S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

There is much temptation already in the world today, and Satan is always striving to create even more. In the face of such temptation, many Christians seek out an "accountability partner" to pray w...

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July 01 2013 • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Melanie Spindler Supporter Imperfect Christ-Follower, lover of God, seeker of Truth

Accountability is defined as an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one's actions. The concept of an accountability partner is very foreign to me. While I agree that we should confess to each other and we serve as encouragement to one another, another person takes no responsibility for acts of righteousness or unholiness that I commit. Having said that, Scripture makes clear that we are accountable.

Just a smattering of Scripture nodding to accountability, responsibility or obligation in our own actions to a holy God before other men: 

If I am accountable to God…
Matt 5:47-48 I must Be perfect as my Father in heaven is perfect.
Matt 10:38 I must take up my cross and follow Jesus to be worthy of him
Eph 4:30 I must not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way I live.,he has identified me as his own.
Heb 10:29 I must not trample on the Son of God or disdain the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to me
1 Pet 1:15 I must be holy in everything I do, just as God who chose me is holy.
Heb 12:1-3 since I am surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, I must strip off every weight that slows me down, especially sin
Rom 6:19 I must give myself to be a slave to righteous living so that I will become holy.
Rom 8:12-13 I have an obligation…to live according to the power of the Spirit and put to death the misdeeds of my sinful nature
1 Cor 11:27-29, 31 I must not take communion of the Lord unworthily or I am guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord; instead I will examine myself, so as to not be judged by God.
2 Cor 4:1 since God in his mercy has given me this new way, I must never give up.
2 Cor 5:10 I will stand before Christ to be judged. I will receive whatever I deserve for the good or evil I have done in this earthly body.
2 Cor 13:5 I must examine myself to see whether I am in the faith & test myself. 
Eph 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, I must live a life worthy of the calling I have received; conduct myself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ (Phil 1:27); please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God who calls me into his kingdom and glory (Col 1:10, 1 Thes 2:12); and I will suffer for the kingdom's sake in doing so (2 Thes 1:5).
1 Tim 3:4, 8, 11 I will live a life worthy of full respect 
1 Tim 6:1 I will give earthly authority full respect…so that God’s name will not be slandered.
1 Pet 2:12 I will be careful to live properly among my unbelieving neighbors…so they will give honor to God when he judges the world.
1 Pet 3:16 I will keep my conscience clear. Then if people speak against me, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life I’ve lived because I belong to Christ.
1 Pet 4:1 Since Christ suffered physical pain, I will arm myself with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if I have suffered physically for Christ, I am finished with sin.
1 John 3:9 I cannot keep sinning because I am born of God and his seed remains in me. 
James 2:12 I will remember that whatever I say or do will be judged by the law that sets me free.
Rev 20:11-14 I will remember that I too will stand before the Great White Throne of God on that day and be judged according to what I have done, as recorded in the books.

We are called to accountability before God and have an obligation and responsibility to Him as a merciful, loving, holy and perfect Father to live in a manner worthy of His calling on our lives before other men, but not because of accountability to them, but only to bear witness to them.

December 21 2017 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report