What The Bible Says

What is the Age of Accountability in the Bible?

Leave a comment
What is the Age of Accountability in the Bible

What is the Age of Accountability in the Bible? The concept of the “age of accountability” is that children are not held accountable by the Lord God for their sins until they reach a certain age and that, if a child happens to die before reaching the “age of accountability,” that child will, by the grace and mercy of the Lord God, be granted entrance into heaven. Is the age of accountability Biblical? Is there such a thing as an “age of innocence”? Does the Bible support any of these claims in any way? What are we as Christians supposed to know about these pertinent matters? Often omitted in most discussions regarding the age of accountability is the pertinent fact that children, no matter how young, are not “innocent” in the sense of being sinless. Inherited sin is that which is passed on from our parents.
The Bible explicitly tells us that, even if an infant or child has not committed a personal sin, all people, including infants and children, are guilty before God because of inherited and imputed sin.
Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,“

In Psalm 51:5, David wrote, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” Notice that David recognized the fact that even at conception he was a sinner. The sad fact that infants sometimes die demonstrates that even infants are impacted by Adam’s sin (The Fall of Man), since physical and spiritual death were the results of Adam’s original sin. Everyone, infant or adult, stands guilty before God; each person has offended the holiness of the Lord God. And as such, the only way God can be just and at the same time declare a person righteous is for that person to have received forgiveness by faith in Christ (Matthew 9:6). Behold, Christ is the only way. In John 14:6, Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” In addition, Peter states in Acts 4:12, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

What is the Age of Accountability in the Bible?

The Bible explicitly tells us that salvation comes through Jesus Christ. As such, one may ask, what about babies and young children who never attain the ability to make the personal choice to believe in Christ? Some believe that those who die before reaching the age of intellectual or moral accountability are “automatically” saved by God’s grace in Christ. The reasoning is that, if someone is truly incapable of making a decision for or against Christ, then the person in question is extended the Lord God’s mercy. Charles Spurgeon held this view: “I rejoice to know that the souls of all infants, as soon as they die, speed their way to Paradise. Think what a multitude there is of them!” (C. H. Spurgeon’s Autobiography, Vol. 1, ch. XVI, “A Defence of Calvinism,” Passmore and Alabaster, 1897, p. 175).

Brethren, the Bible does not directly address an age of accountability. And as such, we do not know at what age or at what point in one’s life God would deem them “old enough to know better.” But we can see clearly the evidence of God’s heart for children displayed in Jesus. Also, one verse that may indirectly be addressing this issue is Romans 1:20, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” According to this Scripture, mankind’s guilt before God is based partly on a rejection of what can be “clearly seen” of God’s existence, eternality, and power. So, what about children who have no mature faculty for “clear seeing” or reasoning about God – wouldn’t their natural incapacity to observe and reason excuse them from judgment?

At What Age Are We Accountable?

We’ll preface this discussion by stating that there is no definitive age explicitly written in Scripture. The ages that are commonly adopted are born out of verses that insinuate them and tradition. Most people will say that the age of accountability is at 12 or 13. Their reasoning for this is twofold. The first reason is that Jesus Christ was twelve (12) when he went to the Temple with his family at the Feast of Passover (Luke 2:41-42). While he was there, he began teaching and as such demonstrated his understanding of right and wrong. The second reason is that according to Jewish custom, at the age of 13, a male enters manhood. This is celebrated with a Bar Mitzvah. Other inquiries have led some to believe that twenty is the poignant number. At this age, males are enlisted in the Israeli army. Still, others believe that the age of accountability is when a child recognizes their own nakedness. This thought would refer to the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3. Although the Bible does not state a specific age at which we become accountable, it clearly teaches us how we can come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. When we re

Having this in mind, we should also consider that Christ’s death is presented as sufficient for all of mankind. 1 John 2:2 says Jesus is “the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” This verse is clear that Jesus’ death was sufficient payment for all sins, not only the sins of those who come to him in faith. The fact that Christ’s death was sufficient for all sin would likely allow at least the possibility of God’s applying that payment to those who were never capable of believing. Some see a link between the age of accountability and the covenant relationship between the nation of Israel and the Lord. In that dispensation, a male child was brought into the covenant through circumcision, which was totally out of his control, being performed on the eighth day after birth. No other requirement was imposed on him (Exodus 12:48–50; Leviticus 12:3).

What Happens to Children Who Never Get the Chance to Accept Christ?

Some Christians believe that children who are taken at an early age go straight to heaven while others believe God judges them. The passage cited most often in support of an age of accountability is 2 Samuel 12:21–23. The context is that King David committed adultery with Bathsheba, with a resulting pregnancy. The prophet Nathan was sent by the Lord to inform David that, because of his sin, the child born to him will die. David responded by grieving and praying for the child. But once the child was taken, David’s mourning ended. David’s servants were surprised to hear this. They said to kind David, “What is this thing that you have done? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” David’s response was, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows, the Lord may be gracious to me, that the child may live.’ But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” Notice that David’s words might indicate that infants who die are safe in the Lord. David could have simply been referring to the fact that his child was in the grave, but he seemed to be comforted by the knowledge. The peace he felt suggests that he believed he would see his son again (probably in heaven).

In Matthew 19:26, Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Conclusively, it is possible that the Lord God applies Christ’s payment for sin to young children and others incapable of faith, but the Bible does not specifically say that He does this. Therefore, this is a subject about which we should not be dogmatic. Behold, God’s extending grace to children who do not get the chance to accept Christ whether through death or physical and mental disabilities would seem consistent with His character. As such, we are more likely to support the position that God does apply Christ’s payment for sin to babies and those who are mentally handicapped since they are incapable of understanding their sinful state and their need for the Savior. Again, we cannot be dogmatic. What we are certain of is the fact that the Lord God is loving, merciful, holy, just, and gracious. As such, whatever the Lord God does is good and right, and He loves children. In Matthew 19:14, Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Matthew 21:15-16 says, But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”
Matthew 18:3-5 says, And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
Matthew 18:10 says, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven”

What is the Age of Accountability in the Bible?

James 4:17 – “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”

Romans 7:9 – “For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.”

Deuteronomy 1:39 – “And as for your little ones, who you said would become a prey, and your children, who today have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall go in there. And to them I will give it, and they shall possess it.”

Matthew 19:14 – But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

Isaiah 7:16 – “For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted.“

Romans 14:12 – “So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.“

Proverbs 20:11 – “Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.“

Matthew 18:3 – And said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Ezekiel 18:20 – “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.“

Group 1 – What is the Age of Accountability in the Bible

Psalm 51:5 – “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.“

2 Samuel 12:23 – “But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

Psalm 58:3 – “The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies.”

1 Corinthians 7:14 – “For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.“

Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,“

Luke 2:42-46 – “And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.“

Group 2 – What is the Age of Accountability in the Bible

Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.“

Romans 7:9-11 – “I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.“

2 Samuel 12:22-23 – He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

Exodus 30:14 – “Everyone who is numbered in the census, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the Lord’s offering.“

Numbers 14:28-30 – “Say to them, ‘As I live, declares the Lord, what you have said in my hearing I will do to you: your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me, not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.“

Group 3 – What is the Age of Accountability in the Bible

Romans 7:9 – “I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died.“

1 John 2:2 – “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.“

2 Samuel 12:21-23 – Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.“

Numbers 14:29 – “Your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me,“

Matthew 18:10 – “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.“

Romans 2:12 – “For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.“

Group 4 – What is the Age of Accountability in the Bible

Luke 1:15 – “For he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.“

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 – “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. …“

Mark 10:14 – But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.

John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.“

Romans 5:12-14 – “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.“

Group 5 – What is the Age of Accountability in the Bible

Ephesians 2:3 – “Among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”

Romans 7:7 – “What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”

James 5:16 – “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.“

Proverbs 27:17 – “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.“

Psalm 51:1-19 – “To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. …“

Group 6 – What is the Age of Accountability in the Bible

John 3:3 – Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Romans 8:7 – “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.”

Romans 5:8 – “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 7:2 – “For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage.”

Romans 9:15 – For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

Romans 10:14 – “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?“

John 3:16-17 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.“

Group 7 – What is the Age of Accountability in the Bible

Romans 7:10 – “The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me.“

Revelation 1:1-20 – “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood …“

John 9:41 – Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.”

Isaiah 3:1-26 – “For behold, the Lord God of hosts is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and supply, all support of bread, and all support of water; the mighty man and the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder, the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor and the skillful magician and the expert in charms. And I will make boys their princes, and infants shall rule over them. And the people will oppress one another, every one his fellow and every one his neighbor; the youth will be insolent to the elder, and the despised to the honorable. …“

Group 8 – What is the Age of Accountability in the Bible

Luke 2:41-42 – “Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom.”

Revelation 21:27 – “But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

Psalm 51:4 – “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.”

Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

Genesis 18:25 – “Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?”

Revelation 20:12 – “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.”

Ephesians 2:2 – “In which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—“

Group 9 – What is the Age of Accountability in the Bible

Matthew 18:4 – “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.“

Romans 9:2 – “That I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.“

Romans 7:11 – “For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.”

Isaiah 3:2 – “The mighty man and the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder,“

Ephesians 1:5 – “He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,“

Ephesians 6:4 – “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

Ephesians 1:4 – “Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love“

Ezekiel 18:1-32 – “The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? As I live, declares the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die. “If a man is righteous and does what is just and right— …“

Group 10 – What is the Age of Accountability in the Bible

1 Thessalonians 4:2 – “For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.”

Romans 5:2 – “Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.“

Romans 1:19-20 – “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.“

Romans 7:4 – “Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.“

John 3:2 – This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

2 Samuel 12:13-23 – “David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.” Then Nathan went to his house. And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and he became sick. David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. …“

Group 11 – What is the Age of Accountability in the Bible

John 1:9 – “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.“

John 1:9 – “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.“

Colossians 3:1-25 – “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. …“

Psalm 51:2 – “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!“

2 Samuel 12:22 – He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’

Jonah 4:11 – “And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”

Luke 1:3 – “It seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,”

Group 12 – What is the Age of Accountability in the Bible

Romans 9:5 – “To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.”

Matthew 20:8-16 – “And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ …“

Romans 7:5 – “For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.“

1 Kings 14:1-31 – “At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick. And Jeroboam said to his wife, “Arise, and disguise yourself, that it not be known that you are the wife of Jeroboam, and go to Shiloh. Behold, Ahijah the prophet is there, who said of me that I should be king over this people. Take with you ten loaves, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what shall happen to the child.” Jeroboam’s wife did so. She arose and went to Shiloh and came to the house of Ahijah. Now Ahijah could not see, for his eyes were dim because of his age. And the Lord said to Ahijah, “Behold, the wife of Jeroboam is coming to inquire of you concerning her son, for he is sick. Thus and thus shall you say to her.” When she came, she pretended to be another woman. …“

Group 13 – What is the Age of Accountability in the Bible

Genesis 1:5 – “God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.”

Mark 10:5 – And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.

Romans 1:20 – “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”

Matthew 16:1-28 – “And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” …“

Romans 7:5 – “For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.”

Romans 9:5 – “To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.“

Acts 14:17 – “Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”

Romans 5:12 – “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—“

Also Read
Bible Verses

Bible Verses About the Age of Understanding

Leave a comment
Bible Verses About the Age of Understanding

Discover Bible Verses About the Age of Understanding. The concept of the “age of accountability” is that children are not held accountable by the Lord God for their sins until they reach a certain age and that, if a child happens to die before reaching the “age of accountability,” that child will, by the grace and mercy of the Lord God, be granted entrance into heaven. Is the age of accountability Biblical? Is there such a thing as an “age of innocence”? Does the Bible support any of these claims in any way? What are we as Christians supposed to know about these pertinent matters? Often omitted in most discussions regarding the age of accountability is the pertinent fact that children, no matter how young, are not “innocent” in the sense of being sinless. Inherited sin is that which is passed on from our parents.
The Bible explicitly tells us that, even if an infant or child has not committed a personal sin, all people, including infants and children, are guilty before God because of inherited and imputed sin.
Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,“

In Psalm 51:5, David wrote, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” Notice that David recognized the fact that even at conception he was a sinner. The sad fact that infants sometimes die demonstrates that even infants are impacted by Adam’s sin (The Fall of Man), since physical and spiritual death were the results of Adam’s original sin. Everyone, infant or adult, stands guilty before God; each person has offended the holiness of the Lord God. And as such, the only way God can be just and at the same time declare a person righteous is for that person to have received forgiveness by faith in Christ (Matthew 9:6). Behold, Christ is the only way. In John 14:6, Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” In addition, Peter states in Acts 4:12, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Bible Verses About the Age of Understanding

The Bible explicitly tells us that salvation comes through Jesus Christ. As such, one may ask, what about babies and young children who never attain the ability to make the personal choice to believe in Christ? Some believe that those who die before reaching the age of intellectual or moral accountability are “automatically” saved by God’s grace in Christ. The reasoning is that, if someone is truly incapable of making a decision for or against Christ, then the person in question is extended the Lord God’s mercy. Charles Spurgeon held this view: “I rejoice to know that the souls of all infants, as soon as they die, speed their way to Paradise. Think what a multitude there is of them!” (C. H. Spurgeon’s Autobiography, Vol. 1, ch. XVI, “A Defence of Calvinism,” Passmore and Alabaster, 1897, p. 175).

Brethren, the Bible does not directly address an age of accountability. And as such, we do not know at what age or at what point in one’s life God would deem them “old enough to know better.” But we can see clearly the evidence of God’s heart for children displayed in Jesus. Also, one verse that may indirectly be addressing this issue is Romans 1:20, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” According to this Scripture, mankind’s guilt before God is based partly on a rejection of what can be “clearly seen” of God’s existence, eternality, and power. So, what about children who have no mature faculty for “clear seeing” or reasoning about God – wouldn’t their natural incapacity to observe and reason excuse them from judgment?

