2nd Corinthians 5: 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
In the above passage, when the apostle says that all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, he means all. It includes all Christians, all Muslims, all Buddhists, all secular folk, all Hindus, all the rich and poor, and everyone who is in high authority on this planet. All means all.
The issue of accountability, as stated in the passage has to do with Christ meting out the just and correct recompence, for deeds done while persons lived on this earth. His judgment supersedes and transcends all earthly tribunals which are prone to tip the scales of justice in favor of persons who have influence, or who can afford to pay to play.
Thus, as mortals we must keep in mind that the God of heaven keeps an accurate account of things that are done in the darkness, or in the light of day, for it is stated unequivocally in the Bible, that nothing we do escapes His gaze.
Persons may endeavor to cover up wrongs and sins from parents, family, friends and citizenry. But there is no cover up with God, who sees all, and knows it all, and it is for this reason that we should harbor a consciousness of His presence in everything we do, think, and say.
Not only does God witness our deeds and words, He also sees thoughts, intentions and purposes, even in things folks decided to do, but somehow, never got the opportunity to.
And it is for this reason that we should not make the mistake of doing soul searching on the external level of deeds and words, but rather on the level of inner intentions and purposes. Let’s read:
Hebrews 4: 12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
This issue of accountability is not always put off until the judgement, for even in this life, God has made it plain that He does, and will bring persons to justice, even before the official investigative, and executive judgements are over.
This, God has done on several occasions, both with secular or pagan nations and also with some specific individuals. It is not usually the case that God would make a blatant intrusion, in the administration of justice, but on certain occasions He has done so.
We must seek to understand what the devil is up to, in his efforts to remove the law of God from society, for wherever God’s law is made void in the land, the issue of accountability is a non-starter at least in the minds of the people, and where no accountability is to be found, lawlessness and presumption will stalk the nation in broad daylight.
In fact, wherever this is the case, as it is for the most part now, persons are emboldened in sins, for with the threat of prosecution removed from one’s mind, it is a no-brainer that persons, and nations will take unwarranted liberties only to find out later that they would be prosecuted to the full extent of God’s law in the executive judgment.
The law of God, when it is acknowledged by nations and individuals, serves to put a restraining order on all kinds of wrongs, but when it is removed from the view of the multitudes, persons, and nations would inevitably feel free to do as they please.
And thus, it will soon be the case that law and order will break down in entirety, if we were to continue on our current course, and societies and nations will be taken down in the process too.
As of late we are witnessing an alarming increase of bold-facedness, in the committal of crimes, both in high and low places, and it seems as though justice systems are now paralyzed by the constant chipping away of non-accountability.
When judges are afraid to mete out justice, for fear of retribution or because of political retaliation, we may know that God is just about to take things into His own hands, for He will not allow things to go on like this forever, especially since the final days of our probation are drawing to a swift, permanent close. Let’s read:
Psalms 50: 3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.
4 He shall call to the heavens from above and to the earth, that he may judge his people.
5 Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.
6 And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself.
There is a delusion that has taken deep root in many minds, as it pertains to the issue of accountability, in that some persons have erroneously concluded that the issue of judgment has to do with Christians who have entered into a covenant relationship with God.
Nothing could be further from the truth, because in several instances in sacred history it’s demonstrated that God has, at various times, intruded directly into the human experience, to bring perpetrators of evils to justice.
And the records of God’s doings in these instances must be as beacons of warning to persons who are currently trampling upon His law. God is not afraid to make another such intrusion, if and when it may become necessary, as He sees fit, for He is the same God, yesterday, today and forever.
In the case of Herod, God bore long with his cruelty, even after he had imprisoned and executed John for no other reason than to please his profligate wife. Mercy still lingered, for God takes no pleasure in the destruction or punishment of anyone.
But Herod continued to harass, and to persecute the early Christians, imprisoning some and killing others until one day, God said enough is enough, and The Lord sent a holy angel from heaven, to make a direct intrusion into the human experience.
Therefore, as Herod was giving a political speech in the public square, receiving the praise, and worship of men which belongs to God alone, the angel came suddenly upon him and smote him on stage, in view of all who were praising and adoring him.
God does not usually use force, but if folks push the envelope, He absolutely can and will, if He deems it necessary. Let’s read:
Acts 12:1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also.
4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.
22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
Again, we must reiterate that it’s not like God to use force when dealing with us as earthlings, because as the Bible says, He delights in mercy, and usually will allow our freedom of choice to work out its natural result on its own, whether it be good or evil.
But every so often, God will give us a terrible reality check, so that those who might be thinking of doing wrong may think twice. The intrusions made are to warn others of making the same fatal mistake, and thus, He spares the many, by prosecuting the few.
