From the beginning of human existence God’s word has been – at all times, throughout all ages – somewhere among men. For much of human history it has been inaccessible – or not readily available – to large numbers of people, often the majority of people.
Yet, when God’s word has been available to men, most to whom it was available have rejected it. This tells us that the problems with human beings in relating to God have less to do with the availability of God’s word than with the human tendency to reject it when it is revealed.
But according to Jesus Christ, we are to be judged by the word of God. “And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him–the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:47-48).
How we shall give account? What does this mean for us as individuals, for mankind as a whole? Every human being is accountable to God in the final analysis, and we shall give account. It’s very important that we understand this.
This generation – particularly in the Western world – has less excuse than most because the knowledge of God’s law has been widely accessible. The Bible is said to be the most widely distributed book in the world.
We find the following at the website Guinness World Records website:
“Although it is impossible to obtain exact figures, there is little doubt that the Bible is the world’s best-selling and most widely distributed book. A survey by the Bible Society concluded that around 2.5 billion copies were printed between 1815 and 1975, but more recent estimates put the number at more than 5 billion.
“By the end of 1995, combined global sales of Today’s English Version (Good News) New Testament and Bible (copyright for which is held by the Bible Societies) exceeded 17.75 million copies, and the whole Bible had been translated into 349 languages; 2,123 languages have at least one book of the Bible in that language.”
Other sources give different figures, and it’s likely no human being knows exactly how many Bibles have been printed and distributed or are available in today’s world, but it appears to be certainly in the billions.
The Bible has been translated into virtually all major languages. It is read in many thousands of churches as the book from whence they supposedly get their doctrines and beliefs. Virtually every person in the United States, Britain and other western countries either has a Bible of his own – or has ready access to one.
Yet, most people have not really studied the Bible carefully to see what it says. According to a 1995 survey by the American Bible Society, 92% of those Americans polled said they own a Bible. But, according to the news article reporting the survey, “…the Scriptures are not necessarily the source many turn to for advice about their lives….” An official of the Society is quoted as saying, “Many people had Bibles in their home, but many people don’t actually read them.” (Sedalia Democrat, 6-9-1995, p. 7).
Many have been taught in our educational system, through the media, and even in many Churches, that the Bible is irrelevant and out of date. There has been a deliberate and subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, campaign to discredit and destroy the Bible’s authority by a number of influential philosophers, educators, and scholars, including many so-called “theologians,” especially during the past two hundred or so years. Students, many churchgoers, and the public at large have been told that the Bible is composed of myths and imaginary tales – so it shouldn’t be surprising that many reject the Bible as as a serious guide to life.
Others have been taught false religious teachings by ministers claiming to teach God’s word. False doctrine has blinded their minds to the true teachings of the Bible. Few have simply studied the Bible and chosen to believe it rather than its detractors or those who have misrepresented its teachings.
Many ignore the Bible, even if they are to one extent or another aware of its teachings, because it doesn’t fit in with the generally accepted behavior of those they associate or identify with. Those who would dare to actually obey God in certain aspects of their behavior are very often likely to be rejected, ridiculed, or persecuted.
But God is merciful. God judges us to an extent on the basis of what we know or what we could have known if we were willing to learn. But how many people in the world today can truthfully say they had no way of knowing God’s will. Especially since the Bible itself is so readily available?
How many can really say honestly that they had never heard that the Bible teaches you shall not lie, you shall not steal, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, and so forth?
What do we do with God’s word when we know what it says? We shall all be judged. We shall all give account. And we will especially be required to account for the knowledge God has made available to us.
That means the more we know, or the more we have had the opportunity to know, the greater our accountability to God. When anyone sins by transgressing God’s commandments, whether he knows he is sinning or not, he is accountable. But if he did not know, or could not know under the circumstances he was in that he was sinning, he is less accountable that one who knows.
“If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally by doing something against any of the commandments of the Lord in anything which ought not to be done, and is guilty, or if his sin which he has committed comes to his knowledge, then he shall bring as his offering a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed” (Leviticus 4:27-28).
