Some have great difficulty reconciling God’s unconditional forgiveness with this level of accountability, perhaps due to a very low estimation of God’s Grace. That we are received and accepted, loved and forgiven are such lofty facts that we sometimes fail to understand that accountability does not lessen or weaken God’s Grace, simply because nothing can! 

Heb:12:7If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? explains that accountability doesn’t detract from the Grace of God, it demonstrates it! “If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?” 

This present life accountability to God is our guarantee of eternal life, “But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.” (1 Cor:11:32But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.) 

In addition, the very same word for chastening in the above verse is used in Titus:2:12teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, to prove that Grace does not ignore the believer’s sins. What it does through accountability to is teach and change the believer in such a way that he/she is able to experience the highest purpose for being alive; being transformed into the image of Christ. 

At times, that discipline seems incredibly painful “The LORD has chastened me severely, But He has not given me over to death” (Ps:118:18), yet it is the act of a loving father restoring his child to right way of life.