God Holds Us Accountable for Our Own Sins

Note from today’s Bible reading: Exodus 32-35

When Moses returned from Mount Sinai with the tablets of stone on which God had written His law, he saw that the people had made a golden calf and were offering burnt offerings to it. After rebuking the people for their sin – and Aaron for allowing this to happen – Moses returned to the Lord to plead on behalf of the people.

Moses said, “Alas, this people has committed a great sin, and they have made a god of gold for themselves. But now, if You will, forgive their sin—and if not, please blot me out from Your book which You have written!” (Exodus 32:31-32).

It is incredible that Moses was willing to, in effect, forfeit his place before God on behalf of the people. Yet God replied, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book” (Exodus 32:33). In essence, God responded that He would not condemn Moses (or anyone else) for someone else’s sin. But He will hold the offender responsible and punish accordingly.

This has always been how God operates. He told the prophet Ezekiel, “The person who sins shall die. …the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself” (Ezekiel 18:20). This is still true for us as we will each give an account to the Lord for what we have done in this life (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:10).

So remember that God holds us accountable for our own sins. He will judge us as individuals. Regardless of what others do or do not do, we must be faithful to the Lord.