Here it is again, as king Nebuchadnezzar continues to flaunt his power and authority, taking credit for things which he should have been praising God for, and boasting about the status of his empire, even as he was warned against this course of action by the prophet Daniel.
Again, God gave him time to correct course, but as is so often the case, God’s mercy and kindness is often interpreted as weakness in the minds of many, and before you know it, the human agent begins to take unwarranted liberties.
Therefore, Nebuchadnezzar became ripe for one of those unique intrusions, and judgment came to him in a form that would greatly humble him in the sight of his subjects. Again, God does not usually employ the use of force, but if He sees fit, He will, because He reserves that prerogative always. Let’s read:
Daniel 4:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
2 I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.
3 How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.
4 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace.
5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
7 Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans and the soothsayers and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.
8 But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my God, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,
10 Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.
11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth.
12 The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit
thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.
13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and a holy one came down from heaven;
14 He cried aloud, and said thus, hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches.
15 Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth.
16 Let his heart be changed from a man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.
17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever he will, and sets up over it the basest of men.
19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spoke, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, my lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.
22 It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reaches unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.
24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which is come upon my lord the king.
25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever he will.
27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquility.
28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.
30 The king spoke and said is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and the honor of my majesty?
31 While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.
32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.
Persons should be very concerned, that the same God who visited Nebuchadnezzar and Herod in the public square, might now find it necessary again to make another of those direct intrusions, into the human experience, for it seems as if the lessons of the past are falling on deaf ears.
Let’s repeat again so the persons will hear correctly: Persons should be very concerned, that the same God who visited Nebuchadnezzar and Herod in the public square, might now find it necessary again to make another of those direct intrusions, into the human experience, for it seems as if the lessons of the past are falling on deaf ears.
In fact, Romans chapter nine raises the prospect that God reserves the right, and the prerogative to use force, whenever necessary, if He so chooses, for as we’ve studied previously, even though God never hardened pharaoh’s heart the apostle Paul raises the prospect that God reserves the right to do so.
That’s one of the reasons why Romans chapter nine is so difficult for theologians to swallow, because it is hard for persons to believe that A loving God, can, and will use force when needed. In fact, if you were to look at how Christ cast out devils you will observe that He never kindly asks them to leave.
If Jesus were to ask devils to leave a person they will never leave and therefore, in every instance without any exception, Jesus used force to cast them out. In other words, His commands did not come with any options. They were forced to leave. Let’s read:
Matthew 8: 28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.
29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, what have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
Torment meaning: cause to experience severe mental or physical suffering. Here it is again so that folks may come to correct conclusions. Let’s read:
Mark 9: 25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.
Mark 1: 23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
24 Saying, leave us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.
25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, hold thy peace, and come out of him.
26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.
27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, what thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commands he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.
In fact, Isaiah makes a grim prediction of the times coming soon when The God of heaven will use force and after studying the prophecy closely, we are not sure how many saints would want to be alive at that time. Daniel also refers to it as a time when Michael will stand up, or better known as the time of Jacob’s trouble. Let’s read:
Isaiah 28:21 For the Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth, as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act.
22 Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord God of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth.
[ST January 25, 1910] The forbearance that God has exercised toward the wicked has emboldened men in transgression; but their punishment will be none the less certain and terrible for being long delayed.
To our merciful God the act of punishment is a strange act. Yet He will “by no means clear the guilty.” By terrible things in righteousness, He will vindicate the authority of His downtrodden law.
The very fact of His reluctance to execute justice, testifies to the enormity of the sins that call forth His judgments, and to the severity of the retribution awaiting the transgressor. All of the inhabitants of earth are soon to meet the great Lawgiver over His broken law.
Thus, there are two passages of Scripture which are to be reconciled in our minds, once and for all, so as to give folks a good, balanced understanding of the issue of accountability. On the one hand, one of the passages highlight God’s mercy and forbearance to us.
But on the other hand, it might seem to the cursory reader that He’s promising to do the direct opposite and thus, the correct interpretation of the two must be somewhere down the middle. Let’s observe what is being said and then we will reconcile the passages from the Scriptures. Let’s read:
Exodus 34:6 And the Lord passed by before him and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the 4th generation.
8 And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.
Exodus 23:20 Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.
21 Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.
When we take a closer look at the first passage, we see that it contains two statements that may seem puzzling. Here they are: [1] “Forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin”
[2] “And that will by no means clear the guilty.”
In reality, those who would have their transgression and iniquities and sins forgiven, will first have to be guilty, for wherever one is not guilty pardon is never needed. Therefore, the second statement that says The Lord will not clear the guilty, must be referring to a different kind of guilt.
