With A Bailout Comes Accountability

by Bryan Gibson

February 13, 2009

The cost to bail out Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Citigroup, AIG, GMAC, and a host of other companies and financial institutions? It looks like it may surpass the trillion dollar mark (a one with 12 zeroes). Regardless of whether we agree on the soundness of all these bailouts, we can agree on one thing. Their need for accountability is even greater now, considering the enormous cost of their bailout. We would hope that they would now feel a deeper sense of obligation, that they would be much more careful now in how they conduct their business.

The cost to redeem us, or bail us out from sin? The blood of Jesus Christ. “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed...but with the precious blood of Christ...” (1 Peter 1:18-19). A trillion dollars is a staggering amount of money, but it doesn’t even compare in value to the blood of Jesus. He gave something of much greater value than any amount of money—He gave Himself.

Do you see where we’re going with this analogy? We got ourselves in deep debt with our sins, and Jesus bailed us out—at tremendous cost to Himself. Surely we’re not going to go back to our old habits. Surely we’ve learned our lesson. He paid the debt of sin with his blood, and so now we are debtors to Him (Romans 8:12).  “Business as usual” just won’t cut it anymore. How should we now live, when we consider the tremendous price paid for our redemption, or bailout? What do we owe Him? We don’t have to guess, because the following passages tell us—in no uncertain terms.

“Having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness...slaves of God” (Romans 6:18, 22).

“For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20).

“and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:15).

“And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold...but with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:17-19).

“who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness...” (1 Peter 2:24).

“who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14).

Some of the representatives of these companies have already had to appear before Congress, because they didn’t make the necessary changes—post bailout. If we don’t make the necessary changes to our spiritual lives, it’s not Congress we should be worried about.