and I would point out, there are some powerful motivations to respond appropriately in personal accountability. There is the astounding love of God, the hope of immortality, the exalting nature of obedience, along with this judgment that Paul warns about in regard to unrighteousness.

In Acts 17, verses 30 and 31, when Paul was at Athens, he said, the times of this ignorance God winked at.

Hebrews chapter 10 and verse 31. But it’s not just the judgment of God that should motivate us to respond appropriately and to be persuaded by the truth teacher like Paul. It is these other qualities and hopes as well. And none of them should be diminished. And notice I put first the astounding love of God. If that doesn’t motivate us, most likely, warnings of the judgment will not. And not only that, the hope of immortality, eternal life in the presence of God, incomparable joy. And sometimes we’ll stop short of the next point, not realizing that even what we do as we order our lives righteously in light of the judgment, but even that is exalting of our existence here. It makes our lives better and richer. So we have powerful motivations, and no wonder Paul could persuade them in regard to the judgment and preparation for it.

2. Restrained in Your Own Affections

So Paul then affirms his love for the Corinthians. And this is the verse that was really the impetus of these thoughts this morning in 2 Corinthians 6, verse 11. This is so beautifully spoken by Paul.

There’s this strained relationship with them, and he says, our mouth has spoken freely to you. O Corinthians, our heart is open wide. Well, you just can’t say that any better. Our heart is open. The idea is it’s open to embrace you. You are not restrained by us. Some are saying, Paul is at fault here. Paul’s the problem. He goes, You are not restrained by us, but you are restrained in your own affections. All spiritual problems can be traced to this. You are restrained in your own affections. Now, in a like exchange, I speak as to children. He speaks to them on the most simple of levels, the most simple of appeals. Now, in like exchange, as I have demonstrated my heart open wide for you, open wide to us also.

But Paul could not make them love him. Somehow, and this baffles me, somehow, somebody, these false apostles and deceitful workers that I’ve mentioned, they have convinced the Corinthians, they owe their very conversion and knowledge of the truth to Paul and his fellow laborers, but somehow they have become convinced that Paul is disingenuous. He’s not real and sincere. That he’s the counterfeit. Boy, I’m just not sure how that happens, other than the fact that the devil is quite the deceiver. He pulls off the remarkable at times. As people have problems in their own affections. As he gets them to regard people who are genuine and sincere as a problem. And no wonder, Paul says in 2 Corinthians 11, because he transforms himself into an angel of light.

He makes bad things look good. He makes good things look bad. That’s what he’s doing at Corinth. That’s what he still does. That’s how he deceives us. That’s how he derails us spiritually, young people. He tells us this bad thing, it’s really good. It ought to be appealing to you. This is what you need. Your life will be better. He transforms himself into an angel of light. He’s always calling good bad and bad good, as we see in Isaiah chapter 5 and verse 20, he was doing way back long before Christ ever appeared, 700 years prior. And we are not ignorant of his devices and his schemes. Paul says that earlier, long before he gets to the specifics of the problem in Corinth, he says, we’re not ignorant of his wiles.

3. The Limitations of God's Leaders

This one who transforms himself into an angel of life. Well, I always want to make a couple of observations about personal accountability and taking full responsibility for our lives. I believe that’s so important as people of the world have even recognized as teachers training international recognize. First, I want to point out, as I’ve already suggested, the limitations of God’s leaders. No matter how effective God’s leaders are, no matter how well the shepherds do their work, no matter how well the preacher preaches, no matter how eloquent the sermon is, no matter how on point and relevant, no matter how well delivered, there is a limit to what God’s leaders can do. And I think sometimes that brethren are looking for some kind of magic fix, magic solution.

