The Age Of Accountability In The Bible?
The Age of Responsibility refers to the time in a person’s life when he or she can decide whether to rely on Jesus Christ for salvation. In Judaism, thirteen is the point at when Jewish boys get all the rights of a fully grown man and can become a “son of the law” or bar mitzvah. Christianity borrowed many customs from Judaism; However, some Christian denominations or individual churches set the age of accountability below 13.
This raises two important questions. How old must a person be when he is baptized? And, do infants or children who die before the age of responsibility go to heaven?
Baptism of the Infant vs. Believer
We view toddlers and infants as innocent. However, the Bible states that everyone is born into a sinful character inherited from Adam’s disobedience toward God during Adam’s disobedience to God in the Garden of Eden.
The Roman Catholic Church, the Lutheran Church, the United Methodist Church, the Episcopal Church, the United Church of Christ, and other denominations baptize infants. The belief is that the child will be protected before accountability is reached.
In contrast, Southern Baptists, Calvary Chapel, the Assembly of God, Mennonites, Disciples of Christ, and many other Christian denominations practice believer’s baptism. A person must reach the age of accountability before being baptized. Some churches that do not believe in infant baptism practice child dedication, a ceremony in which a parent or family member vows to raise the child in God’s ways until he reaches the age of accountability.
Regardless of baptismal practices, nearly every church conducts religious instruction or Sunday school classes for children very early. Children are taught the Ten Commandments to know what sin is and why they should avoid it as they mature. Also, they learn of the sacrifice Christ made at the Cross, which gives them knowledge of God’s plan for salvation.
It helps them make an informed decision when they reach the age of accountability.
Also Know About: Why Was Jesus Baptized?
Question Of Souls Of Infants
Although the Bible does not use the term “age of accountability,” the question of infant mortality is mentioned in 2 Samuel 21–23. King David had committed adultery with Bathsheba, who became pregnant and later delivered a child who later died. After mourning the child, David said:
“While the child was still alive, I fasted and cried. I thought, ‘Who knows? May Jehovah be kind to me and let the child live.’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back? I will go to him, and he will not come back towards me.” (2 Samuel 12:22-23 NIV)
David was confident that he would go to his son, who was in heaven when he died. He trusted that God, in his kindness, would not blame the child for his father’s sin.
For centuries, the Roman Catholic Church taught the doctrine of infant limbo, a place where the souls of unrelated children went after death, not heaven yet a place of eternal happiness.
However, the latest Catechism issued by the Catholic Church has eliminated the term “limbo” and now states, “For children who have died before baptism The Church is the only one who can. You can trust them to the grace of God and let God be the judge, just as it is in its way.” We hope that there is a way of salvation for children who have died without baptism.”
1 John 4:14 says, “And we have seen and testified that the Father sent his Son as the savior of the world.” Most Christians believe that Jesus “saved the world” for those who are mentally unable to accept Christ as well as die before reaching the age of accountability.
The Bible does not overwhelmingly support or deny the age of accountability. Still, as with other irrefutable questions, the best one can weigh the matter in the light of Scripture and trust in God, who is both love and justice.
What Happens To Babies And Young Children When They Die?
According to the notion of “age of accountability,” children are not held accountable to God for their sin until they reach a certain age. If a child dies before reaching the “age of accountability,” then Because of the grace and mercy of God, that child is granted entry into heaven. Is the concept of the age of accountability biblical? Does such a thing as an “age of ignorance” even exist.
Often lost in discussions about the age of accountability lies in the fact that children, no matter how young, are not “ignorant” in the sense of sinlessness. The Bible tells us that even if a child or infant has not committed any personal sin, all people, including infants and children, are guilty before God because they have inherited or imputed sin in them. Has done. An inherited sin would signify that our parents have inherited it from us.
In Psalm 51:5, David writes, “Behold, I was born with iniquity, and with sin, I was conceived in my mother’s womb.” David knew that it was still a sin to conceive. Unfortunately, the truth is that babies sometimes die, demonstrating that even babies are affected by Adam’s sin because physical and spiritual death is the result of Adam’s original sin.