Note that one is guilty even if he disobeys a commandment unintentionally, or unknowingly, and a sacrifice of atonement for sin is required.
Jesus said, “And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more” (Luke 12:47-48).
When you or I come to know what God requires of us we are automatically faced with a decision. Like the vast majority we can reject the truth we are faced with, or we can accept it intellectually but not obey, or we can accept it and act on it. Whichever choice we make we are responsible for that choice. And we will be held to account for the choice we make.
“For it is written: ‘As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.’ So then each of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:11-12).
Note that each one gives account for himself to God. Each person – not someone else – is responsible and accountable for his own behavior. And he shall give account not to mere men, but to God.
You and I will be judged according to God’s word whether we accept it or reject it, whether we obey or disobey.
Jesus said to some Pharisees: “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, `We see.’ Therefore your sin remains” (John 9:41). In other words, they would not have been accountable to the same degree without the knowledge that they had.
Yet, even without the knowledge of the law, sin has its destructive effects. God told Abraham that his descendants would inherit the land of promise. But prior to that they would be strangers on the earth and afflicted by other peoples. “But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete” (Genesis 15:16).
The Amorites were a Gentile people who dwelt in the area of what was later called Palestine, the land that God had promised to Abraham’s descendants. How much of God’s law did the Amorites understand? We don’t really know. But we do know that God’s judgment came upon them eventually because of their iniquity. And thus God intended to displace them with the children of Israel.
Paul wrote, “For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law” (Romans 2:12).
James wrote, “…to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).
Some find the truth and reject it because they are afraid of what people may think. During the time of Jesus’ ministry on earth, some among the rulers of the Jews believed in him, but did not confess him for fear of being put out of the synagogue. “Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:42-43).
Often people fail to act on God’s word because they seek the praise of men more than of God. Some play politics in the Church or in some other venue, seeking honor from other men. Many have defiled their own conscience, choosing to follow apostate leaders because they were seeking honor from men. But it is ultimately to God, not men, that we must give account.
“How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?” (John 5:44).
Some may accept the truth academically – they agree with it from an intellectual standpoint. But they are not willing to come to grips with the truth as it affects them personally, and begin changing their old habits. They are not willing to give up themselves and their lives and live their lives according to God’s instructions, even though they may agree with certain aspects of the truth.
Some have come into the Church of God but have not remained faithful because they were willing to hear God’s word, up to a point, but not willing to obey. Their old habits, their old selves they loved more than they loved God.
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22).
Some, having come into the Church, or having perhaps grown up in the Church, yet unwilling to submit to God, have convinced themselves that they weren’t really “called.” As a matter of fact, anyone who hears the gospel, or for that matter, who can read the Bible, is “called.” The only question is, is he or she going to heed the call and act on it?
“And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. Again, he sent out other servants, saying, `Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding. “‘ But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them” (Matthew 22:1-6).
Notice the response of those who were “called.” Though they were called, when exposed to the message of the gospel, God’s word, they were not willing to respond in a positive way to the invitation, the calling they had been given.
But is it many, or only a few, as some claim, who are called?
Jesus said, “…many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14). Why are few chosen? Because few respond to God’s calling in a positive way. Anyone who responds to God’s calling by humbling himself before God and seeking God can be among those chosen.
But few are willing to do that. This was true of the Israelites and Jewish people of old, especially, that is, most of them, because the entirety of the nation of Israel, and of Judah, were among the called of God. And for that matter, the same is true of the modern peoples descended from the Israelites, most of whom do not know their origins as Israel’s descendants.
“I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, Who walk in a way that is not good, According to their own thoughts; A people who provoke Me to anger continually to My face” (Isaiah 65:2-3).
……..
“Therefore I will number you for the sword, And you shall all bow down to the slaughter; Because, when I called, you did not answer; When I spoke, you did not hear, But did evil before My eyes, And chose that in which I do not delight” (Isaiah 65:12).
