RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2020-10-29	Age of Accountability in the Bible
		The concept of the “age of accountability” is that children are not held accountable by God for their sins until they reach a certain age. If a child dies before reaching this “age” that child will by God's grace and mercy be granted into heaven. A parallel question may be asked, “Is there such a thing as an “age of innocence?” There is no “age of accountability” identified in Scripture. Children mature at different paces. So that is likely why no number is given in Scripture. No place in Scripture tells us, “Here is the age at which time you are held accountable before God.” God knows when each soul is accountable. And He also knows when real rejection has taken place. Scripture teaches that we all are sinful from birth. Psa 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. Rom 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned The “one man” was Adam. And so all men are sinner through inherited sin from our parents, and imputed sin from Adam. Salvation is an individual choice. And salvation comes only through Jesus Christ (Jn.14:6; Ac.4:12). What about babies and young children who never attain the ability to make this individual choice? Rom 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. Paul speaks of what is “clearly seen” and “being understood”. So what about children who do not have the faculty to “clearly see” and understand? 1Jn 2:2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. Christ's death in itself had unlimited and infinite value because He is the Holy God. So in God's mercy does His death allow the possibility of applying payment to those who were never capable of believing? As with other doctrines we learn from Scripture, sometimes we derive our understanding from texts that infer or imply an idea. One example comes from King David in 2 Samuel 12 with the context of David having committed adultery with Bathsheba (2Sa.11). Bathsheba becomes pregnant. The prophet Nathan was sent by the Lord to inform David that because of his sin, the child will die. David grieved, fasted, and prayed for the life of the child. Then the child died. David's servants informed him of the death. David arose and ate which surprised the servants. 2Sa 12:21 Then his servants said to him, "What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but when the child died, you arose and ate food." 2Sa 12:22 And he said, "While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, 'Who can tell whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?' 2Sa 12:23 But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me." When David said, “I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me” he seemed comforted that he will see the child again in heaven. David could not bring the child back alive to the earth, but he also would die someday and see the child in heaven. God's applying Christ's death to those who cannot believe would seem consistent with His love and mercy. So those who are mentally handicapped and those too young to understand their sinful state and their need for a Savior may be covered by Christ's payment for sin. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

An Evangelical Free Church of America

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