© 07 Colin Melbourne
What is The Age of Accountability?
Q: At what age does God hold children accountable? Anita
A: Great question Anita. This is a fascinating subject with many profound ramifications.
Babies are born unsaved, with the sinful nature of fallen man, children of the Devil.
Satan is spiritual father of all the unsaved. (Rom. 3:9-10,23, 5:12-14, Jn. 8:44, Eph. 2:1-3, 1 Jn. 3:10)
That comes as a shock, but it’s Bible-truth nonetheless.
Cute they are, but wicked to the core, all of them, until they are born again.
Only One Baby was born a child of God, sinless, unique, and you know His Name.
Since they are too young to understand the Gospel, God does not hold their sins against them until they reach the age of decision; meaning, they are old enough to know right from wrong.
The Bible doesn’t give a specific age for this. But the concept in clear in Is. 7:14-16 KJV;
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.
For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.
This is the glorious prophecy of the Incarnation, given 700 years before its fulfilment. Notice the phrase “before the child shall know to refuse evil“. This confirms that there is a period of time after birth when a child is not able to distinguish good from evil, and so unaccountable.
For me, this age was seven years old.
In retrospect, I actually remember the exact moment, (do you?) but waited until I was 34 before receiving Christ.
I know a missionary who says she was five when she ‘became accountable’, and received Christ soon after.
Avoid pressing children to receive Christ though. You can easily ruin their introduction to the born again experience, by using peer pressure.
We know God does not hold babies accountable, because of David’s testimony in 2 Sam. 12. Verses 22 and 23 show us his dead baby was taken to Heaven, because David prophesied, I will go to him. This is a source of great comfort for Christian parents who have lost a baby. For more read, What is the Age of Accountability?
Portable Power-packs: Handy sized New Testaments to carry with you to nibble the word during your busy day.
You may also be interested in Why Christians Dedicate Babies instead of the man-made demonic invention of Christening Babies
Sinner’s heart-cry
Q: What does the word Hosanna mean? Michelle
A: It’s derived from a Hebrew expression Hoshianna used by Jews at their Feast of Tabernacles (See Lev. 23:40), it is an appeal to Save us! They lived in tents (or booths) during this week of worship.
No wonder the religious crowd got upset when Jewish sinners, and even kiddies, couldn’t help but call out Hosanna! as Christ entered Jerusalem. Mtt. 21:1-17. They were addressing Him as God in the Flesh, the King of kings: The Messiah. And if they hadn’t, the stones on the ground would have done so. (Lk. 19:40).
You live in ‘a tent’ for a short while don’t you, and did not your heart of stone cry out likewise, when He first approached you? The Jews missed the point, and turned it into ritual and religion (Judaism), but God, in His mercy, has treated us to the Real Thing. He’s saved us! So now our hearts cry Halleluia! Come on you saints, let Him hear you give Him glory!
Dead, buried, and raised!
Q: What is the importance of water baptism for a born again Christian? Thobeka
A: See our detailed Articles on water baptism.
What are you saved for?
Q: Please define mission? Vinit
A: I take my definition from the lips of Almighty God in the Flesh; Mtt: 28:18-20 and Mk. 16:15-20. Every believer has only one mission whilst we await His Return, and that is to win souls through His Gospel message, depending upon His Power. Let’s be busy saints, time is short!
© 07 Colin Melbourne
