The Age Of Accountability

by Micky Galloway

The age of twenty is used many times in the book of Numbers (especially in Chapter 1), to identify those who were old enough to fight in war (1:2). It is not used in that sense to determine who is accountable. This was a census that did not include women, children, strangers, Levites, and other males who might be maimed, ill, aged, or infirm. Even if these were over 20 years old they were not counted as suitable for military service. This is not to suppose that those unable to fight were not accountable for sin. The account in Numbers 14:29 identifies those from twenty years old (cf. 1:18,19, 47 etc.) that had been enrolled as the soldiers of the Lord, to fight His battles and their own, but had refused, and had incurred the guilt essentially of mutiny. In Exodus 14:14 Jehovah had pledged to fight for Israel. This promise was repeated several times. The text of Numbers 13-14 makes that obvious. Failure to comply with divine orders, specifically given or logically inferred, brought reverses and retribution, as when Achan’s sin prevented the capture of Ai (Joshua 7:1-26), and Saul’s non-compliance in eliminating the Amalekites resulted in his losing the throne (I Samuel 15:l-28). The army of Israel (20 years and older) rebelled and would not go in (Numbers 14:8-10). These simply did not believe God and perished in the wilderness (Hebrews 3:16-19). Those who were considered “prey” were considered such because they were not soldiers, they were easy victims in an anticipated defeat. This is not to suggest they were not accountable for their own sins.

The text of Exodus 30:11-16 does not teach that only those who were 20 or older were morally responsible. The context is discussing the census tax and thus the contrast is not those who are responsible for their sins with those who are not, but rather those who are subject to this tax and those who are not. This tax was not levied upon women, minors, old men (Numbers 1:42,45), and the Levites (Numbers 1:47). At the age of twenty, one became liable to serve in the army (II Chronicles 25:5), and entered otherwise on the duties of citizenship. Also at twenty, the Levites began their service in the temple (I Chronicles 23:24, 27; 31:17; Ezra 3:8).

In Deuteronomy 1:39-40 we read, “Moreover your little ones, that ye said should be a prey, and your children, that this day have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.” The people apparently used their children as an excuse for not attempting to enter the land. These who are identified as “little ones” and “children” had no part in the rebellion of their seniors. The “little ones” and “children” of this text were innocent, having “no knowledge of good or evil” and could not be held responsible for the decisions of those old enough to fight in the army of Israel.

How old then, must one be to be held accountable before God? As children grow they move beyond the innocence of childhood to become accountable for choices that they make, both good and bad. During this time of innocence we correctly teach that baptism is not necessary since the child is safe and unaccountable for sin. However, as one becomes more mature and accountability is apparent, then baptism for remission of sins becomes an essential element to their salvation. What are some considerations in answering the question, “How old is old enough?” That an age of innocence exists is evident from Jeremiah 19:1-9. During this time Jeremiah indicts them with, “filling this place with the blood of innocents” (verse 4). Jeremiah refers to Manasseh’s sin of idolatry and the burning of their children in the fire to Baal (II Kings 21:5-6; 24:4). This was insolent defiance of God. These children are referred to as innocent. Jesus said in Matthew 19:14, “Suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for to such belongeth the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus illustrated the humble attitude necessary to entrance into the kingdom of heaven by calling to him a little child and saying, “Verily I say unto you Except ye turn, and become as little children , ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:1-4). Contrary to the teaching that man is born totally depraved, Jesus speaks of a time of innocence, when sin is not reckoned.

In Romans 7:7-9, Paul writes of the effect that divine law has upon man’s relationship with God. Paul anticipates that one might conclude that the law is an evil thing. The law is not evil, but it was through the law that Paul had become conscious of sin. Sin is personified in Paul’s writing as using the law to seduce and bring about spiritual death (Romans 7:8-11). In the midst of this discussion Paul declares, “I was alive apart from the law once” (Romans 7:9). The only time Paul was without law was during the time of childhood innocence before the law brought an awareness of sin. Whiteside quotes the Cambridge Greek Testament, “I was living unaffected by law once” (Page 150). When Paul was in childhood he was untouched by the numerous demands of law. As he matured with age, the responsibility to law increased and the possibility of sin enlarged. Paul said, “But when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died” (Romans 7:9). The commandment “came” when Paul was conscious of his own individual responsibility to obey God. Then sin became very much alive. When was Paul “alive apart from the law” and when did he die spiritually?

That an age of accountability exists becomes apparent, but at what age does one become accountable? Some attempt to answer this question by referring to Luke 2:40-47. These say the age for one’s obedience is “twelve” because this was the age of Jesus when he entered into the temple and sat among the doctors, both learning and answering their questions. Others refer to Numbers 14:29 noting that God held those accountable who were “twenty years old and upward,” that murmured in the wilderness.

What does the Bible say? When Jesus sent the apostles out into the world, he commanded them to, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:15-16). “Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). One must be old and mature enough to know good and evil (Deuteronomy 1:39) and have the ability to make moral choices, to choose good and refuse evil (Isaiah 7:16). A person who is desiring to be baptized must be old enough to be taught and understand (cf. Acts 8:30, 35). After Philip “preached unto him Jesus,” the eunuch desired to be baptized. Children too young to understand sin, belief, repentance, confession, etc. are not subject to baptism. Repentance must precede baptism (Acts 2:38). This is produced by godly sorrow, i.e. sorrow that my conduct has been an offense to God (II Corinthians 7:9-11). Genuine repentance produces good fruit in my life (Acts 26:20). Understanding is essential to obedience. In all the conversions in Acts, those being baptized had been taught. One must understand what baptism does and why it must be accomplished. Does one understand that by rendering obedience to the gospel, the Lord adds him to the church (Acts 2:47)? Does he understand what the church is? Does he understand that in baptism, one comes into contact with the blood of Christ (Colossians 2:12-13)? Does he understand his responsibility after baptism to “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4; II Corinthians 5:17)? The mental and emotional maturity required to keep one’s commitment to Christ is essential if we are to follow Him in truth. When a young person has moral capacity, knowing good and evil, they act on that knowledge. Thus, they become accountable before God for their moral and spiritual choices.

When is a person ready to accept this responsibility? When one is capable of understanding the moral difference between good and evil, and knows he has sinned against God’s will. When he is capable of belief in Christ as the Son of God (belief requires certain intellectual and decision-making abilities – John 8:24), can confess his faith in Him, repent of his sin, and be baptized (Acts 2:38; Romans 10:9-10), he is held morally accountable by God.