You know, maybe a new preacher is what we need. Sometimes churches need that. Maybe you need that. We louder laugh, please. Thank you. Thank you. We need a new preacher. And he’d come in and he’ll stir things up. He’ll do things a little bit differently for a while, but then after he’s been there for a while, yeah, he’s the preacher that’s been here for a while. And people are always looking for some kind of magic fix for their spiritual ills. And certainly, God’s leaders, as we see in Proverbs 27 and verse 17, can make a difference in our lives if we allow them to. And certainly, preachers and elders and those who serve as leaders should recognize the exalted nature of this position in terms of what it can render in the lives of people and how important it is to try our do our jobs well with enthusiasm that this blessed theme deserves.

But dedicated service can only go so far. In 2 Corinthians 1 and verse 12, Paul says, our proud confidence is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly sincerity, and what he’s saying here in this section of chapter 1 is that this ministry that I’ve conducted in your midst, the Corinthians, has been completely above board. This is an accredited ministry. We have served in holiness and godly sincerity. I know that in my heart of hearts. I know that in my conscience, not in fleshly wisdom, but in the grace of God. We have conducted ourselves, not just in the church among the Lord’s people, but in the world, he says, and especially in your midst. But still, the Corinthians are restrained in their affections.

4. Your Will Is Under Your Control

And so it leads me to this important point that I wanted to make this morning, but a point that you already know. Your will is under your control. And your control only.

And cast out demons and thus convince and persuade people that their message was from God. And so we have examples of demon possession and Jesus and his disciples, and later the Apostle Paul casting out demons. If we had, and I guess some people can say, well, that’s my excuse. I’m possessed by a demon. And there have been some people I’ve wondered. No. This kind of thing doesn’t happen in 21st century culture. So we can rule out that as a reason for our behavior, good or bad. But what I want to point out again is that Paul couldn’t make the Corinthians love him. It doesn’t matter that his ministry was in holiness and godly sincerity. He could not make them love him any more than the elders can make you love them or me make you love me.

I can’t do that. Or make you love the truth. All we can do is warn about the judgment and say, therefore, knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men. Paul couldn’t make them have the overwhelming compassion that they should have had for him. And yet, so often in this matter of personal accountability and taking full responsibility, people want to blame other people for their failure. I’m doing what I’m doing because of what so and so did. You know how many times the elders and preachers get blamed for what people do? It’s commonplace. But it’s not just elders and preachers. Some people say, well, it’s my parents and what they did. Or it’s some brother in Christ or sister in Christ who did this, and that’s why I’m doing what I’m doing, which is a violation of what the scriptures teach.

But it’s because of what they did. And certainly other people can contribute to our stumbling. In fact, Jesus addressed that in Luke chapter 17 when he says, it is inevitable that stumbling blocks should come. Now that’s somebody who is causing someone else to stumble. Woe to him through whom they come. If I, as a teacher of the word, lead you down a path that is not correct, I’m responsible. Teachers received a stricter judgment. Woe to me if I become a stumbling block to you in regard to what I teach. People can be stumbling blocks in a variety of ways. And it would be better for him if a millstone, this stumbling block person, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

I’ve always loved that description. I mean, picture that in your mind. Millstone around the neck, thrown in the sea, boom, straight to the bottom. That would be better. And that doesn’t sound good at all. That would be better than he should cause one of these little ones to stumble. So there’s no question, on the day of judgment, people are going to discover I’m not a sheep, I’m a goat. I’m not going to be on the Lord’s right, I’m going to be sent to the left. I’m going to be lost. And somebody else contributed to that. No question. But still, you’re the one that stumbled. It was still the result of your deeds and choices that you would wind up in this predicament. And so many times people want to make someone else the scapegoat for their error.

Preacher, elder, the local church, brethren. And sometimes they don’t behave perfectly. Perhaps it’s a spouse. That’s the reason. But it is personal stumbling nonetheless. Some people even blame God. And that’s what’s happening in Isaiah 59. When God has to respond, the Lord’s hand is not so short that it cannot save. It’s like, we’re struggling here, our condition is less than desirable. The problem is God just doesn’t care. And he goes, The Lord’s hand is not so short that it cannot save. The problem is your sins and iniquities have separated you from your God. And young people, our peers can be very persuasive and can encourage us to stumble. But again, that’s still your will and your choice, the most eloquent and powerful of sermons may not change the heart.