At What Age Are We Accountable?

We’ll preface this discussion by stating that there is no definitive age explicitly written in Scripture. The ages that are commonly adopted are born out of verses that insinuate them and tradition. Most people will say that the age of accountability is at 12 or 13. Their reasoning for this is twofold. The first reason is that Jesus Christ was twelve (12) when he went to the Temple with his family at the Feast of Passover (Luke 2:41-42). While he was there, he began teaching and as such demonstrated his understanding of right and wrong. The second reason is that according to Jewish custom, at the age of 13, a male enters manhood. This is celebrated with a Bar Mitzvah. Other inquiries have led some to believe that twenty is the poignant number. At this age, males are enlisted in the Israeli army. Still, others believe that the age of accountability is when a child recognizes their own nakedness. This thought would refer to the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3. Although the Bible does not state a specific age at which we become accountable, it clearly teaches us how we can come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. When we re

Having this in mind, we should also consider that Christ’s death is presented as sufficient for all of mankind. 1 John 2:2 says Jesus is “the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” This verse is clear that Jesus’ death was sufficient payment for all sins, not only the sins of those who come to him in faith. The fact that Christ’s death was sufficient for all sin would likely allow at least the possibility of God’s applying that payment to those who were never capable of believing. Some see a link between the age of accountability and the covenant relationship between the nation of Israel and the Lord. In that dispensation, a male child was brought into the covenant through circumcision, which was totally out of his control, being performed on the eighth day after birth. No other requirement was imposed on him (Exodus 12:48–50; Leviticus 12:3).

What Happens to Children Who Never Get the Chance to Accept Christ?

Some Christians believe that children who are taken at an early age go straight to heaven while others believe God judges them. The passage cited most often in support of an age of accountability is 2 Samuel 12:21–23. The context is that King David committed adultery with Bathsheba, with a resulting pregnancy. The prophet Nathan was sent by the Lord to inform David that, because of his sin, the child born to him will die. David responded by grieving and praying for the child. But once the child was taken, David’s mourning ended. David’s servants were surprised to hear this. They said to kind David, “What is this thing that you have done? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” David’s response was, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows, the Lord may be gracious to me, that the child may live.’ But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” Notice that David’s words might indicate that infants who die are safe in the Lord. David could have simply been referring to the fact that his child was in the grave, but he seemed to be comforted by the knowledge. The peace he felt suggests that he believed he would see his son again (probably in heaven).

In Matthew 19:26, Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Conclusively, it is possible that the Lord God applies Christ’s payment for sin to young children and others incapable of faith, but the Bible does not specifically say that He does this. Therefore, this is a subject about which we should not be dogmatic. Behold, God’s extending grace to children who do not get the chance to accept Christ whether through death or physical and mental disabilities would seem consistent with His character. As such, we are more likely to support the position that God does apply Christ’s payment for sin to babies and those who are mentally handicapped since they are incapable of understanding their sinful state and their need for the Savior. Again, we cannot be dogmatic. What we are certain of is the fact that the Lord God is loving, merciful, holy, just, and gracious. As such, whatever the Lord God does is good and right, and He loves children. In Matthew 19:14, Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Matthew 21:15-16 says, But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”
Matthew 18:3-5 says, And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
Matthew 18:10 says, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven”

Bible Verses About the Age of Understanding

James 4:17 – “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”

Romans 7:9 – “For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.”

Deuteronomy 1:39 – “And as for your little ones, who you said would become a prey, and your children, who today have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall go in there. And to them I will give it, and they shall possess it.”

Matthew 19:14 – But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

Isaiah 7:16 – “For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted.“

Romans 14:12 – “So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.“

Proverbs 20:11 – “Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.“

Matthew 18:3 – And said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Ezekiel 18:20 – “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.“

Group 1 – Bible Verses About the Age of Understanding

Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,“

Luke 2:42-46 – “And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.“

Psalm 51:5 – “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.“

2 Samuel 12:23 – “But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

Psalm 58:3 – “The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies.”

1 Corinthians 7:14 – “For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.“

Group 2 – Bible Verses About the Age of Understanding

Exodus 30:14 – “Everyone who is numbered in the census, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the Lord’s offering.“

Numbers 14:28-30 – “Say to them, ‘As I live, declares the Lord, what you have said in my hearing I will do to you: your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me, not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.“

Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.“

Romans 7:9-11 – “I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.“

2 Samuel 12:22-23 – He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

Group 3 – Bible Verses About the Age of Understanding

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.“

Numbers 14:29 – “Your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me,“

Matthew 18:10 – “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.“

Romans 2:12 – “For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.“

Romans 7:9 – “I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died.“

1 John 2:2 – “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.“

2 Samuel 12:21-23 – Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

Group 4 – Bible Verses About the Age of Understanding

Mark 10:14 – But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.

John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.“

Romans 5:12-14 – “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.“

Luke 1:15 – “For he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.“

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 – “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. …“

Group 5 – Bible Verses About the Age of Understanding

Proverbs 27:17 – “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.“

Psalm 51:1-19 – “To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. …“

Ephesians 2:3 – “Among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”

Romans 7:7 – “What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”

James 5:16 – “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.“

Group 6 – Bible Verses About the Age of Understanding

John 3:3 – Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Romans 8:7 – “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.”

Romans 5:8 – “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 7:2 – “For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage.”

Romans 9:15 – For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

Romans 10:14 – “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?“

John 3:16-17 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.“

Group 7 – Bible Verses About the Age of Understanding

John 9:41 – Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.”

Isaiah 3:1-26 – “For behold, the Lord God of hosts is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and supply, all support of bread, and all support of water; the mighty man and the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder, the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor and the skillful magician and the expert in charms. And I will make boys their princes, and infants shall rule over them. And the people will oppress one another, every one his fellow and every one his neighbor; the youth will be insolent to the elder, and the despised to the honorable. …“

Romans 7:10 – “The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me.“

Revelation 1:1-20 – “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood …“

Group 8 – Bible Verses About the Age of Understanding

Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

Genesis 18:25 – “Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?”

Revelation 20:12 – “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.”

Ephesians 2:2 – “In which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—“

Luke 2:41-42 – “Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom.”

Revelation 21:27 – “But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

Psalm 51:4 – “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.”

Group 9 – Bible Verses About the Age of Understanding

Matthew 18:4 – “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.“

Romans 9:2 – “That I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.“

Romans 7:11 – “For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.”

Isaiah 3:2 – “The mighty man and the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder,“

Ephesians 1:5 – “He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,“

Ephesians 6:4 – “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

Ephesians 1:4 – “Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love“

Ezekiel 18:1-32 – “The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? As I live, declares the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die. “If a man is righteous and does what is just and right— …“

Group 10 – Bible Verses About the Age of Understanding

John 3:2 – This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

2 Samuel 12:13-23 – “David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.” Then Nathan went to his house. And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and he became sick. David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. …“

1 Thessalonians 4:2 – “For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.”

Romans 5:2 – “Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.“

Romans 1:19-20 – “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.“

Romans 7:4 – “Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.“

Group 11 – Bible Verses About the Age of Understanding

Psalm 51:2 – “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!“

2 Samuel 12:22 – He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’

Jonah 4:11 – “And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”

Luke 1:3 – “It seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,”

John 1:9 – “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.“

John 1:9 – “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.“

Colossians 3:1-25 – “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. …“

Group 12 – Bible Verses About the Age of Understanding

Romans 9:5 – “To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.”

Matthew 20:8-16 – “And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ …“

Romans 7:5 – “For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.“

1 Kings 14:1-31 – “At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick. And Jeroboam said to his wife, “Arise, and disguise yourself, that it not be known that you are the wife of Jeroboam, and go to Shiloh. Behold, Ahijah the prophet is there, who said of me that I should be king over this people. Take with you ten loaves, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what shall happen to the child.” Jeroboam’s wife did so. She arose and went to Shiloh and came to the house of Ahijah. Now Ahijah could not see, for his eyes were dim because of his age. And the Lord said to Ahijah, “Behold, the wife of Jeroboam is coming to inquire of you concerning her son, for he is sick. Thus and thus shall you say to her.” When she came, she pretended to be another woman. …“

Group 13 – Bible Verses About the Age of Understanding

Genesis 1:5 – “God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.”

Mark 10:5 – And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.

Romans 1:20 – “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”

Matthew 16:1-28 – “And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” …“

Romans 7:5 – “For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.”

Romans 9:5 – “To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.“

Acts 14:17 – “Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”

Romans 5:12 – “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—“

Also Read
What The Bible Says

What Does the Bible Say About the Age of Understanding?

Leave a comment
What Does the Bible Say About the Age of Understanding

What Does the Bible Say About the Age of Understanding? The concept of the “age of accountability” is that children are not held accountable by the Lord God for their sins until they reach a certain age and that, if a child happens to die before reaching the “age of accountability,” that child will, by the grace and mercy of the Lord God, be granted entrance into heaven. Is the age of accountability Biblical? Is there such a thing as an “age of innocence”? Does the Bible support any of these claims in any way? What are we as Christians supposed to know about these pertinent matters? Often omitted in most discussions regarding the age of accountability is the pertinent fact that children, no matter how young, are not “innocent” in the sense of being sinless. Inherited sin is that which is passed on from our parents.
The Bible explicitly tells us that, even if an infant or child has not committed a personal sin, all people, including infants and children, are guilty before God because of inherited and imputed sin.
Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,“

In Psalm 51:5, David wrote, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” Notice that David recognized the fact that even at conception he was a sinner. The sad fact that infants sometimes die demonstrates that even infants are impacted by Adam’s sin (The Fall of Man), since physical and spiritual death were the results of Adam’s original sin. Everyone, infant or adult, stands guilty before God; each person has offended the holiness of the Lord God. And as such, the only way God can be just and at the same time declare a person righteous is for that person to have received forgiveness by faith in Christ (Matthew 9:6). Behold, Christ is the only way. In John 14:6, Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” In addition, Peter states in Acts 4:12, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

What Does the Bible Say About the Age of Understanding?

The Bible explicitly tells us that salvation comes through Jesus Christ. As such, one may ask, what about babies and young children who never attain the ability to make the personal choice to believe in Christ? Some believe that those who die before reaching the age of intellectual or moral accountability are “automatically” saved by God’s grace in Christ. The reasoning is that, if someone is truly incapable of making a decision for or against Christ, then the person in question is extended the Lord God’s mercy. Charles Spurgeon held this view: “I rejoice to know that the souls of all infants, as soon as they die, speed their way to Paradise. Think what a multitude there is of them!” (C. H. Spurgeon’s Autobiography, Vol. 1, ch. XVI, “A Defence of Calvinism,” Passmore and Alabaster, 1897, p. 175).

Brethren, the Bible does not directly address an age of accountability. And as such, we do not know at what age or at what point in one’s life God would deem them “old enough to know better.” But we can see clearly the evidence of God’s heart for children displayed in Jesus. Also, one verse that may indirectly be addressing this issue is Romans 1:20, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” According to this Scripture, mankind’s guilt before God is based partly on a rejection of what can be “clearly seen” of God’s existence, eternality, and power. So, what about children who have no mature faculty for “clear seeing” or reasoning about God – wouldn’t their natural incapacity to observe and reason excuse them from judgment?

At What Age Are We Accountable?

We’ll preface this discussion by stating that there is no definitive age explicitly written in Scripture. The ages that are commonly adopted are born out of verses that insinuate them and tradition. Most people will say that the age of accountability is at 12 or 13. Their reasoning for this is twofold. The first reason is that Jesus Christ was twelve (12) when he went to the Temple with his family at the Feast of Passover (Luke 2:41-42). While he was there, he began teaching and as such demonstrated his understanding of right and wrong. The second reason is that according to Jewish custom, at the age of 13, a male enters manhood. This is celebrated with a Bar Mitzvah. Other inquiries have led some to believe that twenty is the poignant number. At this age, males are enlisted in the Israeli army. Still, others believe that the age of accountability is when a child recognizes their own nakedness. This thought would refer to the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3. Although the Bible does not state a specific age at which we become accountable, it clearly teaches us how we can come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. When we re

Having this in mind, we should also consider that Christ’s death is presented as sufficient for all of mankind. 1 John 2:2 says Jesus is “the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” This verse is clear that Jesus’ death was sufficient payment for all sins, not only the sins of those who come to him in faith. The fact that Christ’s death was sufficient for all sin would likely allow at least the possibility of God’s applying that payment to those who were never capable of believing. Some see a link between the age of accountability and the covenant relationship between the nation of Israel and the Lord. In that dispensation, a male child was brought into the covenant through circumcision, which was totally out of his control, being performed on the eighth day after birth. No other requirement was imposed on him (Exodus 12:48–50; Leviticus 12:3).

What Happens to Children Who Never Get the Chance to Accept Christ?

Some Christians believe that children who are taken at an early age go straight to heaven while others believe God judges them. The passage cited most often in support of an age of accountability is 2 Samuel 12:21–23. The context is that King David committed adultery with Bathsheba, with a resulting pregnancy. The prophet Nathan was sent by the Lord to inform David that, because of his sin, the child born to him will die. David responded by grieving and praying for the child. But once the child was taken, David’s mourning ended. David’s servants were surprised to hear this. They said to kind David, “What is this thing that you have done? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” David’s response was, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows, the Lord may be gracious to me, that the child may live.’ But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” Notice that David’s words might indicate that infants who die are safe in the Lord. David could have simply been referring to the fact that his child was in the grave, but he seemed to be comforted by the knowledge. The peace he felt suggests that he believed he would see his son again (probably in heaven).

