Are You Responsible

Are You Responsible?

August 26, 2007

Introduction

This morning, we raise the question, “Are You Responsible?” or “Are You Accountable?” “Who is accountable, and for what?”

If you rent a car, you will immediately be ask a question, do you want insurance? Why the question? You are told immediately: If you don’t have insurance, you will have to pay for any damage to the car. In other words, you are responsible for what happens to the car.

This morning, we want to consider the question, “Are you responsible?” but we aren’t selling car insurance, home owners insurance, or any other insurance that you purchase with money, we are just asking, “Are you responsible?”

Where do we begin, and what is the answer? Responsibility started a long time ago with the first family, and I’m not referring to the White House family, I’m referring to the very first family. It started perfectly, but it didn’t take long for man to mess up God’s perfect plan.

The devil started things going in the wrong direction when he asked Eve about what God had said about the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Years later, things got much worse.

Body

I. The Conflict with Cain and Abel.

A. It was a conflict that began because one was approved, and the other wasn’t.

(Genesis 4:3-5 NKJV) "And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. (4) Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, (5) but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.

B. God intervened to “counsel with Cain.”

(Genesis 4:6-7 NKJV) "So the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? (7) "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it."".

C. The counseling did not change his way.

(Genesis 4:8 NKJV) "Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him."

D. Cain’s answer was typical of today’s attitude by many--”Why am I responsible?”

(Genesis 4:9 NKJV) "Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?""

II. Two groups of people soon became evident.

A. There was Cain and his descendants who became worse and worse.

B. There was Seth and his family who began to call upon the name of the Lord.

(Genesis 4:26 NKJV) "And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the LORD."

C. Both groups have always been accountable to God though one denys it.

1. Cain was punished for his actions, but complained about it.

(Genesis 4:13-14 NKJV) "And Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is greater than I can bear! (14) "Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth, and it will happen that anyone who finds me will kill me.""

2. Seth and his descendants were those who tended to be close to God until their fleshly natures got the better of them.

(Genesis 6:1-2 NKJV) "Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, (2) that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.

a. I believe the sons of God in this case refers to the descendants of Able.

b. Godly men marriage descendants of Cain because they were beautiful.

c. We all love beauty, but when it comes to marriage, we must put the spiritual first.

3. The Punishment for man’s sin was real.

(3) And the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.""

pun·ish·ment n. 2. A penalty imposed for wrongdoing: “The severity of the punishment must . . . be in keeping with the kind of obligation which has been violated” (Simone Weil).

III. Disciipline may involve punishment, but for a different reason.

dis·ci·pline n. 1. Training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement. . . . 4. Punishment intended to correct or train. 5. A set of rules or methods, as those regulating the practice of a church or monastic order.

A. The Hebrew writer speaks of discipline.

(Hebrews 12:5-8 NKJV) "And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; (6) For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives." (7) If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? (8) But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons."

B. Fathers are to discipline their children.

Ephesians 6:4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

C. There is also church discipline.

1. We are to correct each other when needed.

(Mat 18:15-17 NKJV) "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. {16} "But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.' {17} "And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

2. Even elders are not exempt from being corrected.

(1 Tim 5:1 NKJV) Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers,

IV. Why discipline.

(Hebrews 12:11 NKJV) "Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."

Conclusion

I. The intent of discipline is to provide us with a managed, orderly life and to avoid the more severe punishment.

II. Today, discipline has become lax to non existent in the church, in the home, in schools, and in dealing with criminals and traffic violations. We tolerate a lack of responsibility.

III. We are paying as we see a country, and countries, growing up without discipline, and without God. We see the effect of not holding people responsible

We are paying now with violence, civil disobedience, domestic violence, and nations in distress. We have not required people to act as responsible citizens

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