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Answer
The concept of the “age of accountability” suggests that children are not held accountable by God for their sins until they reach a certain age. If a child dies before reaching the “age of accountability,” it is believed that by the grace and mercy of God, that child will be granted entrance to heaven. Is this concept biblical? Does an “age of innocence” truly exist?
Often overlooked in discussions about the age of accountability is the reality that children, no matter how young, are not “innocent” in the sense of being sinless. The Bible teaches us that even if an infant or child has not personally sinned, all individuals, including infants and children, bear guilt before God due to inherited and imputed sin. Inherited sin is passed down from our parents. In Psalm 51:5, David wrote, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” David acknowledged his sinful nature even from conception. The unfortunate truth that infants sometimes pass away illustrates that they too are affected by Adam’s sin, as both physical and spiritual death resulted from Adam’s original sin.
Every person, whether an infant or an adult, stands guilty before God; each has offended God’s holiness. The only way for God to be just and simultaneously declare a person righteous is if that individual has received forgiveness through faith in Christ. Christ is the sole path. Jesus stated in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.” Additionally, Peter affirms in Acts 4:12, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
What about babies and young children?Children who never achieve the ability to make the personal choice to believe in Jesus? Some argue that those who pass away before reaching the age of intellectual or moral accountability are “automatically” saved by God’s grace in Christ. The rationale is that if someone is genuinely incapable of deciding for or against Christ, then that individual is granted God’s mercy. Charles Spurgeon supported this perspective: “I am glad to know that the souls of all infants, as soon as they die, hasten their way to Paradise. Consider what a multitude there is of them!” (C. H. Spurgeon’s Autobiography, Vol. 1, ch. XVI, “A Defence of Calvinism,” Passmore and Alabaster, 1897, p. 175).
The Bible does not directly discuss an age of accountability. One verse that might indirectly address the issue is Romans 1:20, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” According to this, humanity’s guilt before God is partly based on rejecting what can be “clearly seen” of God’s existence, eternality, and power. So, what about children who lack the ability to “clearly see” or reason about God—wouldn’t their natural incapacity to observe and reason exempt them from judgment?
The age of 13 is commonly proposed as the age of accountability, influenced by the Jewish tradition that a child becomes an adult at 13. Nevertheless, the Bible does not endorse 13 as a fixed age of accountability. The age at which a child can differentiate between right and wrong and becomes capable of choosing Christ likely varies from child to child.
Considering the above, also contemplate this: Christ’s death is depicted as adequate for all of humanity. 1 John 2:2 states that Jesus is “the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” This verse clearly indicates that Jesus’ death was a satisfactory payment for all sins, not just the sins of.Those who come to Him in faith. The fact that Christ’s death was sufficient for all sin would allow at least the possibility of God’s applying that payment to those who were never capable of believing.
Some see a link between the age of accountability and the covenant relationship between the nation of Israel and the Lord. In that dispensation, a male child was brought into the covenant through circumcision, which was totally out of his control, being performed on the eighth day after birth. No other requirement was imposed on him (Exodus 12:48-50; Leviticus 12:3).
The passage cited most often in support of an age of accountability is 2 Samuel 12:21–23. The context is that King David committed adultery with Bathsheba, resulting in a pregnancy. The prophet Nathan was sent by the Lord to inform David that, because of his sin, the Lord would take the child in death. David responded by grieving and praying for the child. But once the child was taken, David’s mourning ended. David’s servants were surprised to hear this. They said to King David, “What is this thing that you have done? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” David’s response was, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows, the Lord may be gracious to me, that the child may live.’ But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” David’s words might indicate that infants who die are safe in the Lord. David could have simply been referring to the fact that his child was in the grave, but he seemed to be comforted by the knowledge. The peace he felt suggests that he believed he would see his baby son again (in heaven).
In conclusion, it is possible that God applies Christ’s payment for sin to young children and others incapable of faith.Faith, but the Bible does not specifically state that He does this. Therefore, this is a topic about which we should not be overly certain. God’s extension of grace to those who cannot believe would appear to be in line with His character. It is our belief that God applies Christ’s atonement for sin to infants and individuals with mental disabilities, as they are unable to comprehend their sinful condition and their need for the Savior. Once again, we cannot be overly certain. What we do know for sure is that God is loving, holy, merciful, just, and gracious. Everything God does is always righteous and good, and He has a special love for children “But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”, (Matthew 19:14).
