The Age of Accountability

The Bible does not clearly specify what the age of accountability is. That age is the age in which a person
can clearly understand that they are a sinner in need of a Savior and that the person sees themselves as
unworthy to enter into eternal life. What baby can know that they are in a sinful state and that they are
separated from God by their sins? How can they know the fact that they must place their faith and trust
in Jesus Christ Who alone can save them? A baby, infant, young child and even someone who has a
severe mental handicap can not possibly discover that they have broken the holy Law of God and must
be born again – regenerated – into a new creature in Christ. How can they realize that they can receive
forgiveness until they know they need it (1 John 1:9)? Clearly they can not.

In the Old Testament, when through the hardness of the hearts of the nation Israel, they could not enter
into the Promised Land, God did not hold these people’s children accountable because they were too
young to understand. Listen to what God says about these children in Deuteronomy 1:39, “And the little
ones that you said would be taken captive, your children who do not yet know good from bad—they will
enter the land. I will give it to them and they will take possession of it.”

In one of the greatest prophecies of Jesus Christ in Isaiah 7:14-16 the prophet records this about Jesus:
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and
shall call his name Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and
choose the good. For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose
two kings you dread will be deserted.” Here, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, God has Isaiah
record the fact that “before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good” shows positive
proof that the boy – in fact any boy or girl – can not know at a young age about choosing to refuse good
or evil.

Where Do Babies Go if They Die?

Since we see from Scripture that young children, babies, infants, and toddlers are not held accountable
for their being born into sin, where do they go if they die at a young age? Is there any precedence from
the Bible where we see an example of one so young dying and where they will be at? Yes! David and
Bathsheba had a baby that was conceived in adultery. The baby dies but the baby was innocent of their
parent’s sins, particularly David’s. What did David say after his and Bathsheba’s baby died? David
seemed to know with certainty where the baby would go because he said in 2 Samuel 12:23 that “now
that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not
return to me.” Because the child could not return to David, he said that “I will go to him.” Since we
know that David’s throne is to be established forever in the Kingdom of Heaven, David must be thinking
ahead to that Kingdom and realize that he will see this child again someday. Psalm 132:11 says, “The
LORD has sworn to David, A truth from which He will not turn back; ‘Of the fruit of your body I will set
upon your throne.” Furthermore, David has been prophesied to reign in the future Kingdom, “to they
will serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them” (Jer 30:9). Here is an
actual reference to King David being resurrected and since he will be resurrected and he will “go to him”
(the deceased child) in this Kingdom, we know that this baby will live again in the Kingdom and is not
doomed to an eternal torment in hell.

There appears to be a special dispensation of God’s grace and mercy for those who die young and
before the age of being held responsible for their salvation (an accountability). Since God knows even
the unborn, we can see that even aborted fetuses or the still born will also be in this Kingdom. Jeremiah
wrote, “I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart, I appointed you as
a prophet to the nations” (Jer 1:5). David understood this well as the Psalms declare, “You created my
inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and
wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes
saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book” (Psalm 139:13-16).
Here is evidence that God sees us as a human being before birth, that He knows us even as we are
“woven together” in our mother’s womb, and that even prior to our being formed (unformed body), He
considered us a viable human being. This seems to support the prohibition of abortion which is the
taking of a human life. To have an abortion would be seen as murder in God’s eyes.

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Matthew 18:1-5, 10-14

"See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in
heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.
What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has
gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in
search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he
rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it
is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones
should perish."

Matthew 11:25-30
At that time Jesus declared, "I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and
revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will. All
things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son
except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone
to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in
heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my
burden is light.

Mark
This selection from the Book of Mark is Chapter 10, verses 13-16.

And they were bringing children to him, that he might touch them; and the
disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it he was indignant, and said to
them, "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs
the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the
kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." And he took them in his arms
and blessed them, laying his hands upon them.

Deut 1:39