In Matthew 19:26, Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Conclusively, it is possible that the Lord God applies Christ’s payment for sin to young children and others incapable of faith, but the Bible does not specifically say that He does this. Therefore, this is a subject about which we should not be dogmatic. Behold, God’s extending grace to children who do not get the chance to accept Christ whether through death or physical and mental disabilities would seem consistent with His character. As such, we are more likely to support the position that God does apply Christ’s payment for sin to babies and those who are mentally handicapped since they are incapable of understanding their sinful state and their need for the Savior. Again, we cannot be dogmatic. What we are certain of is the fact that the Lord God is loving, merciful, holy, just, and gracious. As such, whatever the Lord God does is good and right, and He loves children. In Matthew 19:14, Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Matthew 21:15-16 says, But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”
Matthew 18:3-5 says, And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
Matthew 18:10 says, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven”

What Does the Bible Say About the Age of Understanding?

James 4:17 – “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”

Romans 7:9 – “For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.”

Deuteronomy 1:39 – “And as for your little ones, who you said would become a prey, and your children, who today have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall go in there. And to them I will give it, and they shall possess it.”

Matthew 19:14 – But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

Isaiah 7:16 – “For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted.“

Romans 14:12 – “So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.“

Proverbs 20:11 – “Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.“

Matthew 18:3 – And said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Ezekiel 18:20 – “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.“

Group 1 – What Does the Bible Say About the Age of Understanding

Psalm 51:5 – “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.“

2 Samuel 12:23 – “But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

Psalm 58:3 – “The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies.”

1 Corinthians 7:14 – “For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.“

Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,“

Luke 2:42-46 – “And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.“

Group 2 – What Does the Bible Say About the Age of Understanding

Exodus 30:14 – “Everyone who is numbered in the census, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the Lord’s offering.“

Numbers 14:28-30 – “Say to them, ‘As I live, declares the Lord, what you have said in my hearing I will do to you: your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me, not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.“

Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.“

Romans 7:9-11 – “I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.“

2 Samuel 12:22-23 – He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

Group 3 – What Does the Bible Say About the Age of Understanding

Romans 7:9 – “I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died.“

1 John 2:2 – “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.“

2 Samuel 12:21-23 – Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.“

Numbers 14:29 – “Your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me,“

Matthew 18:10 – “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.“

Romans 2:12 – “For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.“

Group 4 – What Does the Bible Say About the Age of Understanding

Mark 10:14 – But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.

John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.“

Romans 5:12-14 – “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.“

Luke 1:15 – “For he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.“

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 – “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. …“

Group 5 – What Does the Bible Say About the Age of Understanding

Ephesians 2:3 – “Among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”

Romans 7:7 – “What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”

James 5:16 – “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.“

Proverbs 27:17 – “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.“

Psalm 51:1-19 – “To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. …“

Group 6 – What Does the Bible Say About the Age of Understanding

John 3:3 – Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Romans 8:7 – “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.”

Romans 5:8 – “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 7:2 – “For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage.”

Romans 9:15 – For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

Romans 10:14 – “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?“

John 3:16-17 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.“

Group 7 – What Does the Bible Say About the Age of Understanding

John 9:41 – Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.”

Isaiah 3:1-26 – “For behold, the Lord God of hosts is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and supply, all support of bread, and all support of water; the mighty man and the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder, the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor and the skillful magician and the expert in charms. And I will make boys their princes, and infants shall rule over them. And the people will oppress one another, every one his fellow and every one his neighbor; the youth will be insolent to the elder, and the despised to the honorable. …“

Romans 7:10 – “The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me.“

Revelation 1:1-20 – “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood …“

Group 8 – What Does the Bible Say About the Age of Understanding

Luke 2:41-42 – “Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom.”

Revelation 21:27 – “But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

Psalm 51:4 – “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.”

Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

Genesis 18:25 – “Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?”

Revelation 20:12 – “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.”

Ephesians 2:2 – “In which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—“

Group 9 – What Does the Bible Say About the Age of Understanding

Matthew 18:4 – “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.“

Romans 9:2 – “That I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.“

Romans 7:11 – “For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.”

Isaiah 3:2 – “The mighty man and the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder,“

Ephesians 1:5 – “He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,“

Ephesians 6:4 – “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

Ephesians 1:4 – “Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love“

Ezekiel 18:1-32 – “The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? As I live, declares the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die. “If a man is righteous and does what is just and right— …“

Group 10 – What Does the Bible Say About the Age of Understanding

John 3:2 – This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

2 Samuel 12:13-23 – “David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.” Then Nathan went to his house. And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and he became sick. David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. …“

1 Thessalonians 4:2 – “For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.”

Romans 5:2 – “Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.“

Romans 1:19-20 – “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.“

Romans 7:4 – “Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.“

Group 11 – What Does the Bible Say About the Age of Understanding

John 1:9 – “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.“

John 1:9 – “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.“

Colossians 3:1-25 – “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. …“

Psalm 51:2 – “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!“

2 Samuel 12:22 – He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’

Jonah 4:11 – “And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”

Luke 1:3 – “It seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,”

Group 12 – What Does the Bible Say About the Age of Understanding

Romans 9:5 – “To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.”

Matthew 20:8-16 – “And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ …“

Romans 7:5 – “For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.“

1 Kings 14:1-31 – “At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick. And Jeroboam said to his wife, “Arise, and disguise yourself, that it not be known that you are the wife of Jeroboam, and go to Shiloh. Behold, Ahijah the prophet is there, who said of me that I should be king over this people. Take with you ten loaves, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what shall happen to the child.” Jeroboam’s wife did so. She arose and went to Shiloh and came to the house of Ahijah. Now Ahijah could not see, for his eyes were dim because of his age. And the Lord said to Ahijah, “Behold, the wife of Jeroboam is coming to inquire of you concerning her son, for he is sick. Thus and thus shall you say to her.” When she came, she pretended to be another woman. …“

Group 13 – What Does the Bible Say About the Age of Understanding

Romans 7:5 – “For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.”

Romans 9:5 – “To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.“

Acts 14:17 – “Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”

Romans 5:12 – “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—“

Genesis 1:5 – “God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.”

Mark 10:5 – And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.

Romans 1:20 – “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”

Matthew 16:1-28 – “And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” …“

Also Read
What The Bible Says

At What Age Are Children Responsible For Their Own Sins?

Leave a comment
At What Age Are Children Responsible For Their Own Sins

At What Age Are Children Responsible For Their Own Sins? The concept of the “age of accountability” is that children are not held accountable by the Lord God for their sins until they reach a certain age and that, if a child happens to die before reaching the “age of accountability,” that child will, by the grace and mercy of the Lord God, be granted entrance into heaven. Is the age of accountability Biblical? Is there such a thing as an “age of innocence”? Does the Bible support any of these claims in any way? What are we as Christians supposed to know about these pertinent matters? Often omitted in most discussions regarding the age of accountability is the pertinent fact that children, no matter how young, are not “innocent” in the sense of being sinless. Inherited sin is that which is passed on from our parents.
The Bible explicitly tells us that, even if an infant or child has not committed a personal sin, all people, including infants and children, are guilty before God because of inherited and imputed sin.
Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,“

In Psalm 51:5, David wrote, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” Notice that David recognized the fact that even at conception he was a sinner. The sad fact that infants sometimes die demonstrates that even infants are impacted by Adam’s sin (The Fall of Man), since physical and spiritual death were the results of Adam’s original sin. Everyone, infant or adult, stands guilty before God; each person has offended the holiness of the Lord God. And as such, the only way God can be just and at the same time declare a person righteous is for that person to have received forgiveness by faith in Christ (Matthew 9:6). Behold, Christ is the only way. In John 14:6, Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” In addition, Peter states in Acts 4:12, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

At What Age Are Children Responsible For Their Own Sins?

The Bible explicitly tells us that salvation comes through Jesus Christ. As such, one may ask, what about babies and young children who never attain the ability to make the personal choice to believe in Christ? Some believe that those who die before reaching the age of intellectual or moral accountability are “automatically” saved by God’s grace in Christ. The reasoning is that, if someone is truly incapable of making a decision for or against Christ, then the person in question is extended the Lord God’s mercy. Charles Spurgeon held this view: “I rejoice to know that the souls of all infants, as soon as they die, speed their way to Paradise. Think what a multitude there is of them!” (C. H. Spurgeon’s Autobiography, Vol. 1, ch. XVI, “A Defence of Calvinism,” Passmore and Alabaster, 1897, p. 175).

Brethren, the Bible does not directly address an age of accountability. And as such, we do not know at what age or at what point in one’s life God would deem them “old enough to know better.” But we can see clearly the evidence of God’s heart for children displayed in Jesus. Also, one verse that may indirectly be addressing this issue is Romans 1:20, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” According to this Scripture, mankind’s guilt before God is based partly on a rejection of what can be “clearly seen” of God’s existence, eternality, and power. So, what about children who have no mature faculty for “clear seeing” or reasoning about God – wouldn’t their natural incapacity to observe and reason excuse them from judgment?

At What Age Are We Accountable?

We’ll preface this discussion by stating that there is no definitive age explicitly written in Scripture. The ages that are commonly adopted are born out of verses that insinuate them and tradition. Most people will say that the age of accountability is at 12 or 13. Their reasoning for this is twofold. The first reason is that Jesus Christ was twelve (12) when he went to the Temple with his family at the Feast of Passover (Luke 2:41-42). While he was there, he began teaching and as such demonstrated his understanding of right and wrong. The second reason is that according to Jewish custom, at the age of 13, a male enters manhood. This is celebrated with a Bar Mitzvah. Other inquiries have led some to believe that twenty is the poignant number. At this age, males are enlisted in the Israeli army. Still, others believe that the age of accountability is when a child recognizes their own nakedness. This thought would refer to the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3. Although the Bible does not state a specific age at which we become accountable, it clearly teaches us how we can come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. When we re

Having this in mind, we should also consider that Christ’s death is presented as sufficient for all of mankind. 1 John 2:2 says Jesus is “the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” This verse is clear that Jesus’ death was sufficient payment for all sins, not only the sins of those who come to him in faith. The fact that Christ’s death was sufficient for all sin would likely allow at least the possibility of God’s applying that payment to those who were never capable of believing. Some see a link between the age of accountability and the covenant relationship between the nation of Israel and the Lord. In that dispensation, a male child was brought into the covenant through circumcision, which was totally out of his control, being performed on the eighth day after birth. No other requirement was imposed on him (Exodus 12:48–50; Leviticus 12:3).

What Happens to Children Who Never Get the Chance to Accept Christ?

Some Christians believe that children who are taken at an early age go straight to heaven while others believe God judges them. The passage cited most often in support of an age of accountability is 2 Samuel 12:21–23. The context is that King David committed adultery with Bathsheba, with a resulting pregnancy. The prophet Nathan was sent by the Lord to inform David that, because of his sin, the child born to him will die. David responded by grieving and praying for the child. But once the child was taken, David’s mourning ended. David’s servants were surprised to hear this. They said to kind David, “What is this thing that you have done? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” David’s response was, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows, the Lord may be gracious to me, that the child may live.’ But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” Notice that David’s words might indicate that infants who die are safe in the Lord. David could have simply been referring to the fact that his child was in the grave, but he seemed to be comforted by the knowledge. The peace he felt suggests that he believed he would see his son again (probably in heaven).

In Matthew 19:26, Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Conclusively, it is possible that the Lord God applies Christ’s payment for sin to young children and others incapable of faith, but the Bible does not specifically say that He does this. Therefore, this is a subject about which we should not be dogmatic. Behold, God’s extending grace to children who do not get the chance to accept Christ whether through death or physical and mental disabilities would seem consistent with His character. As such, we are more likely to support the position that God does apply Christ’s payment for sin to babies and those who are mentally handicapped since they are incapable of understanding their sinful state and their need for the Savior. Again, we cannot be dogmatic. What we are certain of is the fact that the Lord God is loving, merciful, holy, just, and gracious. As such, whatever the Lord God does is good and right, and He loves children. In Matthew 19:14, Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Matthew 21:15-16 says, But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”
Matthew 18:3-5 says, And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
Matthew 18:10 says, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven”

At What Age Are Children Responsible For Their Own Sins?

James 4:17 – “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”

Deuteronomy 1:39 – “And as for your little ones, who you said would become a prey, and your children, who today have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall go in there. And to them I will give it, and they shall possess it.”

Matthew 19:14 – But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

Isaiah 7:16 – “For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted.“

Romans 14:12 – “So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.“

Proverbs 20:11 – “Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.“

Matthew 18:3 – And said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Ezekiel 18:20 – “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.“

Group 1 – At What Age Are Children Responsible For Their Own Sins

Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,“

Luke 2:42-46 – “And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.“

Psalm 51:5 – “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.“

2 Samuel 12:23 – “But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

Psalm 58:3 – “The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies.”

1 Corinthians 7:14 – “For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.“

Group 2 – At What Age Are Children Responsible For Their Own Sins

Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.“

Romans 7:9-11 – “I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.“

2 Samuel 12:22-23 – He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

Exodus 30:14 – “Everyone who is numbered in the census, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the Lord’s offering.“

Numbers 14:28-30 – “Say to them, ‘As I live, declares the Lord, what you have said in my hearing I will do to you: your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me, not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.“

Group 3 – At What Age Are Children Responsible For Their Own Sins

Romans 7:9 – “I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died.“

1 John 2:2 – “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.“

2 Samuel 12:21-23 – Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.“

Numbers 14:29 – “Your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me,“

Matthew 18:10 – “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.“

Romans 2:12 – “For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.“

Group 4 – At What Age Are Children Responsible For Their Own Sins

Mark 10:14 – But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.

