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At what age do people start sinning?

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Dave Slayer

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Many Christians believe that babies don't sin and they may not. But at what age to people start sinning? Does the Bible teach a specific age of accountability? Babies may not sin but they will eventually, but at what age?
 
The Bible doesn't teach a specific age of accountability as in a numerical year, but rather as being able to understand. I believe the best passage that deals with an age of accountability is Romans 7:7-11:

7What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, "YOU SHALL NOT COVET." 8But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. 9I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died; 10and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; 11for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.

Paul states here that he was alive apart from the Law. But once he learned the Law and had understanding of what God's standard was in regards to coveting, he became a covetous person and then (spiritual) death came. This would be the so called "age of accountability", this time when a child who was innocent because of ignorance of the Law, gains a fuller understanding of God's Law and then deliberately chooses to ignore the Law and enter into sinful desires and actions.

In Paul's case, because he was raised a Jew, he probably learned the Law at an earlier age. Earlier, in Romans 1, Paul talks about those who come to know God, not through the Law, but through His invisible attributes in creation. Again, the language that Paul uses is "For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him...". In this passage Paul is speaking not only of Jews, but of "the Greek" which can be translated everyone who wasn't a Jew. And Paul speaks of everyone having "known" God, but then having rebelled against Him and God then gave them over to their passions.

All children, no matter from what nation or tribe, start off having that full child-like faith in God. (I know, atheists are bound to disagree with me on this, but I'll stand by my assertion here.) Then as time goes by, the rebellious nature begins to take over. Children of those who know and love God will still rebel, especially once God's holy standards are taught to them, but nonetheless have the advantage of knowing those standards and knowing their need for God at a much earlier age. Sin will come, but the solution to sin also comes. Children who will never hear of God in their lives, will still carry with them that lifelong conviction that there is a morality which, even if they don't understand its source, is something that they must live up to. They won't and will be just as subject to God's judgments as those who do know God.

At what age does a child step from innocence into rebellion? No set time, just when they can gain an understanding of the difference between what they should do and why and then deliberately choose not to.
 
I don't think babies sin. I can think of 2 bible references to back up my belief. The one quoted above, and John 9 v 41: Jesus said, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains."
 
In order to sin, do you have to be conscious of sinning? Do you not think that militant Muslims are sinning when they kill innocent people, even though they think they are serving God in doing so?

Isn't sin tantamount to self-service? Is there anyone more self-serving than an "innocent" baby? Are we not all born with an innate tendency to sin?
 
relientk65 said:
are we born into sin????? :shrug
Hi, Todd! :wave
In as much as we are man, created from dust and propagated by the command to be fruitful and multiply, certainly. In as much as we are born of the Spirit, certainly not. There are two Adams, yes?
 
relientk65 said:
are we born into sin????? :shrug

born in sin? ....our nature is evil from birth, but while we are not condemned because of our nature, we do have the result of death.

Rom 5:13 for until the law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the likeness of Adam's transgression, who is a figure of him that was to come.ASV
 
This reminds me of one of our Sunday Bible Study teachers in our church's college group. He swore that the official, undeniable age of accountability was on your 13th birthday. He got really mad at me when I asked him why we didn't just kill every kid on earth a week before their 13th birthday to ensure that everyone made it into Heaven :biggrin
 
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We are born in sin

! Corinthians 7:14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.


turnorburn


:twocents
 
As I see it, we do not inherit sin from our ancestors Adam and Eve, but we do inherit a sinful nature, that is with a disposition to sin.
 
Dave Slayer said:
Many Christians believe that babies don't sin and they may not. But at what age to people start sinning? Does the Bible teach a specific age of accountability? Babies may not sin but they will eventually, but at what age?

We sin from the beginning of life.
 
minnesota said:
Dave Slayer said:
But at what age to people start sinning?
I don't know. I haven't started sinning, yet.

Yes you have. All have fell short of the glory of God. :yes

If you are sinless, then you could be the perfect sacrifice for sin. :biggrin
 
Personally, I think its when they experience their first guilt pangs, or remorse at what they have done, I think this can vary a fair bit, depending on the level of wrongdoing, just My opinion.

Children tell some wonderful made up stories, which are their imaginations working overtime, the time for those stories to become fibs, is when they start to go pink when you give them "the look". :lol
 
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