I cannot help but be somewhat concerned when I hear grace teachers speak as if there should never be any measurable behavioral accountability expected within the churches and among believers.

It is as if they think that grace means a believer can do nothing wrong or displeasing to God.

I must say here that such a notion is not true at all.  There are too many passages that address behavior and consequences for such in the New Testament letters to the churches for us to conclude that grace means never addressing such things or expressing expectations for behavior.

Here’s a great example of what I am talking about.  Paul is writing to the church in Thessalonica.

1Thessalonians 4:1 Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; 2 for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.  3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. 7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. 8 Therefore, he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.

Notice how Paul is speaking of how they should walk to please God.  The walk involves what one does. He goes on to speak of how they commanded them.  This is an uncomfortable language for some grace teachers who think leadership can never provide direction or firm and clear directives.  No, I am not saying leaders have permission to control the lives of others, but they do have a command to care for the souls of those they have been called to lead.

Paul goes on to make sure they understand he is speaking in terms of the will of God for them.  The will of God is their sanctification.  He then goes on to speak about things they should avoid.  He talks about possessing one’s vessel in sanctification and honor.

Then, Paul goes on to speak of how the Lord is an avenger of certain behaviors.  He says he had forwarned them of such and testified to its validity. The idea of the Lord being an avenger of such behavior is an especially uncomfortable language for some grace teachers.  But here it is in the Bible for all to read.

How did God call us?  Not into uncleanness, but in holiness as is revealed here for us.  But here’s the real kicker in all of this.  Paul uses some very strong language in verse 8 when he says that whoever rejects what he is saying here is not rejecting a man but rather is rejecting God because it was God who gave Paul His Holy Spirit.  In other words, Paul is speaking expressly by the Holy Spirit in saying this.

There are times when leaders who minister with integrity must speak regarding behavior and the consequences that can follow wrong behavior. It should not be the lion’s share of what they speak about, as the gospel should always be a main focus.  But there will be times when it is justified that believers be reminded that pleasing God involves how we walk, and sanctification that involves letting go of dishonoring and destructive behaviors is right before God.  This is grace authority.