The Age of Accountability

What is Accountability?Question No. 1

Accountability implies that any individual’s actions will be measured by

some standard which correctly labels those actions right or wrong.

The argument about accountability is not that there should be a standard to measure

what is acceptable...it is about where we find that standard and how we enforce it.

A Working Definition

Accountability is what the citizens of our country assumes will encourage our leaders

to rule well.

The government was founded upon the idea of representation. The elected officials are to be the voice of the people, for the people, by

the people because they come from the people and can be removed by the people.

An Example

Accountability is a measurement of a person’s actions. They are measured and

found to be acceptable or not.

Some Thoughts

Who are we Accountable to?Question No. 2

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His

commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good

or evil.

Ecclesiastes 12:13,14

If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who

loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.

John 14:15,21

There are 23 passages in the ESV that use the phrase “keep My commandments.” It is

obvious that God has announced His intentions for mankind.

A Specific Phrase

Why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we all shall stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us shall give account of himself to

God.

Romans 14:10-12

By what standard are we held accountable?

Question No. 3

But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient

from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and having been

set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.

Romans 6:17,18

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,

for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete thoroughly furnished for every

good work.

Second Timothy 3:16,17

When will we be held Accountable?Question No. 4

We will be accountable when we know:

(1) Who we are accountable to*;(2) What they will measure our actions by;(3) What that standard asks us to do to be acceptable in the eyes of the one we are accountable to.

*See Acts 17:24-31 – All are accountable to God now (“times of ignorance are gone”).

Follow Along Carefully

What is the Age of Accountability?Question No. 5

Since we all learn at different paces and in different ways and we all come to knowledge

of God’s Word according to our different backgrounds...

there is no single age at which we must all be held accountable.

Follow Along Carefully

Follow the Events in Acts 8:34-38:

(1) The Ethiopian is taught about Jesus(2) It is implied that the Ethiopian learns

what it takes to please Jesus and what his faith in Him will require;

(3) The Ethiopian acts and is immersed.

When was the Eunuch accountable?

The Ethiopian Eunuch

We will be accountable when we know:

(1) Who we are accountable to;(2) What they will measure our actions by;(3) What that standard asks us to do to be acceptable in the eyes of the one we are accountable to.

Follow Along Carefully

Is there anyone who is not Accountable?Question No. 6

Individuals can’t be held accountable to God if they aren’t able to intellectually

comprehend the following:

(1) They are accountable to God;(2) The Bible is the standard God will use;(3) The Bible asks us to believe, repent, be

immersed, confess Jesus as the Son of God, live faithfully, and serve others.

Follow Along Carefully

That would imply that those who are unable to ever comprehend those ideas (i.e.

handicapped) or those who haven’t yet grow into the knowledge to comprehend them

(i.e. children) would not be held accountable according to the same standards everyone

who can would be.

Conclusion