John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.“

Romans 5:12-14 – “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.“

Luke 1:15 – “For he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.“

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 – “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. …“

Group 5 – At What Age Are Children Responsible For Their Own Sins

Proverbs 27:17 – “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.“

Psalm 51:1-19 – “To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. …“

Ephesians 2:3 – “Among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”

Romans 7:7 – “What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”

James 5:16 – “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.“

Group 6 – At What Age Are Children Responsible For Their Own Sins

Romans 9:15 – For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

Romans 10:14 – “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?“

John 3:16-17 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.“

John 3:3 – Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Romans 8:7 – “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.”

Romans 5:8 – “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 7:2 – “For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage.”

Group 7 – At What Age Are Children Responsible For Their Own Sins

Romans 7:10 – “The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me.“

Revelation 1:1-20 – “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood …“

John 9:41 – Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.”

Isaiah 3:1-26 – “For behold, the Lord God of hosts is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and supply, all support of bread, and all support of water; the mighty man and the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder, the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor and the skillful magician and the expert in charms. And I will make boys their princes, and infants shall rule over them. And the people will oppress one another, every one his fellow and every one his neighbor; the youth will be insolent to the elder, and the despised to the honorable. …“

Group 8 – At What Age Are Children Responsible For Their Own Sins

Luke 2:41-42 – “Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom.”

Revelation 21:27 – “But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

Psalm 51:4 – “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.”

Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

Genesis 18:25 – “Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?”

Revelation 20:12 – “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.”

Ephesians 2:2 – “In which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—“

Group 9 – At What Age Are Children Responsible For Their Own Sins

Matthew 18:4 – “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.“

Romans 9:2 – “That I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.“

Romans 7:11 – “For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.”

Isaiah 3:2 – “The mighty man and the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder,“

Ephesians 1:5 – “He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,“

Ephesians 6:4 – “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

Ephesians 1:4 – “Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love“

Ezekiel 18:1-32 – “The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? As I live, declares the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die. “If a man is righteous and does what is just and right— …“

Group 10 – At What Age Are Children Responsible For Their Own Sins

1 Thessalonians 4:2 – “For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.”

Romans 5:2 – “Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.“

Romans 1:19-20 – “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.“

Romans 7:4 – “Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.“

John 3:2 – This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

2 Samuel 12:13-23 – “David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.” Then Nathan went to his house. And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and he became sick. David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. …“

Group 11 – At What Age Are Children Responsible For Their Own Sins

Psalm 51:2 – “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!“

2 Samuel 12:22 – He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’

Jonah 4:11 – “And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”

Luke 1:3 – “It seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,”

John 1:9 – “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.“

John 1:9 – “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.“

Colossians 3:1-25 – “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. …“

Group 12 – At What Age Are Children Responsible For Their Own Sins

Romans 9:5 – “To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.”

Matthew 20:8-16 – “And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ …“

Romans 7:5 – “For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.“

1 Kings 14:1-31 – “At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick. And Jeroboam said to his wife, “Arise, and disguise yourself, that it not be known that you are the wife of Jeroboam, and go to Shiloh. Behold, Ahijah the prophet is there, who said of me that I should be king over this people. Take with you ten loaves, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what shall happen to the child.” Jeroboam’s wife did so. She arose and went to Shiloh and came to the house of Ahijah. Now Ahijah could not see, for his eyes were dim because of his age. And the Lord said to Ahijah, “Behold, the wife of Jeroboam is coming to inquire of you concerning her son, for he is sick. Thus and thus shall you say to her.” When she came, she pretended to be another woman. …“

Group 13 – At What Age Are Children Responsible For Their Own Sins

Genesis 1:5 – “God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.”

Mark 10:5 – And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.

Romans 1:20 – “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”

Matthew 16:1-28 – “And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” …“

Romans 7:5 – “For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.”

Romans 9:5 – “To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.“

Acts 14:17 – “Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”

Romans 5:12 – “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—“

Also Read
What The Bible Says

Is the Age of Accountability a Biblical Concept of Faith?

Leave a comment
Is the Age of Accountability a Biblical Concept of Faith

Is the Age of Accountability a Biblical Concept of Faith? The concept of the “age of accountability” is that children are not held accountable by the Lord God for their sins until they reach a certain age and that, if a child happens to die before reaching the “age of accountability,” that child will, by the grace and mercy of the Lord God, be granted entrance into heaven. Is the age of accountability Biblical? Is there such a thing as an “age of innocence”? Does the Bible support any of these claims in any way? What are we as Christians supposed to know about these pertinent matters? Often omitted in most discussions regarding the age of accountability is the pertinent fact that children, no matter how young, are not “innocent” in the sense of being sinless. Inherited sin is that which is passed on from our parents.
The Bible explicitly tells us that, even if an infant or child has not committed a personal sin, all people, including infants and children, are guilty before God because of inherited and imputed sin.
Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,“

In Psalm 51:5, David wrote, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” Notice that David recognized the fact that even at conception he was a sinner. The sad fact that infants sometimes die demonstrates that even infants are impacted by Adam’s sin (The Fall of Man), since physical and spiritual death were the results of Adam’s original sin. Everyone, infant or adult, stands guilty before God; each person has offended the holiness of the Lord God. And as such, the only way God can be just and at the same time declare a person righteous is for that person to have received forgiveness by faith in Christ (Matthew 9:6). Behold, Christ is the only way. In John 14:6, Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” In addition, Peter states in Acts 4:12, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Is the Age of Accountability a Biblical Concept of Faith?

The Bible explicitly tells us that salvation comes through Jesus Christ. As such, one may ask, what about babies and young children who never attain the ability to make the personal choice to believe in Christ? Some believe that those who die before reaching the age of intellectual or moral accountability are “automatically” saved by God’s grace in Christ. The reasoning is that, if someone is truly incapable of making a decision for or against Christ, then the person in question is extended the Lord God’s mercy. Charles Spurgeon held this view: “I rejoice to know that the souls of all infants, as soon as they die, speed their way to Paradise. Think what a multitude there is of them!” (C. H. Spurgeon’s Autobiography, Vol. 1, ch. XVI, “A Defence of Calvinism,” Passmore and Alabaster, 1897, p. 175).

Brethren, the Bible does not directly address an age of accountability. And as such, we do not know at what age or at what point in one’s life God would deem them “old enough to know better.” But we can see clearly the evidence of God’s heart for children displayed in Jesus. Also, one verse that may indirectly be addressing this issue is Romans 1:20, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” According to this Scripture, mankind’s guilt before God is based partly on a rejection of what can be “clearly seen” of God’s existence, eternality, and power. So, what about children who have no mature faculty for “clear seeing” or reasoning about God – wouldn’t their natural incapacity to observe and reason excuse them from judgment?

At What Age Are We Accountable?

We’ll preface this discussion by stating that there is no definitive age explicitly written in Scripture. The ages that are commonly adopted are born out of verses that insinuate them and tradition. Most people will say that the age of accountability is at 12 or 13. Their reasoning for this is twofold. The first reason is that Jesus Christ was twelve (12) when he went to the Temple with his family at the Feast of Passover (Luke 2:41-42). While he was there, he began teaching and as such demonstrated his understanding of right and wrong. The second reason is that according to Jewish custom, at the age of 13, a male enters manhood. This is celebrated with a Bar Mitzvah. Other inquiries have led some to believe that twenty is the poignant number. At this age, males are enlisted in the Israeli army. Still, others believe that the age of accountability is when a child recognizes their own nakedness. This thought would refer to the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3. Although the Bible does not state a specific age at which we become accountable, it clearly teaches us how we can come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. When we re

Having this in mind, we should also consider that Christ’s death is presented as sufficient for all of mankind. 1 John 2:2 says Jesus is “the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” This verse is clear that Jesus’ death was sufficient payment for all sins, not only the sins of those who come to him in faith. The fact that Christ’s death was sufficient for all sin would likely allow at least the possibility of God’s applying that payment to those who were never capable of believing. Some see a link between the age of accountability and the covenant relationship between the nation of Israel and the Lord. In that dispensation, a male child was brought into the covenant through circumcision, which was totally out of his control, being performed on the eighth day after birth. No other requirement was imposed on him (Exodus 12:48–50; Leviticus 12:3).

What Happens to Children Who Never Get the Chance to Accept Christ?

Some Christians believe that children who are taken at an early age go straight to heaven while others believe God judges them. The passage cited most often in support of an age of accountability is 2 Samuel 12:21–23. The context is that King David committed adultery with Bathsheba, with a resulting pregnancy. The prophet Nathan was sent by the Lord to inform David that, because of his sin, the child born to him will die. David responded by grieving and praying for the child. But once the child was taken, David’s mourning ended. David’s servants were surprised to hear this. They said to kind David, “What is this thing that you have done? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” David’s response was, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows, the Lord may be gracious to me, that the child may live.’ But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” Notice that David’s words might indicate that infants who die are safe in the Lord. David could have simply been referring to the fact that his child was in the grave, but he seemed to be comforted by the knowledge. The peace he felt suggests that he believed he would see his son again (probably in heaven).

In Matthew 19:26, Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Conclusively, it is possible that the Lord God applies Christ’s payment for sin to young children and others incapable of faith, but the Bible does not specifically say that He does this. Therefore, this is a subject about which we should not be dogmatic. Behold, God’s extending grace to children who do not get the chance to accept Christ whether through death or physical and mental disabilities would seem consistent with His character. As such, we are more likely to support the position that God does apply Christ’s payment for sin to babies and those who are mentally handicapped since they are incapable of understanding their sinful state and their need for the Savior. Again, we cannot be dogmatic. What we are certain of is the fact that the Lord God is loving, merciful, holy, just, and gracious. As such, whatever the Lord God does is good and right, and He loves children. In Matthew 19:14, Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Matthew 21:15-16 says, But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”
Matthew 18:3-5 says, And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
Matthew 18:10 says, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven”

Is the Age of Accountability a Biblical Concept of Faith?

James 4:17 – “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”

Romans 7:9 – “For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.”

Deuteronomy 1:39 – “And as for your little ones, who you said would become a prey, and your children, who today have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall go in there. And to them I will give it, and they shall possess it.”

Matthew 19:14 – But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

Isaiah 7:16 – “For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted.“

Romans 14:12 – “So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.“

Proverbs 20:11 – “Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.“

Matthew 18:3 – And said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Ezekiel 18:20 – “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.“

Group 1 – Is the Age of Accountability a Biblical Concept of Faith

Psalm 51:5 – “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.“

2 Samuel 12:23 – “But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

Psalm 58:3 – “The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies.”

1 Corinthians 7:14 – “For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.“

Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,“

Luke 2:42-46 – “And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.“

Group 2 – Is the Age of Accountability a Biblical Concept of Faith

Exodus 30:14 – “Everyone who is numbered in the census, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the Lord’s offering.“

Numbers 14:28-30 – “Say to them, ‘As I live, declares the Lord, what you have said in my hearing I will do to you: your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me, not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.“

Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.“

Romans 7:9-11 – “I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.“

2 Samuel 12:22-23 – He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

Group 3 – Is the Age of Accountability a Biblical Concept of Faith

Romans 7:9 – “I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died.“

1 John 2:2 – “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.“

2 Samuel 12:21-23 – Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.“

Numbers 14:29 – “Your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me,“

Matthew 18:10 – “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.“

Romans 2:12 – “For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.“

Group 4 – Is the Age of Accountability a Biblical Concept of Faith

Mark 10:14 – But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.

John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.“

Romans 5:12-14 – “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.“

Luke 1:15 – “For he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.“

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 – “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. …“

Group 5 – Is the Age of Accountability a Biblical Concept of Faith

Ephesians 2:3 – “Among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”

Romans 7:7 – “What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”

James 5:16 – “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.“

Proverbs 27:17 – “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.“

Psalm 51:1-19 – “To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. …“

Group 6 – Is the Age of Accountability a Biblical Concept of Faith

John 3:3 – Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Romans 8:7 – “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.”

Romans 5:8 – “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 7:2 – “For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage.”

Romans 9:15 – For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

Romans 10:14 – “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?“

John 3:16-17 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.“

Group 7 – Is the Age of Accountability a Biblical Concept of Faith

John 9:41 – Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.”

Isaiah 3:1-26 – “For behold, the Lord God of hosts is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and supply, all support of bread, and all support of water; the mighty man and the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder, the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor and the skillful magician and the expert in charms. And I will make boys their princes, and infants shall rule over them. And the people will oppress one another, every one his fellow and every one his neighbor; the youth will be insolent to the elder, and the despised to the honorable. …“

Romans 7:10 – “The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me.“

Revelation 1:1-20 – “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood …“

Group 8 – Is the Age of Accountability a Biblical Concept of Faith

Luke 2:41-42 – “Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom.”

Revelation 21:27 – “But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

Psalm 51:4 – “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.”

Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

Genesis 18:25 – “Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?”

Revelation 20:12 – “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.”

Ephesians 2:2 – “In which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—“

Group 9 – Is the Age of Accountability a Biblical Concept of Faith

Matthew 18:4 – “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.“

Romans 9:2 – “That I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.“

Romans 7:11 – “For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.”

Isaiah 3:2 – “The mighty man and the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder,“

Ephesians 1:5 – “He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,“

Ephesians 6:4 – “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

Ephesians 1:4 – “Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love“

Ezekiel 18:1-32 – “The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? As I live, declares the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die. “If a man is righteous and does what is just and right— …“

Group 10 – Is the Age of Accountability a Biblical Concept of Faith

John 3:2 – This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

2 Samuel 12:13-23 – “David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.” Then Nathan went to his house. And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and he became sick. David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. …“

1 Thessalonians 4:2 – “For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.”

Romans 5:2 – “Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.“

Romans 1:19-20 – “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.“

Romans 7:4 – “Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.“

Group 11 – Is the Age of Accountability a Biblical Concept of Faith

John 1:9 – “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.“

John 1:9 – “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.“

Colossians 3:1-25 – “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. …“

Psalm 51:2 – “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!“

2 Samuel 12:22 – He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’

Jonah 4:11 – “And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”

Luke 1:3 – “It seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,”

Group 12 – Is the Age of Accountability a Biblical Concept of Faith

Romans 9:5 – “To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.”

