Human Responsibility

My last musing, based on the message delivered at SSB on April 19, was strong on sovereignty.  That musing was about Grace, blindness, and God’s work to make a people for Himself.  This musing tags on that truth and focuses on men and their responsibilities before God.

All men are commanded to believe in Jesus by confessing Him as Lord and as their Savior (Romans 4:24; 10:9, 13; Acts 2:21).  There is no one truly saved who has not come broken before Jesus, has willingly asked Him to save them from their sins and coming damnation, and has wanted to live anew for Him.  It is man’s responsibility to receive Jesus that they might become the children of God, John 1:12.

II Corinthians 5:17 declares a true believer is a new being – that old things have passed.   Consider the believers at Thessalonica whom Paul wrote about:

I Thessalonians 1:2, We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, 4 knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. 5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. 6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. 8 For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything.

Note what marked those who had embraced Jesus as their Savior:

1. work of faith – clearly had embraced Jesus as their Savior
2. labor of love – engaged other believers in love
3. patience with the Godhead – hope despite hardships
4. followers of the apostles – of the New Testament
5. embraced the Bible despite opposition
6. had a joy driven from inside
7. examples to other believers
8. readily and broadly talked about Jesus and salvation
9. faith was notable – unswerving commitment to Jesus

Note 1:4.  Tucked in this report about believers is the truth that God is sovereign and working in mankind to make a people for Himself.

Then in 1:5, we find responsibilities given to people of faith.  You want your loved one saved?  You want a neighbor saved?  It truly requires a work of God, but yet there are responsibilities that believers should fulfill:

1. Word – the Bible.  How can they believe without the truth and without a teacher (Romans 10:14)?  And God’s Word does not return void but accomplishes God’s will (Isaiah 55:11).
2. Power – the curse (death, cancer, pain, loss) God uses such to reveal our ineptness and need.  II Corinthians 12:9 –  when a believer is weak, God’s power shows forth
3. Holy Spirit –  the indwelling Spirit gives hope and help allowing His people to sing in pain (Acts 16:25).  The Spirit melds His people into churches that minister to one another and are powerful witnesses to the lost (John 13:35).  Believers’ prayers are Spirit empowered (James 5:16, Romans 8:26).
4. Changed Lives – live differently!  Colossians 3:1-3, If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

God’s people are players as noted by God even in eternity past.

Men have responsibility to respond to God’s call to be saved and to faithfully present to others their need of salvation and Jesus as the only answer.