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Lesson 6

I is for Individual Soul Liberty and Accountability. This means that each soul – man, woman, and child (after reaching the age of accountability) – is responsible for their own sin, and all of their choices. Also, we have (what is known as) free agency. This means that we are directly accountable to God and that we must determine what he wants us to do. He did not make us robots that must praise his name or worship him, we must freely choose to do so.

Most Calvinists (or reformed persons) will find fault with this idea of free agency, but the Bible clearly teaches it, and it only makes logical sense. The Bible teaches that Adam and Eve had free agency in the garden of Eden, and they choose to disobey God. The Bible shows that Cain and Able had free agency; Able chose to honor God and Cain chose to honor himself. No one forced Seth’s son Enos to call upon the name of the Lord, but he did so. Noah obeyed God when he told him to build an ark, which implies the ability to disobey like everyone else in his timeframe. We see the biblical narrative throughout the Bible either explicitly tells us that people have free agency, or it is implied by simple logic. There are a few texts – that I believe are misunderstood by Calvinists – that could be taken to mean that man does not have the free will to choose salovatio0n or damnation – this is thrust upon him by God, and the person has no say in the matter. This is – in my opinion – completely misrepresenting the character of God. However, this is not a refute of Calvinism so I will digress.

The doctrine of Individual Soul Liberty and accountability has really two aspects: liberty before men and accountability to God.

Liberty before men is usually known as Christian liberty. This is the idea that we are at liberty to follow God the way we believe to be accurate. If a person believes in pedo-baptism and thence chooses to “baptize” their infants into a denomination, they are at liberty to do so. I cannot make a law forcing them to not do that. They should not be put to death for doing that. That may sound extreme to some that a person would be put to death over their views of Baptism, but it has happened for thousands of years against the Baptists and those who hold to a similar doctrine. That is not to say I cannot speak out against pedo-baptism, nor that a church should allow a pedo-Baptist to join against their beliefs. We have liberty before men, but God is the judge of all things.

Galatians 5 King James Version

¹³ For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

1 Corinthians 6King James Version

¹² All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

1 Peter 2 King James Version

¹⁶ As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

Romans 14 King James Version

14 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

² For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

³ Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

⁴ Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

⁵ One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

⁶ He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

⁷ For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

⁸ For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.

⁹ For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

¹⁰ But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

¹¹ For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

¹² So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

¹³ Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.

¹⁴ I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

¹⁵ But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

¹⁶ Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

¹⁷ For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

¹⁸ For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

¹⁹ Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

²⁰ For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.

²¹ It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

²² Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

²³ And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

The second part of this doctrine is the driving point we are all accountability before God.

Ezekiel 18 King James Version

²⁰ The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

This doctrine is expressed so vividly in Ezekiel 18. one thing that needs to be understood is that of eternal security. A truly biblical position is neither Calvinistic nor Arminian. Chapter 18 is very obviously un-Calvinistic but could be used (improperly) to support working to keep one’s salvation. Instead, it should be understood that when born again people (a Jew pre-exile or a gentile post- crucifixion) leave their righteousness (or go off into sin) they will bear the physical consequences of that sin in this life by the chastening of God.

Because the Bible is the source for all doctrine, it should be the starting place for us to learn about specific doctrines. This is an Old Testament passage that expresses God’s design of Individual Soul Liberty and Accountability. Each person is free to make their own decisions, and they alone are accountable for their deeds.

Romans 14 King James Version

¹¹ For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

¹² So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

One day every individual – great or small, rich or poor, black or white, Jew or Greek will give an account to God for the deeds done in their bodies. Parents will not stand for children, and children will not stand for parents. I am responsible for my own actions before God. I may suffer at the hand of man for actions, rightfully or wrongly, but I will stand before God and give an account. Thankfully, Christ will intervene on my behalf when it comes to salvation and tells the Father that I am washed in his blood and made righteous. But I will still be held accountable for what I did for Christ’s sake.

One day, you will be before God. If you are not born-again God will cast you into Hell, and if you are saved God will let you enter into heaven. But Christian, God will still hold you accountable for what you did with Christ in your lifetime. Will you have jewels to present Christ or will your life be wasted on selfishness and worldliness.

S.T.
Acts 20:24
"But none of these things move me..."