Age of Accountability

I know one thing, My God is a loving God, My God is a perfect God. What ever my God decides to do is what is right. So if God looks into thier hearts and sends them to hell, then as hard as this may be to belive it's what is right. I don't believe that all babys go to hell. It makes little sense to me as a human, but once again if God chooses so it must be for a perfect reason.

Bulldog said:

Do we have salvation and then lose it when we reach a certain age? Doesn't make sense to me....

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We lose our salvation when we reject Christ. When we fail to trust that His perfect death and resurrection was enough to atone for our sins, we lose our salvation.

We are born in rejection of Christ. If I asked you if you were a Christian, you could confess to me what is True. An infant cannot speak, so we cannot know if they have faith by their confession. But in Holy Baptism, Word is met with water, as Christ instituted, and we, without doubt, can be sure that the infant is claimed and a child of God, according to the Promises of Christ. There is no command against infant Baptism. I do not understand the hang up. What if one who believes against infant Baptism, allows their infant to be Baptized? If they are right, and Baptism means no more than an outward expression of faith, then the infant Baptism was merely a head washing. But if they are wrong and they have guarded their child from the font...woe to them!!

Pax Christi,

ChiRho

Property-Of-Jesus said:

I know one thing, My God is a loving God, My God is a perfect God. What ever my God decides to do is what is right. So if God looks into thier hearts and sends them to hell, then as hard as this may be to belive it's what is right. I don't believe that all babys go to hell. It makes little sense to me as a human, but once again if God chooses so it must be for a perfect reason.

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Hi Property of Jesus,

I couldn't agree with you more. I don't want to make it seem like I'm second guessing God. I would never do that. But sometimes this comes up with non-believers and I wanted to know what other Christians believe.

I was baptized as an infant in the Methodist church. However, I didn't have saving faith in Christ until I was 34 years old. If I had died before the age of 34, I have no doubt I would have been separated from God eternally. Of course, that wasn't His plan and I've been praising Him ever since!

My church (non-denom) does not practice infant baptism. We do have child dedications, but that's it. I guess I don't believe in infant baptism and that it's reserved for those who believe and can express that faith. But I do find it interesting about the person who mentioned the babies (such as John the Baptist) in the womb who leapt for joy at the mention of our Savior. Very interesting!

In His Love,

WC

WashedClean said:

Hi Lotar,

Thanks for your response. But I have a couple of questions:

1. What about babies who are aborted and don't have a chance to be baptized?

2. So if a baby is baptized and dies as an infant, he/she goes to Heaven because of their baptism alone? And at what age does this "insurance" run out and the child/young adult become accountable (there's that word again) to God for their sins?

I'm sorry, but I don't understand how baptising an infant suddenly makes God "accountable" to man and insures their temporary salvation. Maybe I'm misinterpreting what you're saying. If so, please clarify.

Thank you very much!

In His Love,

WC

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1. What about babies who are aborted and don't have a chance to be baptized?

Answer: Questions of this nature help to sober us to the reality that this modern, ever-distracting world we live in is serious-- life and death are real!-- and so are the consequences of sin...this life is not a game. It is not our system of fairness nor our understanding of justice that matters, it is God and Him alone. We must remember also, that God's greatest attribute is mercy and He creates and sustains faith in all of His believers. This aborted child could have heard while in the womb his/her salvation and faith most certainly could have been reckoned to the child. If the mother at anytime during the pregnancy was exposed to the Word, then there is always that hope that the child is eternally saved. God does not hand out free passes but pardons according to the righteousness of Christ. Infants surely can have faith and I believe many do! But God also promises that He will punish to the third and fourth generation of those that reject Him. All are sinful and in need of a Saviour, even those who have not yet developed the abilities to carry out sinful actions, they still are lusting for the day in which they can. The spoken Gospel will create faith, no joke, so proclaim to anyone you can, even a fetus could be listening!

2. So if a baby is baptized and dies as an infant, he/she goes to Heaven because of their baptism alone?

SALVATION: BY GRACE ALONE THROUGH FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE

Water with Word... God causes Himself (God: Father, Son, Holy Spirit) to physically be Present. He washes and cleanses you of all unrighteousness. The Holy Spirit regenerates and creates faith inside the believer.

And at what age does this "insurance" run out and the child/young adult become accountable (there's that word again) to God for their sins?

When does your insurance run out? All are accountable from conception.
Our insurance lies in the trust given to us. Trust that God's Promises apply to all who have faith, and He reckons and keeps those in faith, even in the womb. There is always chance for anyone to stray and reject Christ. You and I, able adults of sound mind and body, are probably at greater risk of losing our faith than saved children. We have full ability to perform and act on all of our sin, opposed to a child who is still learning how to carry out his/her lusts.

This question still sounds as if you doubt that infants can have faith. What do you base that on? Your own reasoning and logic? What keeps you in faith? Your ability to understand the Gospel? Faith in God is foolishness and the older we get, we tend to strengthen our stance against God. You must have faith as a child does. God hides Himself in that which is utter foolishness.

"An infant can have faith?" someone ponders quietly to themselves.

And then determines an answer after much analyzing according to man's great intelligence, "Oh, I dont believe that....that makes no sense!"