5. Preaching Has Its Limits

If you’re looking for some eloquent and persuasive message to make you feel something for God, it is likely going to come up short. It is only going to last for a season. So many times sermons can prick and challenge, and we can feel like we need to respond in a certain way and can be forgot by the time we eat lunch. If not before.

If we’re not working to produce that kind of zeal and enthusiasm for the Lord in our personal lives, this will likely not get it done. Listen, the most powerful sermons that have ever been preached were rejected by the majority. Jesus, the greatest preacher that has ever preached, he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes who were excellent teachers in their own right. And people were amazed at his teaching, and the ones who were sent to arrest him came back, and they said, Never did a man speak like this man speaks in John 7 and verse 46. And yet it was not the masses that responded to the greatest sermons ever preached. That came from the mouth of God in human flesh. Or some of the greatest men who have ever been his disciples, Paul and Peter, John, the people that we read about in the New Testament.

Preaching has its limits. As it stirs the heart, it’s going to have to determine, be determined by your heart to change. In Isaiah 55, all we can do is plead. Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return to the Lord. We will all have temptations that we have to overcome, and nobody can do that for you. All of our relationships.

You know, I’m not going to be able to come in there. I’m going to invite my preacher to come in and fix this problem. That’s probably not going to go over very well. You’re going to have to deal with that person. You’re going to have to work with that situation. Husbands and wives as well. You know, I guess if we’re going to fix this situation that’s really severe, what are the elders going to have to go live with them? Or the preacher’s going to have to go live with them? Look. You’re going to have to be determined. Take full responsibility. Regardless of what the other one does. I’m going to do what’s right. And quit passing the buck. And making it someone else’s fault. The fact is, in marriage, that involves two people.

6. Only One Formula for Breaking the Practice of Sin

And I can only I can only control one of those people. And that’s me. And as intimate friends as we become in marriage by God’s design, your best friend in the world, there will be times that we disappoint one another. And I can’t fix her and she can’t fix me. Personal accountability. And only one formula exists for breaking the practice of sin. And that’s found in 2 Corinthians 7, and I’ve hinted to it already. And that is God commands all men everywhere to repent. He says, I caused you sorrow by my letter. I don’t regret it. Though I did regret it, for I see that the letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while. I hate it that it made you feel that way, but I now rejoice.

Not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance. That was the goal of it. I hate the pain that it caused, but I’m glad about the result. For you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, in order that you may not suffer loss in anything through us, for the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation. But the sorrow of the world produces death. He would later say in 2 Corinthians 13, to examine yourselves to see whether or not you be in the faith. And we pray to God that you do no wrong, not that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, even though we should appear unapproved.

Regardless of how you look at us, may you be approved. There is a difference between acknowledging our wrong and expressing the godly sorrow that leads to repentance. Some people struggle to acknowledge I’ve done wrong. And that can be a hurdle. But beyond that, the godly sorrow that produces repentance will mean a change in that person’s life. And that’s the only way the problems in our will can be fixed. And so let us not be devoted merely to a church or people or a preacher. But our devotion, may it be to the Lord. The stimulus package that God has for souls.

Conclusion

And what He did for us and what He promises to do in us and for us and through us. And I conclude with Acts chapter 11, when those early disciples in Antioch turned to the Lord, it says, and I wanted to emphasize that. A hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. Then when he had come, Barnabas, and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord. Repent and be converted. Was the message of Peter and John in Acts 3 and verse 19? That your sins may be washed away or wiped away, and times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.

And finally, in Romans chapter 6 and verse 17, Paul says, of the obedience of those in Rome, but thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed. So take full responsibility. In the last day, if we are lost.

But ultimately it falls on you and it falls on me for those choices and decisions. Are you in a right relationship with the Lord? Are you fervently devoted to him? And can we assist you in doing that? Won’t you respond if you need to publicly while we stand and see?