1. When does one reach that age?
Age of Accountability
Is there such a thing?
When does one reach that age?
Wednesday PM Study

2. Accountability The Bible teaches accountability
Acts 10: Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.

3. Accountability The Bible does not teach inherited sin
The age of accountability does not occur at birth
Ezekiel 18:20 - The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

4. Accountability When does one become accountable?
Is there a chronological age?
Under Jewish Law, children are not obligated to observe the commandments, although they are encouraged to do so as much as possible to learn the obligations they will have as adults. At the age of 13 (12 for girls), children become obligated to observe the commandments. The Bar Mitzvah ceremony formally marks the assumption of that obligation.
If there is no certain age, how can one know when one is held accountable for their sins?

5. Factors Involved Chronological age Knowledge of good and evil
What would you suggest?
Does it vary from child to child?
Knowledge of good and evil
Capable of believing, repenting, confessing
Able to understand abstract ideas
Forgiveness, salvation, eternal life
Guilt, repentance, grace, faith

6. Factors Involved
Able to realize the consequences of their choices and actions
2-year old with a loaded gun
14-year old with a loaded gun
Accountability always involves responsibility

7. Factors Involved
If a young person can explain 1 John 2:15-17, they may have reached a state of responsibility to God.
1 John 2: Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

8. Assessing Accountability
Joshua 22: “The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, He knows, and let Israel itself know—if it is in rebellion, or if in treachery against the LORD, do not save us this day. 23If we have built ourselves an altar to turn from following the LORD, or if to offer on it burnt offerings or grain offerings, or if to offer peace offerings on it, let the LORD Himself require an account. 24But in fact we have done it for fear, for a reason, saying, ‘In time to come your descendants may speak to our descendants, saying, “What have you to do with the LORD God of Israel?

10. Assessing Accountability
Joshua 22: Therefore we said, ‘Let us now prepare to build ourselves an altar, not for burnt offering nor for sacrifice, 27but that it may be a witness between you and us and our generations after us, that we may perform the service of the LORD before Him with our burnt offerings, with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your descendants may not say to our descendants in time to come, “You have no part in the LORD.”’

11. Assessing Accountability
Joshua 22: Therefore we said that it will be, when they say this to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say, ‘Here is the replica of the altar of the LORD which our fathers made, though not for burnt offerings nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between you and us.’ 29Far be it from us that we should rebel against the LORD, and turn from following the LORD this day, to build an altar for burnt offerings, for grain offerings, or for sacrifices, besides the altar of the LORD our God which is before His tabernacle.”

12. Assessing Accountability
From Joshua 22 we learn:
God requires an account
Our action must be for the right reasons
Some believe that no one is accountable
Psalm 10:13 - Why do the wicked renounce God? He has said in his heart, “You will not require an account.”

13. Assessing Accountability
Romans 14:10 - But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
This accountability is PERSONAL
It is directed toward GOD
There comes a time when innocent children mature and their innocence is replaced with accountability.

14. Applying Accountability
Parents – Elders – Teachers – Preacher:
Knowing that one day they will be accountable –
Teach them God’s plan of salvation
Not just memorize 5 steps
Teach them God has a plan
Teach them God loves them
Teach them that God wants them to be saved
Teach them that Jesus came to die for us

15. Applying Accountability
Do not confuse what we know as adults with what children should know
When should parents start this teaching?
2 Timothy 3:15 - and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16. Applying Accountability
Samuel - 1 Samuel 2:18 - But Samuel ministered before the LORD, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod.
Jesus – Luke 2: Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. 52And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

17. Accepting Accountability
At some point children must accept personal responsibility for their actions
Ecclesiastes 12:1 – Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them”:
Psalm 10:13 - Why do the wicked renounce God? He has said in his heart, “You will not require an account.”

18. Accepting Accountability
At the same time parents must accept that their training is basically completed
The child is now responsible for their own actions, choices and decisions

19. Concepts I Reject
Children are evil, lost, depraved at the moment of birth
Children need forgiveness at birth
Children inherit the guilt of sin from Adam - Called “Original Sin”; “Total Depravity”

20. Concepts I Accept Children are born in a state of innocence
They are free from guilt of sin
Adults must learn to have a childlike heart

21. Baptism Is Not Needed
Since a child is free from sin, innocent, not guilty – Baptism is not needed for them
Baptism has a purpose
Acts 2:38 – “for the remission of sins”
Acts 22:16 – “wash away your sins”
Without the guilt of sin – baptism has no value or purpose

22. Baptism Is Not Needed When does one reach this age of guilt?
They make a conscious choice to rebel against God
They feel guilt for their decision and actions
They know that a correction or change must occur
They understand that without baptism, the guilt will remain

23. At What Age? Not a chronological age Awareness of guilt
Understanding that their choices create guilt
Understanding that their guilt is before God
Understanding that repentance (change of state or action) is required
Understanding that without baptism the guilt will remain

24. Do They Understand -
Matthew 2: In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
Matthew 3: Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

25. Do They Understand -
Matthew 4:17 - From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
John 3: After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized. 23Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized.

26. Do They Understand -
Luke 13:3 - I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
What “repentance” includes
What sins would they confess?
In response to their repentance and confession of sins, they were baptized
Mark 1:4 - John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

27. Why do children seek baptism?
Afraid – Fear of hell is the wrong motivation for obedience
See Others – When one in their class is baptized, they begin to think it is expected of them
Friends – A friend will urge them to “do it together”
Family – Older family members were baptized at my age

28. Why do children seek baptism?
Participation – They see their friend serving communion and think that would be fun
Preachers, Teachers – God commands it and I want to obey God
Memorized – They have memorized the 5 steps in the plan of salvation
In Trouble – If they are in trouble at home or school, they think baptism is an escape

29. Why do children seek baptism?
Attention – Some children seek attention, hugs, name announced, in the bulletin
Security – Baptism is seen as way to be secure
Over Simplified Obedience – Often it sounds like A + B + C = Heaven. There is more to being a Christian than faith and baptism.

30. A 5 Year Old Can memorize the steps toward salvation
Loves God and wants to obey God
Should this child be baptized?
No concept of conversion, salvation
No idea how to repent
No concept of guilt of sins
How can one be saved if they are not lost?
“Can I go play with my friends now?”