Every person, whether infant or adult, has stood guilty before God; Everyone has hurt the holiness of God. The only way God can justly declare a person righteous is for that person to receive forgiveness through faith in Christ. Christ is the only way. John 14:6 records these words of Jesus:
“I am the way and the truth and the life; no sin can reach through me the Father.” At the same time, Peter says in Acts 4:12, “There is no salvation in anyone else; For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we can be saved.” To be saved is a person’s personal choice.
What about infants and young children who have not yet gained the ability to make this personal choice? The Age of Accountability is the concept that God’s grace and mercy save those who die before reaching the age of accountability.
The concept of the Age of Accountability holds that God will save all those who have not attained the ability to decide against Christ or accept Christ. The age of thirteen for accountability is most commonly suggested based on the Jewish tradition that a child becomes an adult at 13.
However, the Bible makes no direct endorsement that 13 should always be regarded as the age of accountability. It is likely to vary from one child to another, and a child has passed the age of accountability to accept Christ through faith or not. According to Charles Spurgeon’s view, “A five-year-old can truly be saved and renewed as an adult.”
Considering the above, consider this: Christ’s death is presented as sufficient for mankind. First John 2:2 states it is said that Jesus will be “the atonement for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”
This verse makes it clear that the death of Jesus was enough for all of us to sin, not just for those who would come exclusively to believe in Christ. Christ’s death was enough to cover all the sins for which there was a possibility that God would impose the cost of the sins of all those who would not be able to believe.
Some see a link between the age of accountability and the covenant relationship between the nation of Israel and Jehovah God since the covenant did not add anything except the condition of circumcision on boys, which was done on the eighth day after birth. (Exodus 12:48–50; Leviticus 12:3).
The question arises, “Does the full nature of the Old Testament in itself apply to the church as well?” On the day of Pentecost, Peter said, “Repent, and be each one of you baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit because this promise is to you, and to your descendants. And to all those far and wide to whom the Lord our God will call to Him” (Acts 2:38–39, BSI).
The word progeny (techno in Greek) means “children, daughters, sons.” Acts 2:39 indicates that forgiveness of sins is available to all (compare Acts 1:8), including future generations. It does not teach the salvation of a family or household—even the children of the repentant need to repent. (The Age Of Accountability In The Bible?)
A passage 2 Samuel 12:21–23 identifies much more with this theme than any other verse. The background of these verses is that King David has committed adultery with Bathsheba, resulting in her becoming pregnant. The prophet Nathan turns to Jehovah God to inform David of the consequences of his sins that the Lord will take the child by death. Dawood responded by feeling sad and praying for the child. But once his child died, David’s mourning ended. After seeing this, the servants of David were astonished.
They asked David the King. David, “What have you done? You fasted and wept as long as the child lived, but as soon as the child died, you got up and started eating.” He replied, “As long as the child lived, I fasted and cried, thinking, ‘May the Lord be kind to me that the child may live.’ But now he is dead, then why should I fast? Can I bring him back? I will go to him, but he will not come back to me.” David’s response indicates that those who cannot believe are safe in Jehovah’s hands. David said he could go to the child but not bring him back.
Also, and equally important, David found solace in this knowledge. In another way, David seems to be affirming that he will be able to see his son’s infant (in heaven) regardless of the fact that the angels could not bring his son back.
Although it may be possible that God may apply the price paid for sin through Christ to those who cannot believe, the Bible does not specifically say that He does. Therefore, it is a matter about which we should neither be dogmatic nor adopt a harsh attitude. God’s application of Christ’s death to those who cannot believe appears to be consistent with His love and mercy.
Our thinking is that God applies the cost of sin paid by Christ to the sins of infants and those who are mentally handicapped because they cannot understand their sinful state and their need for a Savior. Not qualified, but again, we don’t have to be dogmatic for this. One thing is certain: God is loving, holy, merciful, just, and merciful. No matter what happens, God is always right and good, and He loves His children more than we do.
