When Is a Child Accountable Before God? – Part 1 Looking at factors that indicate when a child becomes accountable before God. Rom. 7:7-9

Introduction There is doctrinal uncertainty surrounding the “age of accountability” regarding children. Calvinistic doctrine: infants born in sin although they do not commit sin. cp. Rom. 5:12 Opposite doctrine: children declared ‘sinless’ even though they knowingly commit sin. Matt. 18:3-4 Even those “in the middle” fail to biblically answer questions/statements to questions raised.

There is doctrinal uncertainty surrounding the “age of accountability” regarding children.

Calvinistic doctrine: infants born in sin although they do not commit sin. cp. Rom. 5:12

Opposite doctrine: children declared ‘sinless’ even though they knowingly commit sin. Matt. 18:3-4

Even those “in the middle” fail to biblically answer questions/statements to questions raised.

Introduction Looking at the what and when children are accountability before God: This morning – What makes a person (child or adult) accountable before God. This evening – When is a child accountable before God and how this applies to children.

Looking at the what and when children are accountability before God:

This morning – What makes a person (child or adult) accountable before God.

This evening – When is a child accountable before God and how this applies to children.

What Makes a Person (Child or Adult) Accountable Before God Committing sin brings about accountability. Sin is a violation of a command or law. 1 Jn. 3:4 Accountability means “to be found guilty of sin.” In a legal sense, a person who commits sin is a “law breaker” becoming accountable through the law unto God. Rom. 3:19; Gen. 2:16-17

Committing sin brings about accountability.

Sin is a violation of a command or law. 1 Jn. 3:4

Accountability means “to be found guilty of sin.”

In a legal sense, a person who commits sin is a “law breaker” becoming accountable through the law unto God. Rom. 3:19; Gen. 2:16-17

What Makes a Person (Child or Adult) Accountable Before God Accountability to the law is not effectual unless it is revealed to man. Rom. 5:12-14 In other words, there can be no accountability if the law is not given to man.

Accountability to the law is not effectual unless it is revealed to man. Rom. 5:12-14

In other words, there can be no accountability if the law is not given to man.

What Makes a Person (Child or Adult) Accountable Before God Examples of God making Himself known to man and man’s accountability. Rom. 1:17-19, 32 Adam and Eve up till the Flood: Adam/Eve (Gen. 3:1-3, 24); Cain/Abel (Gen. 4:4-7, 13); Lamech (Gen. 4:15, 23-24). 2 Pet. 2:4-9 From the Flood till the Law of Moses: Melchizedek (Gen. 14:18); Jethro (Exo. 18:12). During the Law of Moses: Gentiles had God’s will through the prophets. Jonah 3:4-5; Matt. 12:41, 42

Examples of God making Himself known to man and man’s accountability. Rom. 1:17-19, 32

Adam and Eve up till the Flood: Adam/Eve (Gen. 3:1-3, 24); Cain/Abel (Gen. 4:4-7, 13); Lamech (Gen. 4:15, 23-24). 2 Pet. 2:4-9

From the Flood till the Law of Moses: Melchizedek (Gen. 14:18); Jethro (Exo. 18:12).

During the Law of Moses: Gentiles had God’s will through the prophets. Jonah 3:4-5; Matt. 12:41, 42

What Makes a Person (Child or Adult) Accountable Before God Accountability to the law is not effectual unless it is revealed to man. Rom. 5:12-14 In other words, there can be no accountability if the law is not given to man. Examples of God making Himself known to man and man’s accountability. Rom. 1:17-19, 32 Even children (under the Law of Moses) were responsible for adhering to the Law of Moses. Dt. 6:5-7

Accountability to the law is not effectual unless it is revealed to man. Rom. 5:12-14

In other words, there can be no accountability if the law is not given to man.

Examples of God making Himself known to man and man’s accountability. Rom. 1:17-19, 32

Even children (under the Law of Moses) were responsible for adhering to the Law of Moses. Dt. 6:5-7

What Makes a Person (Child or Adult) Accountable Before God Doctrinal significance: Babies have no means by which they could conceivably commit a sin. Ecc. 7:29 (Rom. 9:11) Conversely, numerous children know better and purposefully “commit sin”. Psa. 58:3; Gen. 8:21 At the point a child is accountable before God he is looked at no differently than an adult who is also guilty of transgressing God’s word. The question is: when does a child pass that threshold from innocence to becoming accountable before God?

Doctrinal significance:

Babies have no means by which they could conceivably commit a sin. Ecc. 7:29 (Rom. 9:11)

Conversely, numerous children know better and purposefully “commit sin”. Psa. 58:3; Gen. 8:21

At the point a child is accountable before God he is looked at no differently than an adult who is also guilty of transgressing God’s word.

The question is: when does a child pass that threshold from innocence to becoming accountable before God?

Conclusion We have just looked at what makes a person (child or adult) accountable before God. The following lesson will look at when a child is accountable before God.

We have just looked at what makes a person (child or adult) accountable before God.

The following lesson will look at when a child is accountable before God.