There exists among many denominations today a way of salvation known as the “Age of Accountability”. The “Age of Accountability” teaches that all who die, before having achieved the ability to know the difference between right and wrong, are eternally saved automatically by God’s grace and mercy. This encompasses infants, the lives killed in abortions, the mentally challenged, and profoundly handicapped. These groups are determined to be exempted from the standard teaching that one must believe to obtain their eternal home in heaven. Simply put anyone that is deemed unable to fully understand the results of his actions is covered under the “Age of Accountability” exemption.
Theoretically, this group is not held accountable by God, because of their lack of ability to recognize sin. But God said, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God“, and He sets forth no limitations or boundaries with this statement. The “Age of Accountability” presupposes that sin must first be recognized as sin before it is actually accountable.
Now let me backup for a moment and take a closer look at some of the statements made to define the “Age of Accountability”.
A way of salvation
A way of salvation is set forth by this teaching that is contrary to the normal teachings found among the very denominations which profess this exemption. Normally, they will profess that any person that fails to believe will spend eternity in hell. They will adamantly proclaim that this is not a works-based salvation and that believing is not a work of righteousness. But if we examine these two opposing paths of salvation closely, we find that the way of salvation for those grouped under the “Age of Accountability” is true grace, unearned, undeserved, unmerited, unwarranted, and is without any regard for what the person does or does not do. Salvation by faith on the other hand, requires the person to make a decision, to become a different person, to trust and believe in God, whom he has never seen, and to set himself apart from the rest of the world, living his life as a servant of righteousness. These denominations will also proclaim that belief is but a mere thought, and no works are required, to obtain a heavenly home. But then they will stand in the halls of the church and speak of those who professed to believe (by mere thought), but have not returned to church since their profession, of how they were never truly saved, as evidenced by their failure to bear the fruits of righteousness. So I ask, as I have so many times before, how is salvation by faith not a works based salvation? How can a grace (freely given) based salvation require that certain conditions be met before it can be obtained?
The answer is easily found when God’s word is rightly divided. Salvation is first by grace, freely given to those who God chose without prejudice. Given to every one of His elect, bequeathed to them as an inheritance at regeneration when they are adopted as children, securing them an eternal home in heaven. This resolves any issue concerning those under the “Age of Accountability” blanket above, as well as those who were in distant lands, such as the yet undiscovered continents of the America’s, Australia, etc… not only during the time of Christ, but since the beginning of the world. Yes, this also encompasses the Gentiles of the Old Testament when God dwelled only with the children of Israel. Though they were without God, and knew not God, they were eternally saved by grace (freely). For all these, Christ was the atonement for their sins, accomplishing what no man was able to do for himself because of sin. And now, having been born again, or rather born of God, and washed by the water of regeneration, the regenerate person can obtain salvation by faith. But obtaining salvation by works is uniquely different from salvation by grace. As I described above, we are bequeathed the inheritance of salvation by grace which is reserved for us in heaven. In other words, it is ours and we will take possession of it when we arrive in heaven, guaranteed. But it does us little good in heaven, while we are still living here in this evil world. Thankfully, God has provided a way for us to take possession of an earnest of this eternal inheritance to give us strength when we are weak and deliver us from the evils of this world. The promise which God made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, reveals the requirements which must be met. God said, “If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them… I will set my tabernacle among you“. When we convert to a life of righteousness we are born of the Spirit. Christ and the Father make there abode within us. And as long as we remain obedient, they remain within us. Furthermore, God said, “But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find [him], if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, [even] in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the LORD thy God [is] a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them“. This is having faith in God; this is our salvation here in this world. If we will believe in Him, placing our trust in Him, living righteously, we will be rewarded for our obedience.
Accountability (Condemnation and Life Everlasting)
Accountability is proclaimed by this teaching, but who is accountable for our sins? Is each individual accountable for his sins? Examine carefully the following quotes from Romans chapter 5: “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned; for the judgment was by one to condemnation; For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners. According to God’s word, it is Adam who is held accountable for the sins of every individual. By a single transgression, he alone demonstrated that no person would be capable of a sinless life. By Adams single transgression all mankind was condemned without any regard for what any individual would or would not do.
Therefore, a person cannot do ANYTHING to bring condemnation upon himself, “for the judgment [was] by one to condemnation“. No human being is held accountable for the condemnation which Adam caused.
Let’s examine carefully another passage also from Romans chapter 5 which will hopefully shed more light. “For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression“. Even before Moses brought the law to the children of Israel, sin existed. Have you ever heard the saying “Ignorance of the law is no excuse”? The people of the world committed transgressions against God, even before they knew what the law was. But despite these transgressions, they were not held accountable for them, because of their ignorance. In other words, these transgressions were forgiven. But now let us take a look at yet another factor that existed during this time period. “Nevertheless“, Paul says, despite their ignorance, despite the fact that those transgressions were forgiven, “death reigned“. This death, “the condemnation” still existed with all its power, even over those who had not sinned in the like manner of Adam.
