The Age of Accountability. . . When Childlike Faith Become Saving Faith?

Q: At what age do you think a child is old enough to understand that they are a sinner and what it means to accept Christ into their heart as Lord and Savior?

~ Melissa

In His wisdom, God did not identify a specific moment when a child becomes "responsible" for a spiritual understanding of sin and salvation through Christ. Children mature at different phases and there is no "age of accountability" identified in Scripture. It is unrealistic to use a chronological age as a marker for spiritual understanding and maturity. Here's what the Bible tells us about the spiritual state of all human beings:

"Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward and speak lies"
~ Psalm 58:3

A six-year old who lies to his mother is just as guilty of breaking God's law as a thirty-five year old who commits adultery. But does the six-year old understand that he is breaking God's law?

Probably not.

Does he understand his depravity before God?

Probably not.

What if the child has already invited Jesus into his/her heart?

The child may have childlike faith, but without a full understanding of his depravity as a sinner before God, he does not have saving faith.

So . . . a four-year old smashing his brother over the head with a toy block is not aware of his unrepentant heart -- or God's righteous judgment -- or justification by faith. But how about a six-year old? An eight-year old? . . . A ten-year old?

The Jews had identified the age of twelve. It was during a Jewish boy's twelfth year that he was prepared for his induction as a full member of the religious community which took place when he turned thirteen.

This is significant. This is the also age when Jesus was taken by His parents to Jerusalem for Passover and later found deeply engrossed in discussion the "doctors" (KJV).

The Greek word for "doctors" is didaskalos, and refers to scripture scholars.

Do you see a wonderful illustration here? Jesus was asking profound questions at this point in his childhood. Questions that would not have come from a four-year old. This then seems to be an age when these kinds of questions begin to be personal in the heart of a child.

Somewhere around the age of twelve, a transition from childhood to adulthood begins to take place. It's not totally dissociated from puberty, where one becomes aware of impulses, feelings, drives, desires . . . and therefore sinful attitudes and passions.

Remember: This age of accountability is not based upon any direct teaching from the Bible.

This time of early- to mid-adolescence does not correspond to a particular age for every child due to differences in personal and psychological maturation AND environment. (Could be age 10. Could be age 16.) When a child is old enough to understand the moral consequences of his or her actions, then he/she is capable of obeying the moral laws of God and can be held accountable for sins. And it is at this point, that a child is capable of understanding and accepting the plan of Salvation.

Salvation is not a "feel-good" experience where we are simply filled with "God's Love."
Salvation is an experience of genuine repentance.
Salvation is not possible until we know we're lost!

It's important to remember that when a child professes faith in Jesus at any age -- regardless of their ability to fully grasp the concept of sin and redemption -- we need to encourage them in ways appropriate to their age and developmental stage.

"Train up a child in the way he should go. . . "
~ Proverbs 22:6

The idea of an "age of accountability" should never undermine our duty as Christian parents to lead our children to Christ because God's Word is clear on this: We cannot save our children. We are all guilty through Adam. Even children . . .

"Just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all have sinned."

~ Romans 5:12

Children, like adults, are accountable for their sins. This is why Paul says that by nature we are all "children of wrath." (Ephesians 2:3) In the case of our children, we trust God for their salvation and are at the same time called to exercise our duty to raise them in the knowledge and fear of the Lord so that when they do reach an age of understanding their child-like faith can become saving faith.

When children do profess faith in Jesus -- in ways appropriate to their age and developmental stage -- we should rejoice while continuing on with our duty:

"Train up a child in the way he should go. . . "
~ Proverbs 22:6

And as they grow, Christian parents need to continue to encourage a child's understanding of salvation.

God inspired John to write these words:

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."
~ III John 4

"Sanctify them through the truth: thy word is truth."
~ John 17:17

And the Apostle Paul writes this:

"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
~ Romans 10:17

In other words, our children need vital exposure to the Word of God. In his second letter to Timothy (who was probably a teenager at the time of his salvation), Paul wrote,

". . . from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
~ II Timothy 3:14-17

Note Paul's words: ". . . Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation."

See, simply reading or hearing God's Word will not save us. Salvation requires an awareness of our depravity and a mature understanding of sin, righteousness and judgment before Almighty God.

It is possible that the deeper a child's immersion in Scripture in his early years, the easier the salvation experience will be. . . .

"How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your Word.
I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."
~ Psalm 119:9-11

~ Esthermay Bentley-Goossen
©2009 The Heart of a Pastor's Wife

For the entire plan of salvation:
Kids Need HIM
Teenagers Need HIM
Twenty-Somethings Need HIM
Women Need HIM
Men Need HIM

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