Matthew 20:8-16 – “And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ …“

Romans 7:5 – “For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.“

1 Kings 14:1-31 – “At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick. And Jeroboam said to his wife, “Arise, and disguise yourself, that it not be known that you are the wife of Jeroboam, and go to Shiloh. Behold, Ahijah the prophet is there, who said of me that I should be king over this people. Take with you ten loaves, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what shall happen to the child.” Jeroboam’s wife did so. She arose and went to Shiloh and came to the house of Ahijah. Now Ahijah could not see, for his eyes were dim because of his age. And the Lord said to Ahijah, “Behold, the wife of Jeroboam is coming to inquire of you concerning her son, for he is sick. Thus and thus shall you say to her.” When she came, she pretended to be another woman. …“

Group 13 – Is the Age of Accountability a Biblical Concept of Faith

Romans 7:5 – “For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.”

Romans 9:5 – “To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.“

Acts 14:17 – “Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”

Romans 5:12 – “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—“

Genesis 1:5 – “God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.”

Mark 10:5 – And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.

Romans 1:20 – “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”

Matthew 16:1-28 – “And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” …“

Also Read
Bible Verses

Bible Verses About Age of Accountability

Leave a comment
Bible Verses About Age of Accountability

Discover Bible Verses About Age of Accountability. The concept of the “age of accountability” is that children are not held accountable by the Lord God for their sins until they reach a certain age and that, if a child happens to die before reaching the “age of accountability,” that child will, by the grace and mercy of the Lord God, be granted entrance into heaven. Is the age of accountability Biblical? Is there such a thing as an “age of innocence”? Does the Bible support any of these claims in any way? What are we as Christians supposed to know about these pertinent matters? Often omitted in most discussions regarding the age of accountability is the pertinent fact that children, no matter how young, are not “innocent” in the sense of being sinless. Inherited sin is that which is passed on from our parents.
The Bible explicitly tells us that, even if an infant or child has not committed a personal sin, all people, including infants and children, are guilty before God because of inherited and imputed sin.
Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,“

In Psalm 51:5, David wrote, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” Notice that David recognized the fact that even at conception he was a sinner. The sad fact that infants sometimes die demonstrates that even infants are impacted by Adam’s sin (The Fall of Man), since physical and spiritual death were the results of Adam’s original sin. Everyone, infant or adult, stands guilty before God; each person has offended the holiness of the Lord God. And as such, the only way God can be just and at the same time declare a person righteous is for that person to have received forgiveness by faith in Christ (Matthew 9:6). Behold, Christ is the only way. In John 14:6, Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” In addition, Peter states in Acts 4:12, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Bible Verses About Age of Accountability

The Bible explicitly tells us that salvation comes through Jesus Christ. As such, one may ask, what about babies and young children who never attain the ability to make the personal choice to believe in Christ? Some believe that those who die before reaching the age of intellectual or moral accountability are “automatically” saved by God’s grace in Christ. The reasoning is that, if someone is truly incapable of making a decision for or against Christ, then the person in question is extended the Lord God’s mercy. Charles Spurgeon held this view: “I rejoice to know that the souls of all infants, as soon as they die, speed their way to Paradise. Think what a multitude there is of them!” (C. H. Spurgeon’s Autobiography, Vol. 1, ch. XVI, “A Defence of Calvinism,” Passmore and Alabaster, 1897, p. 175).

Brethren, the Bible does not directly address an age of accountability. And as such, we do not know at what age or at what point in one’s life God would deem them “old enough to know better.” But we can see clearly the evidence of God’s heart for children displayed in Jesus. Also, one verse that may indirectly be addressing this issue is Romans 1:20, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” According to this Scripture, mankind’s guilt before God is based partly on a rejection of what can be “clearly seen” of God’s existence, eternality, and power. So, what about children who have no mature faculty for “clear seeing” or reasoning about God – wouldn’t their natural incapacity to observe and reason excuse them from judgment?

At What Age Are We Accountable?

We’ll preface this discussion by stating that there is no definitive age explicitly written in Scripture. The ages that are commonly adopted are born out of verses that insinuate them and tradition. Most people will say that the age of accountability is at 12 or 13. Their reasoning for this is twofold. The first reason is that Jesus Christ was twelve (12) when he went to the Temple with his family at the Feast of Passover (Luke 2:41-42). While he was there, he began teaching and as such demonstrated his understanding of right and wrong. The second reason is that according to Jewish custom, at the age of 13, a male enters manhood. This is celebrated with a Bar Mitzvah. Other inquiries have led some to believe that twenty is the poignant number. At this age, males are enlisted in the Israeli army. Still, others believe that the age of accountability is when a child recognizes their own nakedness. This thought would refer to the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3. Although the Bible does not state a specific age at which we become accountable, it clearly teaches us how we can come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. When we re

Having this in mind, we should also consider that Christ’s death is presented as sufficient for all of mankind. 1 John 2:2 says Jesus is “the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” This verse is clear that Jesus’ death was sufficient payment for all sins, not only the sins of those who come to him in faith. The fact that Christ’s death was sufficient for all sin would likely allow at least the possibility of God’s applying that payment to those who were never capable of believing. Some see a link between the age of accountability and the covenant relationship between the nation of Israel and the Lord. In that dispensation, a male child was brought into the covenant through circumcision, which was totally out of his control, being performed on the eighth day after birth. No other requirement was imposed on him (Exodus 12:48–50; Leviticus 12:3).

What Happens to Children Who Never Get the Chance to Accept Christ?

Some Christians believe that children who are taken at an early age go straight to heaven while others believe God judges them. The passage cited most often in support of an age of accountability is 2 Samuel 12:21–23. The context is that King David committed adultery with Bathsheba, with a resulting pregnancy. The prophet Nathan was sent by the Lord to inform David that, because of his sin, the child born to him will die. David responded by grieving and praying for the child. But once the child was taken, David’s mourning ended. David’s servants were surprised to hear this. They said to kind David, “What is this thing that you have done? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” David’s response was, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows, the Lord may be gracious to me, that the child may live.’ But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” Notice that David’s words might indicate that infants who die are safe in the Lord. David could have simply been referring to the fact that his child was in the grave, but he seemed to be comforted by the knowledge. The peace he felt suggests that he believed he would see his son again (probably in heaven).

In Matthew 19:26, Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Conclusively, it is possible that the Lord God applies Christ’s payment for sin to young children and others incapable of faith, but the Bible does not specifically say that He does this. Therefore, this is a subject about which we should not be dogmatic. Behold, God’s extending grace to children who do not get the chance to accept Christ whether through death or physical and mental disabilities would seem consistent with His character. As such, we are more likely to support the position that God does apply Christ’s payment for sin to babies and those who are mentally handicapped since they are incapable of understanding their sinful state and their need for the Savior. Again, we cannot be dogmatic. What we are certain of is the fact that the Lord God is loving, merciful, holy, just, and gracious. As such, whatever the Lord God does is good and right, and He loves children. In Matthew 19:14, Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Matthew 21:15-16 says, But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”
Matthew 18:3-5 says, And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
Matthew 18:10 says, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven”

Bible Verses About Age of Accountability

James 4:17 – “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”

Deuteronomy 1:39 – “And as for your little ones, who you said would become a prey, and your children, who today have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall go in there. And to them I will give it, and they shall possess it.”

Matthew 19:14 – But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

Isaiah 7:16 – “For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted.“

Romans 14:12 – “So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.“

Proverbs 20:11 – “Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.“

Matthew 18:3 – And said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Ezekiel 18:20 – “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.“

Group 1 – Bible Verses About Age of Accountability

Psalm 51:5 – “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.“

2 Samuel 12:23 – “But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

Psalm 58:3 – “The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies.”

1 Corinthians 7:14 – “For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.“

Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,“

Luke 2:42-46 – “And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.“

Group 2 – Bible Verses About Age of Accountability

Exodus 30:14 – “Everyone who is numbered in the census, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the Lord’s offering.“

Numbers 14:28-30 – “Say to them, ‘As I live, declares the Lord, what you have said in my hearing I will do to you: your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me, not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.“

Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.“

Romans 7:9-11 – “I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.“

2 Samuel 12:22-23 – He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

Group 3 – Bible Verses About Age of Accountability

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.“

Numbers 14:29 – “Your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me,“

Matthew 18:10 – “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.“

Romans 2:12 – “For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.“

Romans 7:9 – “I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died.“

1 John 2:2 – “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.“

2 Samuel 12:21-23 – Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

Group 4 – Bible Verses About Age of Accountability

Mark 10:14 – But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.

John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.“

Romans 5:12-14 – “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.“

Luke 1:15 – “For he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.“

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 – “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. …“

Group 5 – Bible Verses About Age of Accountability

Ephesians 2:3 – “Among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”

Romans 7:7 – “What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”

James 5:16 – “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.“

Proverbs 27:17 – “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.“

Psalm 51:1-19 – “To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. …“

Group 6 – Bible Verses About Age of Accountability

John 3:3 – Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Romans 8:7 – “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.”

Romans 5:8 – “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 7:2 – “For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage.”

Romans 9:15 – For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

Romans 10:14 – “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?“

John 3:16-17 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.“

Group 7 – Bible Verses About Age of Accountability

Romans 7:10 – “The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me.“

Revelation 1:1-20 – “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood …“

John 9:41 – Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.”

Isaiah 3:1-26 – “For behold, the Lord God of hosts is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and supply, all support of bread, and all support of water; the mighty man and the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder, the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor and the skillful magician and the expert in charms. And I will make boys their princes, and infants shall rule over them. And the people will oppress one another, every one his fellow and every one his neighbor; the youth will be insolent to the elder, and the despised to the honorable. …“

Group 8 – Bible Verses About Age of Accountability

Luke 2:41-42 – “Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom.”

Revelation 21:27 – “But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

Psalm 51:4 – “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.”

Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

Genesis 18:25 – “Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?”

Revelation 20:12 – “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.”

Ephesians 2:2 – “In which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—“

Group 9 – Bible Verses About Age of Accountability

Matthew 18:4 – “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.“

Romans 9:2 – “That I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.“

Romans 7:11 – “For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.”

Isaiah 3:2 – “The mighty man and the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder,“

Ephesians 1:5 – “He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,“

Ephesians 6:4 – “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

Ephesians 1:4 – “Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love“

Ezekiel 18:1-32 – “The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? As I live, declares the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die. “If a man is righteous and does what is just and right— …“

Group 10 – Bible Verses About Age of Accountability

1 Thessalonians 4:2 – “For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.”

Romans 5:2 – “Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.“

Romans 1:19-20 – “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.“

Romans 7:4 – “Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.“

John 3:2 – This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

2 Samuel 12:13-23 – “David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.” Then Nathan went to his house. And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and he became sick. David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. …“

Group 11 – Bible Verses About Age of Accountability

John 1:9 – “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.“

John 1:9 – “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.“

Colossians 3:1-25 – “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. …“

Psalm 51:2 – “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!“

2 Samuel 12:22 – He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’

Jonah 4:11 – “And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”

Luke 1:3 – “It seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,”

Group 12 – Bible Verses About Age of Accountability

Romans 9:5 – “To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.”

Matthew 20:8-16 – “And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ …“

Romans 7:5 – “For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.“

1 Kings 14:1-31 – “At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick. And Jeroboam said to his wife, “Arise, and disguise yourself, that it not be known that you are the wife of Jeroboam, and go to Shiloh. Behold, Ahijah the prophet is there, who said of me that I should be king over this people. Take with you ten loaves, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what shall happen to the child.” Jeroboam’s wife did so. She arose and went to Shiloh and came to the house of Ahijah. Now Ahijah could not see, for his eyes were dim because of his age. And the Lord said to Ahijah, “Behold, the wife of Jeroboam is coming to inquire of you concerning her son, for he is sick. Thus and thus shall you say to her.” When she came, she pretended to be another woman. …“

Group 13 – Bible Verses About Age of Accountability

Genesis 1:5 – “God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.”

Mark 10:5 – And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.

Romans 1:20 – “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”

Matthew 16:1-28 – “And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” …“

Romans 7:5 – “For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.”

Romans 9:5 – “To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.“

Acts 14:17 – “Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”

Romans 5:12 – “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—“

Also Read
What The Bible Says

What Does the Bible Say About Age of Accountability?

Leave a comment
What Does the Bible Say About Age of Accountability

What Does the Bible Say About Age of Accountability? The concept of the “age of accountability” is that children are not held accountable by the Lord God for their sins until they reach a certain age and that, if a child happens to die before reaching the “age of accountability,” that child will, by the grace and mercy of the Lord God, be granted entrance into heaven. Is the age of accountability Biblical? Is there such a thing as an “age of innocence”? Does the Bible support any of these claims in any way? What are we as Christians supposed to know about these pertinent matters? Often omitted in most discussions regarding the age of accountability is the pertinent fact that children, no matter how young, are not “innocent” in the sense of being sinless. Inherited sin is that which is passed on from our parents.
The Bible explicitly tells us that, even if an infant or child has not committed a personal sin, all people, including infants and children, are guilty before God because of inherited and imputed sin.
Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,“

In Psalm 51:5, David wrote, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” Notice that David recognized the fact that even at conception he was a sinner. The sad fact that infants sometimes die demonstrates that even infants are impacted by Adam’s sin (The Fall of Man), since physical and spiritual death were the results of Adam’s original sin. Everyone, infant or adult, stands guilty before God; each person has offended the holiness of the Lord God. And as such, the only way God can be just and at the same time declare a person righteous is for that person to have received forgiveness by faith in Christ (Matthew 9:6). Behold, Christ is the only way. In John 14:6, Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” In addition, Peter states in Acts 4:12, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

What Does the Bible Say About Age of Accountability?