Question [1] What kind of guilt is it that The Lord will not pardon?
Question: [2] What does it mean in the 2nd passage that “He will not pardon your transgressions?
Question [3] Why then are those two statements juxtaposed to each other?
Answers: The type of guilt that God will not pardon is the guilt incurred by deliberate, persistent sin, by which a person’s choice to do wrong is firmly fixed in the mind, while at the same time, they knowingly refuse all efforts by The Holy Spirit to acknowledge and forsake sin.
The reason why God says He will never pardon that type of transgression and guilt, is because it cannot be pardoned. Pardoning sin must be productive of good at the end of the day, by removing guilt, but if the individual is not interested in change, then it is a waste of time and grace to grant forgiveness.
The reason for this is that the guilt of such persons will be a recurring theme, where they are forgiven now, and immediately after are again found guilty, by their own choices.
A convicted felon was jailed in a certain state, for a number of crimes committed, and repeated over an extended period of time, but was later released and pardoned.
On his way home from incarceration, he committed the very same crimes he was convicted of, and thus, the grace and mercy shown by the judge in question to the inmate turned out to be a waste of time, for his guilt was immediately, and deliberately incurred.
When Peter asked the question: “How often should I forgive my brother?” and Jesus says seventy times seven, it does not mean that forgiveness has to be always open-ended for there can come a time when it will be foolish to forgive.
Kindness is never foolish, and thus, if a person or a nation chooses to continue in sin, after numerous offers of pardon, and mercy have been given, and rejected, then there is nothing either God, or man could do in such cases, for through their deliberate choices, the decision to do wrong becomes sealed in the mind permanently. Let’s read:
Luke 17: 3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
Hebrews 10: 26 For if we sin willfully, after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins.
Why then are those two statements of pardon, and non-pardon juxtaposed to each other? They are put together in the same passage so that persons would harbor a balanced and realistic perspective of God’s grace.
In fact, God finds it necessary to be careful in how He offers grace, lest the human agent becomes too presumptuous, and may begin to take unwarranted liberties. Let’s read:
Ecclesiastes 8: 11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
A Christian parent understands that grace, mercy, and much pardons would have to be exercised as the children are growing, but the same parent has to be very careful in telling the children that they will be pardoned.
Think about it in reality! The parent knows that he will pardon the son or daughter numerous times, so how does the parent convey those offers of mercy to the child, without the kid getting the wrong idea?
Should the parent only say to the child, I will forgive you numerous times for repeated offenses, over and over again, even to seventy times seven, or should the parent add in a caveat to bring about a balance to the equation?
If parents only offer mercy with no caveat, it is most likely that children will abuse the grace, and mercies offered, especially if they were told by the parents that they have 490 offers of pardon.
Thus, the parents must of necessity bring balance to their offers of pardons, lest the kids go overboard in their indulgence of sin. And this is exactly what God did. Here are the two statements again. Let’s read:
“Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgressions and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.
“Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions.”
By removing the law of God from the consciences of the people and by claiming it was nailed to his cross, great damage is done to that very delicate balance between grace, and the caveat that was inserted by The Lord, to mitigate the continual, and deliberate transgression in persons.
The erroneous teaching that God’s law was nailed to the cross also ingeniously removes any prospect of accountability for where there’s no transgression no pardon is needed.
Relativism is one of the false gods stalking the land, perpetrating the deadly error that truth and right are not absolute. In a nut shell, it is verily a doctrine of devils.
As a direct result, you have staggering crimes taking place across the globe, and it seems as if the justice systems of earth, whereby persons are to be held accountable are either grossly malfunctioning or are paralyzed in great measure.
Thus, the issue of accountability should be clearly understood by all because things will not be allowed to continue the way they are for much longer. We’re fast approaching that invisible threshold where God will say enough is enough.
Once the gates of grace remain open, God will forgive, wherever, and whenever the persons or nations in question genuinely repent, with the sole intention of turning away from the sins in question. But if we continue to knowingly transgress His laws we would be held accountable.
There is too much killing all around the globe, too much fraud, violence, lies, and conspiracy theories, and with the recent perversion of justice by those in high places, we have reached an inflection point in our history, for when man has reached his max, it is time for God to work. In other words, the extremity of man paves the way for God’s opportunity.
Therefore, there must be a balanced understanding of God’s grace, and justice, because when the two are held in the right perspective it paves the way for us to love God with all our heart and soul, yet being mindful not to take His grace for granted.
In harmony with this view, we will end our discourse with a passage of Scripture that reiterates a correct understanding of our first verses, and it is God’s will that our relationship with Him will be informed by what is written in His word. Let’s read:
Isaiah 1:19 If you be willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.
20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
God Bless!