This passage nullifies the very foundation of ignorance upon which the “Age of Accountability” theory is built. Ignorance of sin is not an escape from the death of condemnation. Even if a person is ignorant of sin, death reigns.
Now imagine, if a person who is ignorant of sin cannot escape death “by the offence of one [judgment came] upon all men to condemnation” then how could it be conceivable that anyone else could? Paul reveals how the death is removed when he states “But not as the offence, so also [is] the free gift“. In other words, just like the offense occurred, so also is the free gift given, except with opposite results. Just as “the judgment [was] by one to condemnation” so also was the judgment by one to life everlasting. Just as Adam’s transgression was the basis for judgment passed upon all mankind to condemnation, so also was the righteousness of Jesus Christ the basis for judgment to life everlasting for the elect of God. It only took one transgression by Adam to demonstrate that no human being, what-so-ever, could ever have life everlasting by his own means. Jesus Christ was provided as the free gift to be the means for those chosen of God. This is the “free gift“. This is salvation by grace apart from works, undeserved, unmerited, unwarranted.
Accountability (Spiritual Death and Spiritual Life)
Despite the facts given above, stating that mankind is not accountable for his condemnation, there is an accountability that exists for the adopted “regenerate” children of God.
In Romans chapter 6, Paul asks, “How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?” In other words, when a person is washed by the water of regeneration, he becomes dead to sin; he is freed from its bondage. How could a person choose to live any longer under the control of sin, once he has been freed from it? Paul continues by stating, “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin“. When a person is born again, the old man “natural man” is loosed from complete dominance over the person. The person, being enabled for the first time, ought to subdue the old man and not live under its control any longer. The image that comes to mind is that of a prisoner in a dungeon, with his hands and legs bound by chains and shackles. Regeneration is the removal of the chains and shackles, yet the person is still within the confines of the dungeon. Paul teaches that if the person is born again, the shackles and chains have been removed; the person should get up and get out of the dungeon. While the person remains in the dungeon, he is still living as one who has not been freed. The person continues to live as a servant of sin, despite the freedom given him. Paul asks, “How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” This is the very essence of the gospel message. It is the proclamation of the grace of God and the atoning work of Jesus Christ.
The only one who can free us from the shackles is God – “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him” and all that God delivers to Christ will be delivered, and not a one will be cast away, no matter how great the sin – “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me”.
Returning to Paul’s teaching from Romans 6, and the question at hand, “How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein“, let us look to Paul’s teaching concerning what we should do. Paul continues with the following statement, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life“. In other words, we are buried in death after the likeness of Christ, by the “washing of regeneration“. In the like manner that Christ was raised up from death, we also should be raised up from this death in which we are – which is the result of regeneration – to life and walk in the newness thereof. How then shall a person who is dead to sin – having been born again – live any longer in sin? Again, as I described above, he should get up and get out of the dungeon, having been freed from the shackles. In the words of Paul, “Awake to righteousness, and sin not” and “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead“.
To believe in Christ is more than a mere thought or conscientiousness. To believe is to trust in the good news that Christ made atonement for the sins of all the elect of God on the cross “and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins“. To believe means to place your trust and confidence in this fact, and receive the reward of the Holy Spirit, for your righteousness “In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise“. To believe means to “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength“. To believe means to be enlightened, and taste of the heavenly gift, and be partaker of the Holy Ghost, and not fall away.
Conclusion
The doctrine of an “Age of Accountability” cannot be a doctrine of truth because the scriptures reveal but only one way of salvation for ALL of God’s children, and that is through the death of Christ. His death was the atonement for every one of his people. Each and every one of them will see life everlasting in heaven above, for God the Father DID Predestinate all His chosen to be conformed to the image of His Son. This inheritance of salvation and life is by grace, unwarranted, undeserved, unmerited, unearned, and bestowed without any regard for what a person does or fails to do. This inheritance is reserved in heaven, incorruptible, for each of the chosen of God. The fact that a person fails to believe, or is incapable of believing, does not negate the election of God “For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith[fullness] of God without effect?” The regenerate person, who does not believe, will simply never experience the glory of God in this present world. The regenerate person who does not believe will never know the presence of the Holy Spirit in this life. Typically, the child of God that does not believe would be chastened, but as shown, “sin is not imputed when there is no law“. Therefore, those who are ignorant of sin would be forgiven. But even if they were aware of their sins, repentance does not free a person from the condemnation of death which was by the judgment of one man – Adam. Only one man – Jesus Christ – is able to atone for the penalty of this judgment, and that was finished at the moment of His death.
Is everyone that would typically fall under the blanket of this false doctrine included as the chosen of God? I cannot answer that question, for the chosen of God cannot be judged based upon outward appearance or actions. However, I can say with certainty, that the chosen of God (by grace) are great in number; the obedient of God (by works) are few, for this truth is declared by the prophets, “Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved“.
