CHRISTIAN RESPONSIBILITY IS A DAY-BY-DAY REALITY

By A. W. Tozer

My conscience is clear, but even that isn't final proof.
It is the Lord himself who must examine me and decide.
So be careful not to jump to conclusions before the Lord
returns as to whether someone is a good servant or not.
When the Lord comes, he will turn on the light so that
everyone can see exactly what each one of us is really like,
deep down in our hearts. Then everyone will know why we
have been doing the Lord's work. At that time God will give
to each one whatever praise is coming to him.
                                           -  - 1 Corinthians 4:5

        When we believe that Christ died for the unjust,
making it possible for the unjust to live with the Just in
complete moral congruity, do we mean that redeemed
and forgiven men and women have no further responsi-
bility to God for their conduct?

        Does this mean that now that they are clothed with
the righteousness of Christ, they will never be called to
account for their deeds?

        God forbid!  How could the moral Governor of the
universe release a segment of that universe from the
moral law of deeds and consequences and hope to
uphold the order of the world?

        Within the household of God among the redeemed
and justified, there is law as well as grace; not the law of
Moses that knew no mercy, but the kindly law of the
Father's heart that requires and expects of His children
lives lived in conformity to the commandments of God.

        The Lord told us plainly, as have the apostles, that we
must all give account of the deeds done in the body.  And
He has warned us faithfully of the danger that we shall
have for our reward only wood, hay, and stubble in the
day of Christ. . . . Romans 14:7-12; 1 Cor. 3:9-15.

        The judgment unto death and hell lies behind the
Christian, but the judgment seat of Christ lies ahead.
There the question will not be the law of Moses, but
how we have lived within the Father's household.  We
have the Bible before us and the Holy Spirit within.  I
believe we may anticipate and prepare ourselves for the
judgment seat of Christ by honest self-judgment in this
life.
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Yours in Christ,
Paul N. F.