While all humans have been adversely affected by sin (Gen. 3:16-19; Rom. 5:12), the guilt of sin is not hereditary. Otherwise, if the Calvinistic doctrine of total depravity were true, Jesus Christ, a biological descendent of Adam (Luke 3:23-38), would have inherited the guilt of Adam’s sin through his maternal ancestors. But Jesus was without sin (Heb. 4:15; 1 Pet. 2:22; 1 John 3:5). “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself” (Ezek. 18:20).1
In Mark 10:13-16 Jesus responds to his disciples having rebuked certain ones for bringing young children to be blessed by him: “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them, for of such is the kingdom of God. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a child, by no means will enter into it.” How can children be inherently depraved if the Lord regards them as characteristic of the divine kingdom and holds them up as examples of trust, humility, eagerness to learn, receptivity, innocence, and spiritual purity?2 His followers are to emulate these qualities, while discerning the difference between childlikeness and childishness. “Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature” (1 Cor. 14:20; cf. 3:1-2; 13:11).
Maturity and Accountability
Deuteronomy 1:39 speaks of little ones and children, “who today have no knowledge of good or evil …” In Isaiah 7:15-16 a clear distinction is made between a son who “knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good,” and the period “before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.”3 In Romans 9:11, alluding to a prophecy concerning Jacob and Esau, Paul speaks of a time “before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad …”
Mental-capacity distinctions were understood as the Law was publicly read to “both men and women and all who could understand” (Neh. 8:2-3); accountability applied to “all who have knowledge and understanding” (Neh. 10:28). After Jesus healed a man blind from birth, the Jewish authorities questioned the man’s parents, who responded, “Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself” (John 9:18-23).
Ezekiel 28:12-19 figuratively portrays the king of Tyre’s environment of wealth, privilege, and security at the beginning of his life, while he was still in his innocence. The king is then reminded that this state of perfection or innocence lasted until “iniquity was found in you” (v. 15).4 In similar vein, Solomon declares, “See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes” (Eccl. 7:29).
Accountable persons, rationally capable of recognizing and choosing good or evil, become sinners when they succumb to temptation and violate the divine will. Sin is committed by cognizant participants, not inherited by passive victims. “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death” (Jas. 1:14-15). “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4).
The Age of Accountability?
In Numbers 14:26-31, those held accountable for complaining against the Lord were 20 years of age and older, separate from the “little ones.” Beyond the infancy of Jesus, the biblical record affirms, “the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him” (Luke 2:40). Next, “he was twelve years old …” (v. 42), followed by further maturation, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man” (v. 52).
The Bible does not provide a blanket rule about a specific age at which every person enters the realm of accountability, presumably because people mature at different rates and some never advance beyond an infantile mental capacity. For any two youths who have reached a certain age, it is possible for one to be accountable and the other not, depending on cognitive development and the ability to perceive, evaluate, learn, and obey. An accountable person is able to understand and make responsible decisions.
Conclusion
There is no need for innocent children to be spiritually saved if they are not spiritually lost. They are not separated from God because of sin, so forgiveness and reconciliation are unnecessary. The gospel message is designed for sinners, intellectually capable of hearing with understanding, believing, confessing, and freely submitting to baptism for the forgiveness of sins, thereby added to the Lord’s church for continued learning, growing, serving, and faithfulness (Acts 2:37-47; 8:4-39; 14:22; 22:16). Accountability is not determined by a specific age but by an individual’s prospective culpability and amenability.
--Kevin L. Moore
Endnotes:
1 Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are from the ESV. See K. L. Moore, “Are Humans Totally Depraved from Birth?,” Moore Perspective (1 July 2015), <Link>.
2 Cf. Matt. 18:1-5; 19:13-14; Mark 9:33-37; Luke 18:15-17.
3 See K. L. Moore, “Isaiah 7:14,” Moore Perspective (2 Dec. 2015), <Link>.
4 See K. L. Moore, “You Were Perfect in Your Ways,” Moore Perspective (23 July 2020), <Link>.
Related Posts: Train Up a Child, Spiritual Development in the Family
Related articles: Dave Miller, The Age of Accountability, Psalm 22:9
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