“So will I choose their delusions, And bring their fears on them; Because, when I called, no one answered, When I spoke they did not hear; But they did evil before My eyes, And chose that in which I do not delight” (Isaiah 66:4).
“’Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of thieves in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it,’ says the Lord. ‘But go now to My place which was in Shiloh, where I set My name at the first, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of My people Israel. And now, because you have done all these works,’ says the Lord, ‘and I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking, but you did not hear, and called you, but you did not answer, therefore I will do to the house which is called by My name, in which you trust, and to this place which I gave to you and your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh. And I will cast you out of My sight, as I have cast out all your brethren–the whole posterity of Ephraim’” (Jeremiah 7:11-15).
But doesn’t the Bible say in 1 Corinthians 1:26: “…not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called”? No, the Bible does not say that. There is no word for “called” in the Greek original of the statement “not many wise,” etc., “are called,” as found in some translations such as the KJV and NKJV (a number of other English translations do not add the words “are called”).
What it really implies is not that only a few are called. What it really implies is, as Jesus said, few are chosen. Because the next verse supplies the ellipsis: “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence” (1 Corinthians 1:27-29).
We do not see among the chosen very many powerful and rich men, like, for example, George Soros, or Bill Gates, or Warren Buffet. Why is that? It’s not that they could not be chosen if they humbled themselves before God. The problem is that the more powerful, the more wealthy and self-sufficient men are, the less likely they are to see the need for God.
There are a number of examples of this in the Bible. Among them, we read of the Laodiceans in the book of Revelation: “Because you say, `I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’–and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked–I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see” (Revelation 3:17-18).
But some might ask, didn’t Jesus say no one could come to him unless he was drawn by the Father?
“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44).
Many have misunderstood this Scripture. This Scripture has been misused by some to escape accountability. To shift the blame to God for the condition mankind finds himself in. Yet, it doesn’t say anything in this scripture about how many or how few are drawn. It says nothing about how they are drawn. It doesn’t tell us what it means to be drawn.
The very next verse, however, gives us a clue as to how many are drawn. “It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me” (John 6:45).
Notice, all shall be taught by God. God seeks to draw all men to himself. And those who are willing to be taught will come to Christ.
God said to Israel: “The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: ‘Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you’” (Jeremiah 31:3).
Note that the entire nation was drawn by God with lovingkindness,
God said of Israel through the prophet Hosea: “I drew them with gentle cords, With bands of love, And I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I stooped and fed them. He shall not return to the land of Egypt; But the Assyrian shall be his king, Because they refused to repent” (Hosea 11:4-5).
God drew them, the entire nation, but most of them refused to repent.
Jesus said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Matthew 23:37).
And it’s not just the Israelites that God seeks to draw to himself. Jesus said, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself” (John 12:32).
It is because of man’s own stubborn insolence and rebellion that God’s lovingkindness is often not sufficient to draw men to himself.
Paul wrote: “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:30-31).
So the flimsy excuse that someone may use for rebelling against God, alleging he was not “called,” doesn’t hold water. In fact, if anyone knows enough to even think up such an excuse, it shows that he knows enough to be held fully accountable for his choices. (See our article, “Are Many or Few Called in this Age?” for further discussion of this subject).
God gives us many chances to repent, not just one or a few chances as is often taught, but many chances, as he did ancient Israel, over generations. But sooner or later, if we resist God’s mercy, if we continue to refuse to hear and obey his word, we will be dealt with in a more severe manner to bring us to the point of repentance.
Daniel prayed, as he and his people were in captivity to the Babylonians:
“Yes, all Israel has transgressed Your law, and has departed so as not to obey Your voice; therefore the curse and the oath written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against Him. And He has confirmed His words, which He spoke against us and against our judges who judged us, by bringing upon us a great disaster; for under the whole heaven such has never been done as what has been done to Jerusalem. As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us; yet we have not made our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities and understand Your truth” (Daniel 9:11-13).
