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The blame game has become a way of life in our society. The idea of personal responsibility
for one’s actions is a forgotten concept in a society that allows someone to collect thousands
of dollars for spilling coffee in her own lap. But God doesn’t work that way. He holds each of
us responsible for our actions.
As creatures of free will, we must make our own choices in life. One of those choices is which road we walk from this life to the next. Jesus said, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction" (Matt. 7:13). What of your spiritual condition? Suppose you should die in a lost state on that broad way that leads to eternal destruction. Who would be to blame? One thing is sure. One who dies in a lost condition cannot blame God. Jesus said, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). And Peter wrote that, "God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). In order to bring men to repentance, God revealed His will in the gospel. Paul said, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation; to everyone that believeth, to the Jew first and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16-17). God gave His Son to die for our sins and revealed His plan of salvation in the New Testament. He has done all He’s going to do to save men. Neither can anyone blame the Holy Spirit. As the Revealer of God’s plan of salvation, it was the Holy Spirit who inspired men in the first century to provide us God’s complete revelation. Peter said, God "hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue (2 Peter 1:3) and Paul wrote that "all scripture is given by the inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The word of God, revealed by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is complete and provides all we need to become Christians, live godly in this world and lead us to heaven. The Bible is our only sure guide to heaven. It was revealed by the Holy Spirit to guide us and if we fail to follow it, we cannot blame the Holy Spirit. God’s word is spiritual food for the hungry soul (Matthew 5:6), spiritual water for the thirsty soul (John 4:13-14) and light in a world darkened by sin (Psalms 119:105). Jesus certainly cannot be blamed for anyone who is lost either. Hebrews 2:9 tells us that He died for all men and He invites all to come to Him for eternal life. He extended that great invitation in Matthew 11:28 and 29, saying, "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" and He still calls men to Him today through the gospel. As the propitiation for our sins (1 John 2:2) He died to redeem us (1 Peter 1:18-20). He died once for our sins and will do no more than He has already done. Everything that God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit are going to do to save lost men has already been done. It is now up to us to reach up in faith and lay hold, by our obedience to the gospel, on the grace God extends. Since God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit have done all they’re going to do to save you, whom can you blame if you are lost? The fact remains that those who are lost only have themselves to blame. Paul said we must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12) and Peter told those who heard him on Pentecost, to "Save yourselves from this untoward generation" (Acts 2:40). When a drowning man is thrown a rope, that’s grace. When he takes hold of it, that’s faith. God’s grace provides salvation but man’s faith must appropriate it. How does he do that? By believing in Christ (John 8:24), repenting of his sins (Luke 13:3), confessing his faith in Christ (Acts 8:37) and by being baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). God has done all He’s going to do to save mankind. The rest is up to us. |