Well, there will never be enough evidence to convince man and suffice his reasoning, regarding infant faith, but there is no evidence for Christ rising from the grave either. That is accepted by blind faith alone. My two year old nephew knows that Christ died on the cross for his sins, and can tell you that (already proclaiming Truth, and has more understanding than many of my college friends and their socialist education). He is just learning how to talk but can almost recite the Lord's Prayer. God has Washed and Claimed him. God is sustaining his faith and Koby's faith is growing (not because of Koby, but because God causes his faith and sustains it). Could Koby, in his sinfulness, eventually reject Christ? As with anyone else, one can reject the Gift given and be allowed to pursue one's own will, and die eternally. Satan is at us always and we are being bitten and afflicted daily. Look to the Bronze Snake and trust that His death was sufficient for your sins. Do not keep the children from the font and foolishly assume they cannot have faith. Your faith was not from you and yet you believe. Do not suffer the children, allow them to come to Christ, to come to the font and be cleansed.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit!

Amen.

Pax Christi,

ChiRho

Rules about Christianity:

#1. God is always right.
#2. If you think God is wrong, refer back to rule #1.

I believe that all chilren are saved but there comes a time when they are spiritually mature enough to make decisions for themselves. I understand that the Judaism is aware of God's heart on this and have established their Bar/Bat Mitzvah to celebrate it. (the age is around 13 I believe) Perhaps those who are incapable for decision making on their own are outside of this

TasManOfGod said:

I believe that all chilren are saved but there comes a time when they are spiritually mature enough to make decisions for themselves. I understand that the Judaism is aware of God's heart on this and have established their Bar/Bat Mitzvah to celebrate it. (the age is around 13 I believe) Perhaps those who are incapable for decision making on their own are outside of this

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From where do you draw your understanding that all children are saved? By your last statement, do you mean to say that adults are able to "choose" Christ?

Pax Christi,

ChiRho

From where do you draw your understanding that all children are saved

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From understanding the heart of God thru the teachings of Jesus

do you mean to say that adults are able to "choose" Christ?

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Yes of course

Knight said:

filo's point being......

There is no age of accountability in the Bible. It's simply not there.

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I could be way off base, but I have been looking at this verse to support age of accountablity. Again I could be wrong.

Isa 7:15 "He will eat curds and honey at the time He knows enough to refuse evil and choose good.
Isa 7:16 "For before the boy will know enough to refuse evil and choose good, the land whose two kings you dread will be forsaken.

Brian

backley said:

I could be way off base, but I have been looking at this verse to support age of accountablity. Again I could be wrong.

Isa 7:15 "He will eat curds and honey at the time He knows enough to refuse evil and choose good.
Isa 7:16 "For before the boy will know enough to refuse evil and choose good, the land whose two kings you dread will be forsaken.

Brian

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Excellent, Brian!

backley said:

I could be way off base, but I have been looking at this verse to support age of accountablity. Again I could be wrong.

Isa 7:15 "He will eat curds and honey at the time He knows enough to refuse evil and choose good.
Isa 7:16 "For before the boy will know enough to refuse evil and choose good, the land whose two kings you dread will be forsaken.

Brian

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I went to research on this and I think you have a good one here!!!


http://www.christianforums.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=2182491#_ftn1 Amen!

Property-Of-Jesus said:

I know one thing, My God is a loving God, My God is a perfect God. What ever my God decides to do is what is right. So if God looks into thier hearts and sends them to hell, then as hard as this may be to belive it's what is right. I don't believe that all babys go to hell. It makes little sense to me as a human, but once again if God chooses so it must be for a perfect reason.

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P-O-J, I just wanted to tell you that I thought this was a wonderful post. It is the epitome of submission to the authority of God. It shows that, to you, His authority and sovereign right to manifest His plan, however He chooses to do it, is more important to you than what you may feel about it.

Thank you.

God bless

Bro. Gabriel said:

Rules about Christianity:

#1. God is always right.
#2. If you think God is wrong, refer back to rule #1.

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I didn't think it could get much more direct than P-O-J's post. I was wrong.

Great post BG.

God bless

Reformationist said:

P-O-J, I just wanted to tell you that I thought this was a wonderful post. It is the epitome of submission to the authority of God. It shows that, to you, His authority and sovereign right to manifest His plan, however He chooses to do it, is more important to you than what you may feel about it.

Thank you.

God bless

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Amen to that

Brian

TasManOfGod said:

From understanding the heart of God thru the teachings of Jesus

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And which teachings would these be?

Yes of course

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Can you provide Scriptural evidence that man seeks and chooses God?

Pax Christi,

ChiRho

ChiRho said:

Can you provide Scriptural evidence that man seeks and chooses God?

Pax Christi,

ChiRho

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For he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
(Hebrews 11:6)


Choose you this day who you will serve … as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15)

Slave2SinNoMore said:

For he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
(Hebrews 11:6)


Choose you this day who you will serve … as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15)

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Here are some more......ask, seek, knock, come, and BELIEVE!!
http://www.christianforums.com/showthread.php?p=2163724&postcount=5

Slave2SinNoMore said:

For he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
(Hebrews 11:6)


Choose you this day who you will serve … as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15)

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Are these in contradiction to Romans 3? Does the lost sheep actually find the Shepherd? Does this not put man's entire salvation on man? In his ability to choose God?

Pax Christi,

ChiRho

ChiRho said:

Are these in contradiction to Romans 3? Does the lost sheep actually find the Shepherd? Does this not put man's entire salvation on man? In his ability to choose God?

Pax Christi,

ChiRho

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You tell me what you think. You asked for scriptures in which man chooses God or in which man seeks God. I gave you one of each.

Slave2SinNoMore said:

For he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
(Hebrews 11:6)


Choose you this day who you will serve … as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15)

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We go to God only by what Christ gives us, not on our own. We are still poor miserable sinners, but in God's eyes we are righteous because of the grace given by Christ on the Cross