Being a Christian is a wonderful blessing. It means that we have been born again (John 3:3-5). It means that we are a part of God’s spiritual family, that is, we have become a part of the household of God (Ephesians 2:19). Being a part of God’s household implies that we are children of God, which is a great privilege within itself (1 John 3:1). Do not take being a Christian for granted, but instead, thank God regularly for it.
While being a Christian is a wonderful blessing, it is also a responsibility. God has given his children duties to perform and obligations to keep. It is imperative that all Christians know what their responsibilities are and do all they can to fulfill them. Here are a few of them.
Live According to the Gospel
Paul said, “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27). That is the responsibility of every child of God. The gospel of Christ is the highest of all moral standards. While this world is full of immorality, and is getting worse all the time, the gospel is the standard by which we shall all be judged (John 12:48). So, if we want to be in fellowship with God, a God of light, and in Whom there is no darkness (1 John 1:5-7), and, if we want to make it to heaven after a while, we must abide by that standard. It is only then that we can fulfill the commandment of Christ to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16), and it is only then that we will hear the sweet words of Jesus on the day of judgment, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). Let us be sure to fulfill the responsibility of living according to the gospel and thereby bring glory to God and his Son.
Be Set for the Defense of the Gospel of Christ
The gospel message is not popular in every circle. Those in darkness hate its teachings. The abortion advocate abhors the message of the gospel. That message says that all murder is sin (Romans 1:29; Galatians 5:21). It does not matter if the victim is a hundred years old or still in the mother’s womb; if a life is taken, it is murder. Abortionists, therefore, hate the message and usually the messenger.
Proponents of homosexuality despise the message of the gospel. The gospel says that homosexual acts are unnatural and contrary to God’s law (Romans 1:26, 27). The gospel declares that the homosexual will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9). This message does not sit well with homosexuals and their sympathizers.
False teachers hate the message of the gospel. They may say they love it, but their teachings say otherwise. The gospel says we must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12), and that a man is justified by works of faith, not faith only (James 2:20-26). False teachers who advocate salvation by faith alone dislike the passages cited above. The gospel says that those who believe and are baptized shall be saved (Mark 16:16). Those who want salvation to come without baptism would rather not read Mark 16:16. The gospel says that the kingdom of God has come, and many have already been translated into it (Colossians 1:13). Premillennialists, who deny the kingdom has been established, hate any passage that proves their theory to be wrong.
The unperverted message of the gospel is hated by many (the immoral, the liberal, the humanist, etc.), but we have a responsibility to earnestly contend for it (Jude 3), and to be set for its defense. Paul said, “The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel” (Philippians 1:16-17).
Preach the Gospel
We must not only defend the gospel when it is attacked, we must assert ourselves in spreading the gospel to the world. Philip opened his mouth and preached Jesus to the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:35). We have the responsibility to do the same thing. The great commission of Matthew 28:19, 20 places the obligation of making disciples of Christ on all Christians. Woe unto us if we are neglectful in this most important area (1 Corinthians 9:16). Let us be interested in saving souls for Jesus. Don’t be idle! Remember our responsibility to preach the gospel to all nations, and the best place for us to start is in our own neighborhoods.
We should rejoice when contemplating the blessings of being in Christ. We are in a state of no condemnation, as long as if we walk after the Spirit (Romans 8:1). However, we have responsibilities too. And, where you have responsibility, you also have accountaility (Romans 14:12). Let us all be ready for that great day when we shall stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give account of our lives. Let us all fulfill our God-given responsibilities.