The Biblical Age of Accountability (Isaiah 7:15-16 and Deuteronomy 1:39)

Children are innocent until they reach the biblical age of accountability. Isaiah 7:15-16 twice states that until a certain age a baby will not know, "how to refuse the evil and choose the good." Similarly, Deuteronomy 1:39 says, "little ones...have no knowledge of good or evil." This post will allow you to read, watch, or listen if you want to learn about the age of accountability in the bible.

Table of contentsAdam and Eve Knew It Was Wrong to Be Naked Because of Their ConsciencesJews Are Guilty Because of the LawGentiles Are Guilty Because of Their ConsciencesBabies "Have No Knowledge of Good or Evil" Until They Reach the Biblical Age of Accountability The Famous Sign to AhazThe Child Is Named Jesus or Immanuel?Babies Can't "Refuse Evil and Choose Good" Until They Reach the Biblical Age of AccountabilitySo, What Is the Biblical Age of Accountability?Two Other Thoughts About the Biblical Age of Accountability...Babies "Cannot Discern Between Their Right and Their Left" Until They Reach the Biblical Age of AccountabilityBabies Are IgnorantFoolishness Versus IgnoranceGod Is Merciful to the Ignorant (Such as Babies)Examples of God's Mercy to the IgnorantJesus's Mercy to the Ignorant Crucifying HimGod's Mercy to the Ignorant Jews Who Crucified JesusGod's Mercy to Paul Because of His IgnoranceGod's Mercy to Babies Who Haven't Reached the Biblical Age of AccountabilityGod Is Less Merciful to the KnowledgeableBabies Are Innocent, But We Are NotFootnotes

https://youtu.be/xM4W5BO1VGM

Until babies reach the biblical age of accountability they can't, "refuse evil and choose good" (Isaiah 7:15-16 and Deuteronomy 1:39).

Before Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they could not choose between good and evil. The evidence of this:

Genesis 2:25 The man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

They had so little knowledge of good and evil they didn’t know there was something wrong with being naked. They ate and then:

Genesis 3:7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and THEY KNEW THAT THEY WERE NAKED. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

This marked the end of the Dispensation of Innocence, and the beginning of the Dispensation of Conscience.

Adam and Eve Knew It Was Wrong to Be Naked Because of Their Consciences

Romans 2:12-14 discusses two groups of people: the Gentiles and Jews. They both think they are innocent for different reasons:

The Jews think they are innocent because they have the law. They thought having the law made them good.

The Gentiles think they’re innocent because they didn’t receive the law. They think they are not accountable because they didn’t know better!

Paul wants to convince both groups they are sinners, so they see their need for the Savior:

Romans 2:12a For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law,

These are Gentiles and they’ll perish because they’re sinners. Paul elaborates on this in verses 14 and 15.

Jews Are Guilty Because of the Law

Romans 2:12b and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.

These are Jews who have the law, and they’ll be judged because it’s not enough to have the Mosaic law. The Jews had to obey it. This might seem obvious to us, but it wasn’t obvious to them. Having the law actually made them MORE accountable before God because it gave them the knowledge of good and evil, but they still chose evil. When the Jews received the Mosaic law, it was like Adam and Eve eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Then they had knowledge of good and evil.

Gentiles Are Guilty Because of Their Consciences

The Gentiles didn’t have the law telling them right from wrong, but they did have something else:

Romans 2:14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law,