We are the Lord's and we will give an account

Introduction

Each one of us will give an account to God. In the first few verses of Romans 14, the Apostle Paul has been talking about our freedom in Christ could cause a weaker brother or sister to stumble. The Apostle Paul talked about food/day/holidays, which is something he brings up in other passages like Colossians 2:16-17, “So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.” The Jewish believers in Jesus had issues is they should give up on the kosher diets and Jewish feasts since they were given in the Torah. Should they keep the Passover and other feasts. For the Gentile believers would about the food that had been offered to idols or days that were tied to a pagan religion. The Apostle Paul stresses that don’t go against your conscience. While it might not sin it could cause you to sin. As John MAC writes:

Romans: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Lord Is Sovereign to Each Believer

In matters that are not specifically commanded or forbidden in Scripture, it is always wrong to go against conscience, because our conscience represents what we actually believe to be right. To go against our conscience, therefore, is to do that which we believe is wrong. And although an act or practice in itself may not be sinful, it is treated as sinful for those who are convinced in their own minds that it is wrong, and produces guilt.

What we do or don’t do is toward the LORD. Whether we observe a day or not, whether we eat some kind of food or not eat. All is to the LORD.

Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

The Apostle Paul goes on to emphasis who we belong to and that each one of us with give an account to God.

Verses 7-8

The New King James Version Chapter 14

7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.

English Standard Version Chapter 14

7 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.

We are all serving someone or something. Paul is specifically talking to Christians, but we have heard Jesus addressing a similar theme.

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24).

Yet, for the believer we are not going to live for ourselves regardless whether we are a weak believer or a strong believer. Our end goal should be to serve the LORD.

Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. (Romans 6:11-14)

We are paid for by Christ. We are His.

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

We are here for a plan and purpose for Him. He has redeemed us and saved us out of our sin. Whether we live or die we are Jesus’ children. Paul dealt with this in one of his final letters to the church in Philippi when he writes:

For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again. (Philippians 1:19-26)

Our purpose is to live to glorify God.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:1-2).

We are the LORD’s we serve Him in all that we think, say, and do.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:5).

Verse 9

The New King James Version Chapter 14

For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

English Standard Version Chapter 14

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

New Living Translation Chapter 14

Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.

Christ died and rose again! The death, burial, and resurrection once again emphasized by Paul! So critical.

Romans 8:34 NKJV

Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. (2 Timothy 4:1-2).

This feeds into verses 10-13

Verse 10

The New King James Version Chapter 14

10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

English Standard Version Chapter 14

10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;

Each one of us will give an account before God. In the end it will just be you and God. Me and God. Each one of us will give an account. Our thoughts, actions, motives will all be laid before each one of us. There are things I am ashamed of and I am sure there are things each one of us are ashamed of, but we also have the covering of Jesus Christ. In the end He will wipe away all our regrets and shame, but He is the one who has redeemed us.

Verse 11-13

The New King James Version Chapter 14

11 For it is written:

“As I live, says the LORD,

Every knee shall bow to Me,

And every tongue shall confess to God.”

12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

English Standard Version Chapter 14

11 for it is written,

“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,

and every tongue shall confess to God.”

12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

From Isaiah 45:23

I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath.

Echoed in Philippians 2:5-11

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

One day every one will bow before God. Every one. Each one will give an account. Without the covering of Christ. What a terrifying

For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:30-31).

Conclusion

For us who know Jesus Christ how are we living our lives?

For those who do not know Him? Come to Jesus before it too late.

Each one of us will give an account on the day of Judgment. God is a loving and merciful God, but He is also holy and just. He willing paid for your sins and mine, but You have accept the free gift. Without the covering of Jesus on the day of judgment You will be cast into the lake of fire forever. The second death. Oh, I beg you to come to Jesus today.