The Bible explicitly tells us that salvation comes through Jesus Christ. As such, one may ask, what about babies and young children who never attain the ability to make the personal choice to believe in Christ? Some believe that those who die before reaching the age of intellectual or moral accountability are “automatically” saved by God’s grace in Christ. The reasoning is that, if someone is truly incapable of making a decision for or against Christ, then the person in question is extended the Lord God’s mercy. Charles Spurgeon held this view: “I rejoice to know that the souls of all infants, as soon as they die, speed their way to Paradise. Think what a multitude there is of them!” (C. H. Spurgeon’s Autobiography, Vol. 1, ch. XVI, “A Defence of Calvinism,” Passmore and Alabaster, 1897, p. 175).

Brethren, the Bible does not directly address an age of accountability. And as such, we do not know at what age or at what point in one’s life God would deem them “old enough to know better.” But we can see clearly the evidence of God’s heart for children displayed in Jesus. Also, one verse that may indirectly be addressing this issue is Romans 1:20, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” According to this Scripture, mankind’s guilt before God is based partly on a rejection of what can be “clearly seen” of God’s existence, eternality, and power. So, what about children who have no mature faculty for “clear seeing” or reasoning about God – wouldn’t their natural incapacity to observe and reason excuse them from judgment?

At What Age Are We Accountable?

We’ll preface this discussion by stating that there is no definitive age explicitly written in Scripture. The ages that are commonly adopted are born out of verses that insinuate them and tradition. Most people will say that the age of accountability is at 12 or 13. Their reasoning for this is twofold. The first reason is that Jesus Christ was twelve (12) when he went to the Temple with his family at the Feast of Passover (Luke 2:41-42). While he was there, he began teaching and as such demonstrated his understanding of right and wrong. The second reason is that according to Jewish custom, at the age of 13, a male enters manhood. This is celebrated with a Bar Mitzvah. Other inquiries have led some to believe that twenty is the poignant number. At this age, males are enlisted in the Israeli army. Still, others believe that the age of accountability is when a child recognizes their own nakedness. This thought would refer to the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3. Although the Bible does not state a specific age at which we become accountable, it clearly teaches us how we can come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. When we re

Having this in mind, we should also consider that Christ’s death is presented as sufficient for all of mankind. 1 John 2:2 says Jesus is “the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” This verse is clear that Jesus’ death was sufficient payment for all sins, not only the sins of those who come to him in faith. The fact that Christ’s death was sufficient for all sin would likely allow at least the possibility of God’s applying that payment to those who were never capable of believing. Some see a link between the age of accountability and the covenant relationship between the nation of Israel and the Lord. In that dispensation, a male child was brought into the covenant through circumcision, which was totally out of his control, being performed on the eighth day after birth. No other requirement was imposed on him (Exodus 12:48–50; Leviticus 12:3).

What Happens to Children Who Never Get the Chance to Accept Christ?

Some Christians believe that children who are taken at an early age go straight to heaven while others believe God judges them. The passage cited most often in support of an age of accountability is 2 Samuel 12:21–23. The context is that King David committed adultery with Bathsheba, with a resulting pregnancy. The prophet Nathan was sent by the Lord to inform David that, because of his sin, the child born to him will die. David responded by grieving and praying for the child. But once the child was taken, David’s mourning ended. David’s servants were surprised to hear this. They said to kind David, “What is this thing that you have done? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” David’s response was, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows, the Lord may be gracious to me, that the child may live.’ But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” Notice that David’s words might indicate that infants who die are safe in the Lord. David could have simply been referring to the fact that his child was in the grave, but he seemed to be comforted by the knowledge. The peace he felt suggests that he believed he would see his son again (probably in heaven).

In Matthew 19:26, Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Conclusively, it is possible that the Lord God applies Christ’s payment for sin to young children and others incapable of faith, but the Bible does not specifically say that He does this. Therefore, this is a subject about which we should not be dogmatic. Behold, God’s extending grace to children who do not get the chance to accept Christ whether through death or physical and mental disabilities would seem consistent with His character. As such, we are more likely to support the position that God does apply Christ’s payment for sin to babies and those who are mentally handicapped since they are incapable of understanding their sinful state and their need for the Savior. Again, we cannot be dogmatic. What we are certain of is the fact that the Lord God is loving, merciful, holy, just, and gracious. As such, whatever the Lord God does is good and right, and He loves children. In Matthew 19:14, Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Matthew 21:15-16 says, But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”
Matthew 18:3-5 says, And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
Matthew 18:10 says, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven”

What Does the Bible Say About Age of Accountability?

James 4:17 – “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”

Deuteronomy 1:39 – “And as for your little ones, who you said would become a prey, and your children, who today have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall go in there. And to them I will give it, and they shall possess it.”

Matthew 19:14 – But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

Isaiah 7:16 – “For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted.“

Romans 14:12 – “So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.“

Proverbs 20:11 – “Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.“

Matthew 18:3 – And said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Ezekiel 18:20 – “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.“

Group 1 – What Does the Bible Say About Age of Accountability

Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,“

Luke 2:42-46 – “And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.“

Psalm 51:5 – “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.“

2 Samuel 12:23 – “But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

Psalm 58:3 – “The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies.”

1 Corinthians 7:14 – “For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.“

Group 2 – What Does the Bible Say About Age of Accountability

Exodus 30:14 – “Everyone who is numbered in the census, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the Lord’s offering.“

Numbers 14:28-30 – “Say to them, ‘As I live, declares the Lord, what you have said in my hearing I will do to you: your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me, not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.“

Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.“

Romans 7:9-11 – “I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.“

2 Samuel 12:22-23 – He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

Group 3 – What Does the Bible Say About Age of Accountability

Romans 7:9 – “I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died.“

1 John 2:2 – “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.“

2 Samuel 12:21-23 – Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.“

Numbers 14:29 – “Your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me,“

Matthew 18:10 – “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.“

Romans 2:12 – “For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.“

Group 4 – What Does the Bible Say About Age of Accountability

Mark 10:14 – But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.

John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.“

Romans 5:12-14 – “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.“

Luke 1:15 – “For he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.“

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 – “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. …“

Group 5 – What Does the Bible Say About Age of Accountability

Ephesians 2:3 – “Among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”

Romans 7:7 – “What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”

James 5:16 – “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.“

Proverbs 27:17 – “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.“

Psalm 51:1-19 – “To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. …“

Group 6 – What Does the Bible Say About Age of Accountability

Romans 9:15 – For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

Romans 10:14 – “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?“

John 3:16-17 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.“

John 3:3 – Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Romans 8:7 – “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.”

Romans 5:8 – “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 7:2 – “For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage.”

Group 7 – What Does the Bible Say About Age of Accountability

Romans 7:10 – “The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me.“

Revelation 1:1-20 – “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood …“

John 9:41 – Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.”

Isaiah 3:1-26 – “For behold, the Lord God of hosts is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and supply, all support of bread, and all support of water; the mighty man and the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder, the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor and the skillful magician and the expert in charms. And I will make boys their princes, and infants shall rule over them. And the people will oppress one another, every one his fellow and every one his neighbor; the youth will be insolent to the elder, and the despised to the honorable. …“

Group 8 – What Does the Bible Say About Age of Accountability

Luke 2:41-42 – “Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom.”

Revelation 21:27 – “But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

Psalm 51:4 – “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.”

Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

Genesis 18:25 – “Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?”

Revelation 20:12 – “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.”

Ephesians 2:2 – “In which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—“

Group 9 – What Does the Bible Say About Age of Accountability

Ephesians 6:4 – “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

Ephesians 1:4 – “Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love“

Ezekiel 18:1-32 – “The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? As I live, declares the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die. “If a man is righteous and does what is just and right— …“

Matthew 18:4 – “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.“

Romans 9:2 – “That I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.“

Romans 7:11 – “For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.”

Isaiah 3:2 – “The mighty man and the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder,“

Ephesians 1:5 – “He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,“

Group 10 – What Does the Bible Say About Age of Accountability

1 Thessalonians 4:2 – “For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.”

Romans 5:2 – “Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.“

Romans 1:19-20 – “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.“

Romans 7:4 – “Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.“

John 3:2 – This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

2 Samuel 12:13-23 – “David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.” Then Nathan went to his house. And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and he became sick. David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. …“

Group 11 – What Does the Bible Say About Age of Accountability

John 1:9 – “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.“

John 1:9 – “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.“

Colossians 3:1-25 – “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. …“

Psalm 51:2 – “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!“

2 Samuel 12:22 – He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’

Jonah 4:11 – “And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”

Luke 1:3 – “It seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,”

Group 12 – What Does the Bible Say About Age of Accountability

Romans 9:5 – “To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.”

Matthew 20:8-16 – “And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ …“

Romans 7:5 – “For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.“

1 Kings 14:1-31 – “At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick. And Jeroboam said to his wife, “Arise, and disguise yourself, that it not be known that you are the wife of Jeroboam, and go to Shiloh. Behold, Ahijah the prophet is there, who said of me that I should be king over this people. Take with you ten loaves, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what shall happen to the child.” Jeroboam’s wife did so. She arose and went to Shiloh and came to the house of Ahijah. Now Ahijah could not see, for his eyes were dim because of his age. And the Lord said to Ahijah, “Behold, the wife of Jeroboam is coming to inquire of you concerning her son, for he is sick. Thus and thus shall you say to her.” When she came, she pretended to be another woman. …“

Group 13 – What Does the Bible Say About Age of Accountability

Romans 7:5 – “For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.”

Romans 9:5 – “To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.“

Acts 14:17 – “Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”

Romans 5:12 – “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—“

Genesis 1:5 – “God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.”

Mark 10:5 – And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.

Romans 1:20 – “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”

Matthew 16:1-28 – “And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” …“

Also Read
What The Bible Says

What Does the Bible Say About Adversity?

Leave a comment
What Does The Bible Say About Adversity

What Does the Bible Say About Adversity? In as much as we can live wonderful, joyous, and beautiful moments in life, we can as well encounter and live unspeakable and often unexplainable hardship, loss, and tragedy. Isaiah 43:2 says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” Notice that the Lord God did not say through prophet Isaiah “if” we go through “fire and flood;” He spoke of “when.” As such it is clear that there are moments in life when we are likely going to face adversity. However, the Lord God reassures us that even in the face of adversity He will not forsake nor abandon us. In the face of adversity, the Lord God strengthens His people for victory.

What is Adversity? Adversity refers to a difficult or unpleasant situation. It comes in many forms and to all. Matthew 5:45 says, “so that you may [show yourselves to] be the children of your Father who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on those who are evil and on those who are good, and makes the rain fall on the righteous [those who are morally upright] and the unrighteous [the unrepentant, those who oppose Him].” Sometimes, trouble in life is of our own making. The tragic aftermath of King David’s affair with Bathsheba was the result of his sin of lust. However, prior to becoming king, David was unfairly maligned and hunted by King Saul, not because of any sin on his part, but because of King Saul’s fear and insecurity. Similarly, bad things sometimes happen to good people for reasons which are beyond our understanding.

What Does the Bible Say About Adversity?

When the days of adversity come, it is easy to lose hope and feel overwhelmed or even discouraged. Amazingly, the Bible has a lot to teach us about the subject of adversity that can provide perspective and hope to those living through life’s greatest storms of hardship, loss, and tragedy. Behold, one of the greatest misconceptions about the Christian faith is that, for those who Accept Jesus Christ as their Personal Lord and Savior, their life is free from the storms of hardship, loss, tragedy, and all forms of adversity. Brethren, such is not the case. In fact, Christians are never exempt from fire and flood. However, the advantage Christians have in the face of adversity is the promise that they will never go through such alone. They have God who loves and cares for them, is for them, and is with them in and through all forms of adversity.
Deuteronomy 31:6 says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5 says, Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Isaiah 43:1-2 says, “Do not fear, for I (the Lord) have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.”
Although a person becomes a New Creation in Christ by His Divine saving grace, thereby obtaining Eternal Hope, a Christian will still encounter adversity.

What the Scriptures Say About Adversity

Christians are not exempted from sickness, maltreatment, and other forms of adversity. Behold, they also make mistakes, encounter loss, and lose friends as well as loved ones. As a matter of fact, adversity is a part of life, for the Christian as well as the non-believer. In addition, Jesus Christ explicitly warned His soon-to-be disciples of the cost of following Him. Matthew 16:24-25 says, Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. Likewise, Jesus also promised that persecution would come to those who have makeup their minds to Follow Him.
Matthew 5:10 says, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
John 15:18 says, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.“
John 16:33 says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.“

Brothers and Sisters in the Faith, Following and Serving Jesus Christ has never been for the faint of heart. Throughout the Bible, many faithful servants of the Lord God Almighty faced adversity, were rejected, persecuted, and even killed for their faith.
2 Timothy 3:12 says, “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,“
Matthew 5:44 says, “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,“
Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.“

Is God with us in the Face of Adversity?

Yes, even in the face of adversity, the Lord God is with His children. He has promised never to leave nor forsake them (Hebrews 13:5). Likewise, 1 Peter 4:12-14 says, “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” Notice that this was a reminder to Christians that, in spite of their affliction, they are never alone. Behold, the spirit of God rests upon them and will strengthen them in the midst of the different forms of adversity plaguing them.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:3-4). Thus, life is not guaranteed to be easy or pain-free. Nonetheless, the invitation from Christ still remains true: “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). The Bible teaches us that the Lord God sometimes uses adversity and hardship to grow, teach, and strengthen His children. Likewise, He often disciplines those He loves just as a good father will do to his children (Proverbs 29:15; Hebrews 12:6). There are times that discipline can come in the form of adversity.

