Age of accountability

[Classik]

powerful discovery: David said, “Now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”

tnx, OZ

 

[OzSpen]

aint that the age then?

Yes, but that age will vary from child to child. It isn't always easy to know exactly when that time has arrived - from a parent's human perspective. My wife and I have 3 children and it was a process that we observed gradually when we disciplined them and gave the reasons for the discipline.

 

[OzSpen]

powerful discovery: David said, “Now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”

tnx, OZ

My pleasure! It was an eye-opener for me also when I discovered it many years ago.

 

[Jim Parker]

Jim,

Those are 3 excellent verses from Isa 7:14-16 (NIV). I've never seen it before as clearly as these verses present it. Thank you so much for presenting this great insight.
Accountability is an age when children are able to discern right from wrong and choose one of these.

As you appreciate, this will very from child to child and from mental state to mental state.

To address some of these issues a few years ago, as they applied to the death of children in the womb and after birth, I wrote this article that is on my homepage,
Children and heaven.

May the Lord help us to be sensitive in this area, especially for those who are grieving the loss of children.

Oz

Thanks. I've saved portions of your article.

Good stuff.

jim

 

[smaller]

As far as I'm concerned every child who passes goes to heaven. There is no reason to see otherwise.

No one is accountable to make themselves sinless even with an age of accountability.

In addition, we know from Paul that the flesh is contrary to the Spirit. Gal. 5:17. And that would be the flesh of every person, from fetus to elders. No amount of "responsibility" or "accountability" is able to change the reality of sin indwelling the flesh in/of anyone.

Matthew 19:14
But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

 

[smaller]

IF you have ever ever dealt with parents of teenagers who have committed suicide, (I HAVE, many times) the last thing I'd even think to tell them is that said child is not only dead, but now burning alive in hell. That is just flat out sick on the part of christians (???!!!) who do so. Sick.

I know many who do this however, in hope of scaring the parents into their particular cults.

And even mainline orthodoxy of some forms is wishy washy on the subject.

I swear christians can be the meanest most ill hearted incompassionate people on the planet.

Have some faith in the Love of God in Christ.

 

[OzSpen]

IF you have ever ever dealt with parents of teenagers who have committed suicide, (I HAVE, many times) the last thing I'd even think to tell them is that said child is not only dead, but now burning alive in hell. That is just flat out sick on the part of christians (???!!!) who do so. Sick.

I know many who do this however, in hope of scaring the parents into their particular cults.

And even mainline orthodoxy of some forms is wishy washy on the subject.

I swear christians can be the meanest most ill hearted incompassionate people on the planet.

Have some faith in the Love of God in Christ.

At what point does a child stop being a child and move to being an adult?

 

[smaller]

At what point does a child stop being a child and move to being an adult?

There is no scriptural age of accountability that I'm aware of if that's what yer askin.

Recalling (from memory, so sketchy ;) ) that of the people who came out of Egypt, all over the age of 20 except 2 died in the desert because of unbelief. And I also think that was an account of generation spreads of mankind i.e. 20 years. Some surmise that is the accountable age, but I don't see it. It marked a generation for those under that age to not be considered in the unbelief generation who died, which was everyone over 20. All the people of Israel, collectively, are referred to children of God regardless of their age in Deut. 14:1 and Psalm 82:6 for examples.

As it pertains to believers we are children of God, moving toward adulthood of some spiritual sorts or markings, noted here by John:

1 John 2:
12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

The repetitions, orders and particular notations are interesting side studies.

 

[OzSpen]

There is no scriptural age of accountability that I'm aware of if that's what yer askin.

Recalling (from memory, so sketchy ;) ) that of the people who came out of Egypt, all over the age of 20 except 2 died in the desert because of unbelief. And I also think that was an account of generation spreads of mankind i.e. 20 years. Some surmise that is the accountable age, but I don't see it. It marked a generation for those under that age to not be considered in the unbelief generation who died, which was everyone over 20. All the people of Israel, collectively, are referred to children of God regardless of their age in Deut. 14:1 and Psalm 82:6 for examples.

As it pertains to believers we are children of God, moving toward adulthood of some spiritual sorts or markings, noted here by John:

1 John 2:
12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

The repetitions, orders and particular notations are interesting side studies.

I do wish you would do your exegesis and exposition on why children, fathers and young men were used in 1 John 2:12-14 (ESV).

The term, 'my little children', appears in 1 John 2:1. Using this kind of language occurs almost exclusively in John's writings. It is found in Paul at Gal 4:19 (ESV), but it is used 7 times in 1 John at 1 Jn 2:1 (ESV), 12, 28; 3:7; 4:4; and 5:21. If we go to John 13:33 (ESV) we find Jesus speaking of his disciples as 'little children'.

In 1 Jn 2:1 (Greek NT), the Greek teknia mou (little children my) can be translated 'my little children' or the meaning of 'my dear children' (as with Simon Kistemaker's commentary). John uses this term of affection because John is the spiritual father of those to whom he is writing. They are his offspring in the faith, so they are 'little children' in their growth stage.

However, in 1 John 2:12-14 (ESV), he is able to address others who are 'fathers' in the faith because they know God who is from the beginning (1 Jn 2:13-14 ESV) and 'young men' (1 Jn 2:13-14 ESV) who are youths spiritually in their growth. John commends them because they 'have overcome the evil one' and 'are strong, and the word of God abides in you'.

So John is addressing all believers who are in 3 different stages of growth. He is not speaking of these physical age groups.

Oz

 

[iLOVE]

The Age of Accountability as Defined by God

• Preceeding paragraphs have shown that God's Bible says children are not fully capable of distinguishing between good and evil (Deu 1.39, Isa 7.16).
• Numbers 14.29 and Deuteronomy 1.39 establish the precedent that God will NOT hold children responsible when He brings judgment for sin.
• What is a "child?" By inference from Numbers 14.29, a "child" is a person who is aged 19 or younger.
• CONCLUSION: Only those persons age 20 and older are held accountable for sin.

 

[Classik]

Coincidence!
Just some moments ago I was chatting with two of my little cousins. They were arguing over something, when something caught my attention. One said to the other, it is from six years and above. immediately i guessed it has something to do with the age of accountability. the other said, no, it is from 5 yrs and above.

the first one told me he learn t this from his pastor; and the second said the mom and granny often told them the right age is six.

So this thread encourages us to inform them to unlearn such idea? huh?

 

[reba]

God knows our hearts ... He looks on the 'inner man'