Accountability

Hebrews 3:12-14 (ESV)

"Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end."

Christians are to exhort (admonish, urge, and encourage) one another daily. This is not just to show love, though we are to do it in love (Eph. 4:15), but the purpose is to prevent sin from getting a hold in one's life.

Matthew Henry commentary on this passage states,

"There is a great deal of deceitfulness in sin; it appears fair, but is filthy; it appears pleasant, but is pernicious; it promises much, but performs nothing. The deceitfulness of sin is of a hardening nature to the soul; one sin allowed prepares for another; every act of sin confirms the habit; sinning against conscience is the way to sear the conscience; and therefore it should be the great concern of every one to exhort himself and others to beware of sin."

We do have several encouragements about defeating sin and holding firm till the end.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NASV)

"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it."

Philippians 1:6 (NASV)

"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."