More Biblical Facts About Adversity

James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” In other words, prophet Malachi compared God’s love to a refiner’s fire or fuller’s soap (Malachi 3:2-4). God can use the friction of a strong soap to cleanse us from anything that does not produce holiness. Likewise, He can use the fires of life to melt away our impurities and make us pure through Christ His beloved Son. Note that the Lord God is not the author of every bad thing that happens in this life. Nevertheless, Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.“

What others mean for evil, the Lord God often turns to good for those who love Him. Genesis 50:20 says, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Likewise, Jeremiah 29:11 says, For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Notice that these plans may include momentary adversity. However, the affliction of Christians is temporal (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). In the Christian race, life’s trials produce endurance (Romans 5:3-4), and endurance in Christ is what leads us to eternal life. Hebrews 10:36 says, “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”

Some Bible Characters Who Went Through Adversity

In Christ, we do not need to be afraid of adversity. Rather, we should be encouraged and inspired by the faith of men like Job who was upright and unwavering in his commitment to God despite having lost everything – his children, wealth, and eventually his health. In the face of all these adversities, Job concluded “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face” (Job 13:15). Notice that in the face of all these tremendous tragedies, Job’s hope is still in the Lord God, his maker.

The Bible also recounts the story of prophet Habakkuk, who, through difficult times, wrote, “even if the fig tree does not blossom, and there is no fruit on the vines, if the yield of the olive fails, and the fields produce no food, even if the flock disappears from the fold, and there are no cattle in the stalls, yet I will triumph in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and He has made my feet like deer’s feet, and has me walk on my high places” (Habakkuk 3:17-19).
Some other people in the Bible who went through tremendous adversities yet still had their trust in the Lord God Almighty are Moses, Esther, David, Daniel, Meshach, Shadrach, Abednego, Paul, and the other Prophets, Apostles and Servants of Jesus Christ.

What Does the Bible Say About Adversity?

Proverbs 24:10 – “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.“

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 – “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;“

1 Peter 5:10 – “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”

2 Corinthians 12:9 – But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Joshua 1:9 – “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Philippians 4:12-13 – “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.“

James 1:2-4 – “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Group 1 – What Does the Bible Say About Adversity

2 Chronicles 15:7 – “But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.”

1 Peter 5:8 – “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

Romans 8:28 – “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.“

Proverbs 3:4-6 – “So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

James 5:11 – “Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.“

Psalm 34:19 – “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”

Revelation 21:4 – “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Romans 12:2 – “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.“

Group 2 – What Does the Bible Say About Adversity

James 1:12 – “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

Proverbs 3:4-5 – “So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”

1 Peter 4:12-13 – “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.“

Proverbs 17:17 – “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.“

Isaiah 45:7 – “I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does all these things.”

2 Corinthians 1:4 – “Who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.“

Proverbs 3:4-5 – “So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”

Group 3 – What Does the Bible Say About Adversity

Romans 8:31 – “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?“

1 Peter 4:1 – “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,”

Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.“

1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.“

Isaiah 43:18 – “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.”

Romans 5:1-5 – “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

Group 4 – What Does the Bible Say About Adversity

Psalm 118:5-6 – “Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?“

Job 2:10 – But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

Hebrews 12:2 – “Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Exodus 14:14 – “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

Proverbs 15:32 – “Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.”

Ecclesiastes 10:10 – “If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed.“

James 1:13 – Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.

Isaiah 40:2 – “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.“

Group 5 – What Does the Bible Say About Adversity

1 Corinthians 15:26 – “The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”

Isaiah 30:20 – “And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher.”

Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Romans 8:38-39 – “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.“

Ephesians 3:20 – “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,“

Hebrews 10:26-31 – “For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” ...”

Group 6 – What Does the Bible Say About Adversity

Ecclesiastes 7:14 – “In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.“

Mark 11:23 – “Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.“

Romans 8:38-39 – “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Isaiah 41:10 – “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

1 Corinthians 14:33 – “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,“

Psalm 119:67 – “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.”

Revelation 1:1 – “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,“

Group 7 – What Does the Bible Say About Adversity

Hebrews 9:27 – “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,“

1 Corinthians 9:25-27 – “Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.“

Isaiah 65:8 – Thus says the Lord: “As the new wine is found in the cluster, and they say, ‘Do not destroy it, for there is a blessing in it,’ so I will do for my servants’ sake, and not destroy them all.

Colossians 1:24 – “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,“

Isaiah 35:4 – Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.”

Isaiah 58:10-11 – “If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.“

Group 8 – What Does the Bible Say About Adversity

Exodus 3:7 – Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings,

Joshua 1:5 – “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.“

Philippians 4:6-7 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.“

Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.“

Hebrews 11:1-40 – “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. …“

Group 9 – What Does the Bible Say About Adversity

Psalm 23:4 – “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.“

Hebrews 13:1-25 – “Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” …“

Isaiah 26:3 – “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.“

John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

Psalm 27:1-3 – “Of David. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.“

Group 10 – What Does the Bible Say About Adversity

James 1:2 – “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,“

Psalm 50:15 – “And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

Psalm 34:1-22 – “Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away. I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. ...”

Psalm 56:3 – “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.“

Psalm 9:9 – “The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.”

2 Corinthians 4:16-17 – “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,”

1 Peter 5:6-7 – “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.“

Group 11 – What Does the Bible Say About Adversity

2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.“

Titus 3:9-11 – “But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.”

Ecclesiastes 7:13 – “Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked?“

Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

1 Peter 5:8-9 – “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.“

John 16:33 – “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Group 12 – What Does the Bible Say About Adversity

Job 15:1-35 – “Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said: “Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind? Should he argue in unprofitable talk, or in words with which he can do no good? But you are doing away with the fear of God and hindering meditation before God. For your iniquity teaches your mouth, and you choose the tongue of the crafty. …“

Ecclesiastes 7:2-4 – “It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.”

Isaiah 1:1-31 – “The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord has spoken: “Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged. Why will you still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. …“

Group 13 – What Does the Bible Say About Adversity

Colossians 1:11-12 – “May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”

1 Peter 1:6-7 – “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Daniel 1:1-10 – “In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god. Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king’s palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. …“

Group 14 – What Does the Bible Say About Adversity

1 Peter 5:7 – “Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.“

Psalm 34:17 – “When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.”

Job 1:1-22 – “There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. …“

Psalm 55:22 – “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.“

1 Peter 1:6 – “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,“

Nehemiah 1:1-11 – “The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the capital, that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.” As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, …“

Group 15 – What Does the Bible Say About Adversity

1 Samuel 21:1-30:31 – “Then David came to Nob to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech came to meet David trembling and said to him, “Why are you alone, and no one with you?” And David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king has charged me with a matter and said to me, ‘Let no one know anything of the matter about which I send you, and with which I have charged you.’ I have made an appointment with the young men for such and such a place. Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever is here.” And the priest answered David, “I have no common bread on hand, but there is holy bread—if the young men have kept themselves from women.” And David answered the priest, “Truly women have been kept from us as always when I go on an expedition. …“

Hebrews 12:1-29 – “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. …“

Group 16 – What Does the Bible Say About Adversity

2 Corinthians 12:17 – “Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you?“

Genesis 39:20-23 – “And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.”

Psalm 25:2 – “O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me.“

Job 42:1-17 – “Then Job answered the Lord and said: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’ I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; …“

Psalm 9:9-10 – “The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.”

Group 17 – What Does the Bible Say About Adversity

Psalm 145:14 – “The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.”

Deuteronomy 31:6 – “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

John 3:16-17 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.“

Mark 13:13 – “And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.“

Psalm 46:1 – “To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 – “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; …“

Also Read
What The Bible Says

What Does 120 Years Mean in the Bible?

Leave a comment
What Does 120 Years Mean in the Bible

What Does 120 Years Mean in the Bible? Genesis 6:3 says, Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” Today, many people misinterpret Genesis 6:3 to be a 120-year age limit on humanity. Unfortunately, this misinterpretation can easily lead to the belief that the Bible has errors. In Genesis 6:3, is the Lord God saying that mankind will never live past 120? Considering the fact that Noah was 600 at the time of the Flood and lived another 350 years, this is problematic. Notice that the next several generations saw men live to the ages of 500, 403, and 207. Admittedly, Moses lived to 120, and since then very few have lived longer. Nevertheless, it happened, and Moses was born several hundred years after the promise. So what does Genesis 6:3 mean?

Considering the context, we notice that it was before the Flood when ages regularly reached into the 900s. The people were terribly evil (hence the Lord God’s reluctance to “abide in” them or “contend” with them). Behold, the people were so evil that the Lord God decided to wipe the slate clean, so to speak, and restart the human race. Considering this context, it’s more likely that Genesis 6:3 gave a countdown to the arrival of the Flood. However, there is some resistance to this interpretation. In Genesis 5:32, Noah’s age is given as 500. He was 600 when the Flood came, leaving a span of only 100 years, not 120. But Genesis 5:32 is the last verse in the line of genealogies, giving men’s ages at the birth of their sons and their deaths. Notice that it has nothing explicitly to do with the timing of the Flood.

What Does 120 Years Mean in the Bible?

Notice that Genesis 6 is a return to the narrative, which doesn’t necessarily follow Genesis 5. Thus, the text takes a break from the story to give the genealogy from Adam to Noah (common in the Bible), and then goes back to the story. This is likely to mean that from Genesis 6:3, God would only allow 120 years before He destroyed the evil people.
As such, He then waited until after Noah’s sons were born before commissioning Noah to build the act. Another passage that seems to indicate a human age limit is Psalm 90:10, written by Moses: “The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.” The verse seems to say that humans can only live to 70 or 80 – a strange sentiment from someone who lived to 120.

Brethren, the Psalms are meant to express spiritual truths, not necessarily scientific facts. Psalms 90:10 is about the fragility of human life in the face of God’s anger over our sins. The second half of the verse says: “yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.” While some lives are characterized by constant “toil and trouble,” this is not a universal human experience. And the image of the dead flying away, while metaphorical, isn’t exactly literal. Like in modern poetry, Moses is using metaphors to express truths, not facts. It is possible that Genesis 6:3 is a general truism meaning mankind would eventually get to the point where 120 is a cut-off for the vast majority of us. But it’s more likely that it was a countdown for the wicked of the earth who would be destroyed by the Flood.

Important Points to Note

Brethren, neither Genesis 6:3 nor Psalm 90:10 are God-ordained age limits for humanity. Genesis 6:3 is likely a prediction of the timetable for the Flood. Psalm 90:10 is simply stating that as a general rule, people live 70 to 80 years (which is still true and verifiable today). Nevertheless, we should be more focused on the vital things about God’s Kingdom like knowing Him, being faithful to Him, and believing in the sacrifice of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ in whom there is Eternal Life.
John 3:16-17 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
In John 11:25, Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;

What Does 120 Years Mean in the Bible?

John 11:24-27 – Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

John 11:26 – “and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

2 Corinthians 4:16 – “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.“

Job 12:12 – “Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days.“

1 Timothy 4:12 – “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.“

Proverbs 20:29 – “The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.“

Proverbs 16:31 – “Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.“

Job 32:7 – “I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.’“

Proverbs 1:7 – “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.“

Proverbs 19:20 – “Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.“

James 3:17 – “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.”

Group 1 – What Does 120 Years Mean in the Bible

Leviticus 19:32 – “You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.”

Isaiah 46:4 – “Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.“

Titus 2:3 – “Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good,“

Psalm 92:12-15 – “The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.”

1 Timothy 5:8 – “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Psalm 37:25 – “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.”

Psalm 92:12-14 – “The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green,“

Group 2 – What Does 120 Years Mean in the Bible

Proverbs 17:6 – “Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.”

Psalm 92:14 – “They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green,“

Psalm 103:5 – “Who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

Isaiah 46:3-4 – “Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.“

Job 32:7 – “I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.’“

Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 – “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low— they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, …“

Group 3 – What Does 120 Years Mean in the Bible

Psalm 90:10 – “The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.“

Philippians 3:20-21 – “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.“

Philippians 1:6 – “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.“

Joel 2:28 – “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.“

Proverbs 23:22 – “Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.”

Psalm 73:26 – “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.“

Genesis 6:3 – Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.”

Deuteronomy 34:7 – “Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was undimmed, and his vigor unabated.”

Isaiah 40:31 – “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.“

Group 4 – What Does 120 Years Mean in the Bible

Job 5:26 – “You shall come to your grave in ripe old age, like a sheaf gathered up in its season.“

1 Timothy 5:1-2 – “Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.“

Genesis 25:8 – “Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people.“

Psalm 71:8-9 – “My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day. Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent.“

Psalm 90:12 – “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”

Psalm 91:16 – “With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Ecclesiastes 7:10 – Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.

Deuteronomy 32:7 – “Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you.“

Group 5 – What Does 120 Years Mean in the Bible

Philemon 1:9 – “Yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus—“

1 Timothy 5:1 – “Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers,“

1 Chronicles 29:28 – “Then he died at a good age, full of days, riches, and honor. And Solomon his son reigned in his place.“

Psalm 71:18-19 – “So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you?“

Exodus 20:12 – “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”

Titus 2:2-3 – “Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good,“

Isaiah 40:29 – “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.”

Job 12:20 – “He deprives of speech those who are trusted and takes away the discernment of the elders.“

Group 6 – What Does 120 Years Mean in the Bible

1 Kings 3:14 – “And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”

Ruth 4:15 – “He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.”

Ephesians 6:1-3 – Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

1 Kings 12:6 – Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, “How do you advise me to answer this people?”

Genesis 24:1 – “Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years. And the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things.“

Genesis 15:15 – “As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age.”