Nehemiah was in Judah with the Jews who had come back from captivity. He prayed to God concerning Israel:
“You came down also on Mount Sinai, And spoke with them from heaven, And gave them just ordinances and true laws, Good statutes and commandments. You made known to them Your holy Sabbath, And commanded them precepts, statutes and laws, By the hand of Moses Your servant. You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger, And brought them water out of the rock for their thirst, And told them to go in to possess the land Which You had sworn to give them. But they and our fathers acted proudly, Hardened their necks, And did not heed Your commandments. They refused to obey, And they were not mindful of Your wonders That You did among them. But they hardened their necks, And in their rebellion They appointed a leader To return to their bondage. But You are God, Ready to pardon, Gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, Abundant in kindness, And did not forsake them” (Nehemiah 9:13-17).
Nehemiah rehearses how God continued to work with, instruct, and bless Israel. Then:
“Nevertheless they were disobedient And rebelled against You, Cast Your law behind their backs And killed Your prophets, who testified against them To turn them to Yourself; And they worked great provocations. Therefore You delivered them into the hand of their enemies, Who oppressed them; And in the time of their trouble, When they cried to You, You heard from heaven; And according to Your abundant mercies You gave them deliverers who saved them From the hand of their enemies. But after they had rest, They again did evil before You. Therefore You left them in the hand of their enemies, So that they had dominion over them; Yet when they returned and cried out to You, You heard from heaven; And many times You delivered them according to Your mercies, And testified against them, That You might bring them back to Your law. Yet they acted proudly, And did not heed Your commandments, But sinned against Your judgments, `Which if a man does, he shall live by them.’ And they shrugged their shoulders, Stiffened their necks, And would not hear. Yet for many years You had patience with them, And testified against them by Your Spirit in Your prophets. Yet they would not listen; Therefore You gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands. Nevertheless in Your great mercy You did not utterly consume them nor forsake them; For You are God, gracious and merciful” (Nehemiah 9: 26-31).
So Nehemiah led the people of Judah who had returned to the land of Israel to reaffirm the covenant God had made with them, and to pledge to keep themselves separate from the nations as a people holy to God (see Nehemiah 10).
If we choose to obey God, we will be rewarded according to our choice, and if we choose to disobey God we will be rewarded accordingly.
“For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, `Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, `Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them” (Deuteronomy 30:11-20).
“Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who ‘will render to each one according to his deeds’: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness–indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God” (Romans 2:4-11).
Even so, God is always merciful. And he has not meted out to us the full measure of punishment which our sins deserve. “He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:10-14).
“Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications. If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared” (Psalm 130:2-4).
Ultimately, God intends to redeem Israel from her iniquities, and the same could be said for the rest of mankind, all who can possibly be brought to repentance.
“O Israel, hope in the Lord; For with the Lord there is mercy, And with Him is abundant redemption. And He shall redeem Israel From all his iniquities” (Psalm 130:7-8).
Of all people on earth, those who are now a part of the true Church of God have the least excuse of all. Those have full access to God’s word. They, and anyone else seeking genuine repentance according to God’s will, have God’s Holy Spirit available to help us in understanding as we seek the truth and repent.
“Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you” (Proverbs 1:23).
All the tools and help necessary is available to both understand God’s word and obey it. And we are accountable for what we have been given.
Those who repent and prove faithful in this age have the opportunity to be in the first resurrection, the better resurrection, as it’s referred to in Hebrews 11:35 (cf. Revelation 20:4-6; I Corinthians 15:21-23). It may be difficult at times. It may, and indeed will, require effort and sacrifice. But we must keep in mind that we will give account to God for what we do with his gifts.
So let’s resolve to put God first in our lives. Let’s strive to put away our fears, our lusts, our worldly affections, our tendency to put pleasing men ahead of pleasing God, and let’s rely on the Almighty to lead us into the rewards of his kingdom.
Let’s remember always that God is our judge, it is to him that we will give account. So we must determine to please him always.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyright 2026 by Rod Reynolds
Messenger Church of God
PO Box 619
Wentzville, MO 63385
USA