Age of Accountability

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Age of Accountability

• Is there such a thing?
• When does one reach that age?
• Wednesday PM Study

2
Accountability

• The Bible teaches accountability
• Acts 1034-35 - 34Then 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.

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Accountability

• The Bible does not teach inherited sin
• The age of accountability does not occur at birth
• Ezekiel 1820 - 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.

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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?

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Factors Involved

• Chronological age
• 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

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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

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Factors Involved

• If a young person can explain 1 John 215-17,
  they may have reached a state of responsibility
  to God.
• 1 John 215-17 - 15Do 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 worldthe lust of the flesh, the
  lust of the eyes, and the pride of lifeis 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.

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Assessing Accountability

• Joshua 2222-24 - 22The LORD God of gods, the
  LORD God of gods, He knows, and let Israel itself
  knowif 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?

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Assessing Accountability

• Joshua 2226-27 - 26Therefore 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.

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Assessing Accountability

• Joshua 2228-29 - 28Therefore 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.

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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 1013 - Why do the wicked renounce God? He
  has said in his heart, You will not require an
  account.

13
Assessing Accountability

• Romans 1410 - 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.

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Applying Accountability

• Parents Elders Teachers Preacher
• Knowing that one day they will be accountable
• Teach them Gods 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

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Applying Accountability

• Do not confuse what we know as adults with what
  children should know
• When should parents start this teaching?
• 2 Timothy 315 - 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.

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Applying Accountability

• Samuel - 1 Samuel 218 - But Samuel ministered
  before the LORD, even as a child, wearing a linen
  ephod.
• Jesus Luke 251-52 - 51Then 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.

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Accepting Accountability

• At some point children must accept personal
  responsibility for their actions
• Ecclesiastes 121 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 1013 - Why do the wicked renounce God? He
  has said in his heart, You will not require an
  account.

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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

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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

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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

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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 238 for the remission of sins
• Acts 2216 wash away your sins
• Without the guilt of sin baptism has no value
  or purpose

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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

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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

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Do They Understand -

• Matthew 21-2 - 1In those days John the Baptist
  came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2and
  saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at
  hand!
• Matthew 35-6 - 5Then 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.

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Do They Understand -

• Matthew 417 - From that time Jesus began to
  preach and to say, Repent, for the kingdom of
  heaven is at hand.
• John 322-23 - 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.

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Do They Understand -

• Luke 133 - 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 14 - John came baptizing in the wilderness
  and preaching a baptism of repentance for the
  remission of sins.

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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

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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

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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.

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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?