Psalm 143:5 – “I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands.“

1 Timothy 5:17 – “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.”

Group 7 – What Does 120 Years Mean in the Bible

Luke 1:36 – “And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.“

Luke 2:36-38 – “And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.”

James 4:14 – “Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.“

Psalm 23:1-6 – “A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. …“

Group 8 – What Does 120 Years Mean in the Bible

Job 42:17 – “And Job died, an old man, and full of days.”

Joshua 14:10 – “And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, just as he said, these forty-five years since the time that the Lord spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. And now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old.“

Deuteronomy 5:16 – “‘Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”

Job 32:4 – “Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he.“

Ecclesiastes 12:1-14 – “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low— they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, …“

Group 9 – What Does 120 Years Mean in the Bible

Genesis 25:7-8 – “These are the days of the years of Abraham’s life, 175 years. Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people.“

Ecclesiastes 12:1-3 – “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed,“

1 Peter 1:24 – For “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls,

Revelation 1:1-20 – “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. …“

Group 10 – What Does 120 Years Mean in the Bible

Titus 2:2 – “Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.“

Proverbs 10:27 – “The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.“

Proverbs 10:27 – “The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.”

Psalm 71:17-18 – “O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.”

Proverbs 3:13 – “Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding,“

Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.“

Luke 2:37 – “And then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.“

Isaiah 38:12 – “My dwelling is plucked up and removed from me like a shepherd’s tent; like a weaver I have rolled up my life; he cuts me off from the loom; from day to night you bring me to an end;“

Group 11 – What Does 120 Years Mean in the Bible

Job 32:9 – “It is not the old who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.”

Ecclesiastes 5:20 – “For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.“

Ecclesiastes 9:10 – “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.”

Psalm 71:18 – “So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.“

Psalm 71:9 – “Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent.”

Psalm 71:17 – “O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.”

Psalm 90:5 – “You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning:“

Psalm 71:1-24 – “In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame! In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me, and save me! Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man. For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth. …“

Group 12 – What Does 120 Years Mean in the Bible

Job 11:17 – “And your life will be brighter than the noonday; its darkness will be like the morning.”

Psalm 39:5 – “Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah“

Exodus 7:7 – “Now Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh.”

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.“

Deuteronomy 33:25 – “Your bars shall be iron and bronze, and as your days, so shall your strength be.“

Psalm 103:1-5 – “Of David. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.“

Psalm 139:1-24 – “To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. …“

Group 13 – What Does 120 Years Mean in the Bible

1 Kings 12:8 – “But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him.”

Genesis 47:9 – And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my sojourning are 130 years. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their sojourning.”

Genesis 37:3 – “Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors.”

Psalm 119:100 – “I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts.“

Proverbs 12:28 – “In the path of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death.“

Leviticus 19:1-37 – “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy. Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God. Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves any gods of cast metal: I am the Lord your God. “When you offer a sacrifice of peace offerings to the Lord, you shall offer it so that you may be accepted. …“

Group 14 – What Does 120 Years Mean in the Bible

Lamentations 5:12 – “Princes are hung up by their hands; no respect is shown to the elders.“

James 4:4 – “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

John 3:16-17 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.“

Luke 1:37 – “For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Isaiah 47:6 – “I was angry with my people; I profaned my heritage; I gave them into your hand; you showed them no mercy; on the aged you made your yoke exceedingly heavy.”

Ecclesiastes 2:24 – “There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God,”

Leviticus 19:3 – “Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God.”

Proverbs 30:17 – “The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures.“

Deuteronomy 5:33 – “You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.”

Also Read
Bible Verses, What The Bible Says

Biblical Lifespan 70 Years

Leave a comment
Biblical Lifespan 70 Years

Learn about Biblical Lifespan 70 Years. Genesis 6:3 says, Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” Today, many people misinterpret Genesis 6:3 to be a 120-year age limit on humanity. Unfortunately, this misinterpretation can easily lead to the belief that the Bible has errors. In Genesis 6:3, is the Lord God saying that mankind will never live past 120? Considering the fact that Noah was 600 at the time of the Flood and lived another 350 years, this is problematic. Notice that the next several generations saw men live to the ages of 500, 403, and 207. Admittedly, Moses lived to 120, and since then very few have lived longer. Nevertheless, it happened, and Moses was born several hundred years after the promise. So what does Genesis 6:3 mean?

Considering the context, we notice that it was before the Flood when ages regularly reached into the 900s. The people were terribly evil (hence the Lord God’s reluctance to “abide in” them or “contend” with them). Behold, the people were so evil that the Lord God decided to wipe the slate clean, so to speak, and restart the human race. Considering this context, it’s more likely that Genesis 6:3 gave a countdown to the arrival of the Flood. However, there is some resistance to this interpretation. In Genesis 5:32, Noah’s age is given as 500. He was 600 when the Flood came, leaving a span of only 100 years, not 120. But Genesis 5:32 is the last verse in the line of genealogies, giving men’s ages at the birth of their sons and their deaths. Notice that it has nothing explicitly to do with the timing of the Flood.

Biblical Lifespan 70 Years

Notice that Genesis 6 is a return to the narrative, which doesn’t necessarily follow Genesis 5. Thus, the text takes a break from the story to give the genealogy from Adam to Noah (common in the Bible), and then goes back to the story. This is likely to mean that from Genesis 6:3, God would only allow 120 years before He destroyed the evil people.
As such, He then waited until after Noah’s sons were born before commissioning Noah to build the act. Another passage that seems to indicate a human age limit is Psalm 90:10, written by Moses: “The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.” The verse seems to say that humans can only live to 70 or 80 – a strange sentiment from someone who lived to 120.

Brethren, the Psalms are meant to express spiritual truths, not necessarily scientific facts. Psalms 90:10 is about the fragility of human life in the face of God’s anger over our sins. The second half of the verse says: “yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.” While some lives are characterized by constant “toil and trouble,” this is not a universal human experience. And the image of the dead flying away, while metaphorical, isn’t exactly literal. Like in modern poetry, Moses is using metaphors to express truths, not facts. It is possible that Genesis 6:3 is a general truism meaning mankind would eventually get to the point where 120 is a cut-off for the vast majority of us. But it’s more likely that it was a countdown for the wicked of the earth who would be destroyed by the Flood.

Important Points to Note

Brethren, neither Genesis 6:3 nor Psalm 90:10 are God-ordained age limits for humanity. Genesis 6:3 is likely a prediction of the timetable for the Flood. Psalm 90:10 is simply stating that as a general rule, people live 70 to 80 years (which is still true and verifiable today). Nevertheless, we should be more focused on the vital things about God’s Kingdom like knowing Him, being faithful to Him, and believing in the sacrifice of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ in whom there is Eternal Life.
John 3:16-17 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
In John 11:25, Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;

Biblical Lifespan 70 Years

John 11:24-27 – “Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.”

John 11:26 – “and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

2 Corinthians 4:16 – “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.“

Job 12:12 – “Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days.“

1 Timothy 4:12 – “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.“

Proverbs 20:29 – “The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.“

Proverbs 16:31 – “Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.“

Job 32:7 – “I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.’“

Proverbs 1:7 – “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.“

Proverbs 19:20 – “Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.“

James 3:17 – “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.”

Group 1 – Biblical Lifespan 70 Years

1 Timothy 5:8 – “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Psalm 37:25 – “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.”

Psalm 92:12-14 – “The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green,“

Leviticus 19:32 – “You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.”

Isaiah 46:4 – “Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.“

Titus 2:3 – “Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good,“

Psalm 92:12-15 – “The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.”

Group 2 – Biblical Lifespan 70 Years

Proverbs 17:6 – “Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.”

Psalm 92:14 – “They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green,“

Psalm 103:5 – “Who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

Isaiah 46:3-4 – “Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.“

Job 32:7 – “I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.’“

Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 – “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low— they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, …“

Group 3 – Biblical Lifespan 70 Years

Proverbs 23:22 – “Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.”

Psalm 73:26 – “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.“

Genesis 6:3 – Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.”

Deuteronomy 34:7 – “Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was undimmed, and his vigor unabated.”

Isaiah 40:31 – “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.“

Psalm 90:10 – “The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.“

Philippians 3:20-21 – “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.“

Philippians 1:6 – “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.“

Joel 2:28 – “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.“

Group 4 – Biblical Lifespan 70 Years

Psalm 90:12 – “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”

Psalm 91:16 – “With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Ecclesiastes 7:10 – Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.

Deuteronomy 32:7 – “Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you.“

Job 5:26 – “You shall come to your grave in ripe old age, like a sheaf gathered up in its season.“

1 Timothy 5:1-2 – “Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.“

Genesis 25:8 – “Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people.“

Psalm 71:8-9 – “My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day. Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent.“

Group 5 – Biblical Lifespan 70 Years

Exodus 20:12 – “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”

Titus 2:2-3 – “Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good,“

Isaiah 40:29 – “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.”

Job 12:20 – “He deprives of speech those who are trusted and takes away the discernment of the elders.“

Philemon 1:9 – “Yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus—“

1 Timothy 5:1 – “Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers,“

1 Chronicles 29:28 – “Then he died at a good age, full of days, riches, and honor. And Solomon his son reigned in his place.“

Psalm 71:18-19 – “So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you?“

Group 6 – Biblical Lifespan 70 Years

Genesis 24:1 – “Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years. And the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things.“

Genesis 15:15 – “As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age.”

Psalm 143:5 – “I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands.“

1 Timothy 5:17 – “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.”

1 Kings 3:14 – “And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”

Ruth 4:15 – “He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.”

Ephesians 6:1-3 – Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

1 Kings 12:6 – Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, “How do you advise me to answer this people?”

Group 7 – Biblical Lifespan 70 Years

Luke 1:36 – “And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.“

Luke 2:36-38 – “And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.”

James 4:14 – “Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.“

Psalm 23:1-6 – “A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. …“

Group 8 – Biblical Lifespan 70 Years

Job 42:17 – “And Job died, an old man, and full of days.”

Joshua 14:10 – “And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, just as he said, these forty-five years since the time that the Lord spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. And now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old.“

Deuteronomy 5:16 – “‘Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”

Job 32:4 – “Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he.“

Ecclesiastes 12:1-14 – “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low— they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, …“

Group 9 – Biblical Lifespan 70 Years

Genesis 25:7-8 – “These are the days of the years of Abraham’s life, 175 years. Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people.“

Ecclesiastes 12:1-3 – “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed,“

1 Peter 1:24 – For “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls,

Revelation 1:1-20 – “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. …“

Group 10 – Biblical Lifespan 70 Years

Proverbs 3:13 – “Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding,“

Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.“

Luke 2:37 – “And then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.“

Isaiah 38:12 – “My dwelling is plucked up and removed from me like a shepherd’s tent; like a weaver I have rolled up my life; he cuts me off from the loom; from day to night you bring me to an end;“

Titus 2:2 – “Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.“

Proverbs 10:27 – “The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.“

Proverbs 10:27 – “The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.”

Psalm 71:17-18 – “O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.”

Group 11 – Biblical Lifespan 70 Years

Psalm 71:17 – “O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.”

Psalm 90:5 – “You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning:“

Psalm 71:1-24 – “In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame! In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me, and save me! Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man. For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth. …“

Job 32:9 – “It is not the old who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.”

Ecclesiastes 5:20 – “For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.“

Ecclesiastes 9:10 – “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.”

Psalm 71:18 – “So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.“

Psalm 71:9 – “Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent.”

Group 12 – Biblical Lifespan 70 Years

Job 11:17 – “And your life will be brighter than the noonday; its darkness will be like the morning.”

Psalm 39:5 – “Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah“

Exodus 7:7 – “Now Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh.”

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.“

Deuteronomy 33:25 – “Your bars shall be iron and bronze, and as your days, so shall your strength be.“

Psalm 103:1-5 – “Of David. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.“

Psalm 139:1-24 – “To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. …“

Group 13 – Biblical Lifespan 70 Years

Psalm 119:100 – “I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts.“

Proverbs 12:28 – “In the path of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death.“

Leviticus 19:1-37 – “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy. Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God. Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves any gods of cast metal: I am the Lord your God. “When you offer a sacrifice of peace offerings to the Lord, you shall offer it so that you may be accepted. …“

1 Kings 12:8 – “But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him.”

Genesis 47:9 – And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my sojourning are 130 years. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their sojourning.”

Genesis 37:3 – “Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors.”

Group 14 – Biblical Lifespan 70 Years

Lamentations 5:12 – “Princes are hung up by their hands; no respect is shown to the elders.“

James 4:4 – “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

John 3:16-17 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.“

Luke 1:37 – “For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Isaiah 47:6 – “I was angry with my people; I profaned my heritage; I gave them into your hand; you showed them no mercy; on the aged you made your yoke exceedingly heavy.”

Ecclesiastes 2:24 – “There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God,”

Leviticus 19:3 – “Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God.”

Proverbs 30:17 – “The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures.“

Deuteronomy 5:33 – “You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.”

Also Read

Bestofchristianity.com is a Global Media Ministry. As a Christian Website and Online Evangelical Ministry, Best Of Christianity focuses on the teachings of Jesus Christ, the power of the Holy spirit, and above all the Love of God. It uses the Bible as the foundation to knowing and obeying God. It steps in at the command of Jesus Christ to take the holy gospel to the four corners of the world so that those who believe in him can have eternal life. Under the authority of Jesus Christ, we are Apostolic and Prophetic sons and daughters of God sent out to set the captives free, heal the sick, bring deliverance, give sight to the blind, strengthen the lame to walk and above all lead souls to heaven. It is in the Christian light that we analyze topics like Prosperity, Wealth, Debt free, Credits, Finance, and Money in the Bible.

Ads Blocker Image Powered by Code Help Pro

Ads Blocker Detected!!!

We have detected that you are using extensions to block ads. Please support us by disabling these ads blocker.