Age of Accountability: Scriptures and Thoughts

The topic of an "age of accountability" comes up quite often; I've discussed it probably five times since I became a believer almost three years ago. Here is a verse from Isaiah I found today:

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

If the issue is whether of not the young child or unborn infant is innocent, then this passage seems to answer very clearly "NO!". The child has not learned how to choose good and refuse evil and this means that he is engaging in evil acts and acting according to the slavery of sin as described in Romans 6 and 7 (7 is pending in some circles). Acts against the law of God are punished by God in His holiness and justice: Habakkuk 1:13, Psalm 11:5-7, Isaiah 5:16, and Deuteronomy 27:26.

But most people who take the "age of accountability" stance, probably agree with all of these verses above and would even agree that the baby is guilty in some form. What they might say is that the babies are given "special grace" to get into heaven without being born or reaching an age that the culture defines as "responsible".

So here we find ourselves in the grey area that will always come about in this discussion. Some thoughts that I have are 1. John 14:6 2. Romans 9:15 3. Acts 4:12 and lastly, I would caution you not to be the objective source on who God gives "special grace" to. Unless the Bible says that special grace will be given to a person or people it is dangerous to say so just because it meets our idea of "just" which can be grossly warped and wrong.

In heaven, every person will be glorifying Christ. No one will say, "I didn't really need Jesus to get here, I just got lucky enough to be killed before I was responsible for sin". Furthermore, regeneration is absolutely needed to make it to heaven- John 3:3. So when does the child/infant experience this? Obviously these are rhetorical pictures, but they can help us think through what we do know for certain and at least shed a little light on what is uncertain.

Where does all of this this leave us? With a huge amount of reverence for God's divine purpose and will, but also with a deep value for every human life. If the Bible is not 100 % clear on this issue then young children should not be written off as "not accountable yet" and babies in the womb should be fought for so that they have a chance to be born and hear the gospel. You can probably tell the side that I lean to on this issue but please do not take my words as final! Read the Bible and pray over these things and in the end if you disagree with me then I'm fine with it! But let's not use the grey area spoken off above as an excuse to forget the black and white truth that every soul will meet God. Hebrews 9:27.

Bible Study: Nathan Rages 10/25/11 Colossians 3:1-4

Colossians 3:1-4 “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.”

Verse 1

“If then, you have been raised with Christ...”

• I don't think this “if” indicated uncertainty, but that is means “since” or “because”

• It does not say “you will be” when Christ returns, but that it is something that has already happened

• What does it mean that Christians have been raised with Christ?

  • It is pointing to our justification and sanctification

  • The old self is destroyed, and the Christian becomes a new creature (regeneration)

  • It is a permanent state of life in Christ

  • It is a permanent state of life with Christ – a unity with him. He died to accomplish our justification, so that our sins would be forgiven. He did it so we would have the Holy Spirit and be sanctified. We are united with him and share with all he accomplished for us!

“Keep seeking the things above...”

• Because we have been raised up, we keep seeking the things above

• Notice he does not say “start seeking” but “keep seeking.” It is something that has already begun

• What does it mean to seek?

  • To look for – but to possess it, not to observe it. What is your goal, your treasure that you are trying to get?

• What are these things above?

  • Wisdom, instruction, understanding

  • Treasures in heaven

    • Matthew 6:19-18 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

  • His Kingdom and His righteousness

    • Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

  • Spiritual virtues – to be like Jesus

    • Colossians 3:12 “Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience...”

“Where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God...”

• Me being joined with Christ means that I am there too, in Christ

• What is the significance of him being seated?

  • He finished his work!

Verse 2

“Set your mind on the things that are above, not on things that are on earth...”

• We are told not only to seek these things, but to think about these things

• Can we control our thoughts?

  • Yes. Maybe not perfectly, but to a large extent we control what we think about

  • Sometimes we have to think about our jobs and things that are going on, but we also must make a deliberate effort to think about certain things. We can direct our minds to certain thought patterns and topics

  • We can't always control what thoughts pop into our minds, but this is part of the battle. We have to reject sinful thoughts. We can't keep things from coming in but we can control what stays.

• 2 Corinthians 10:5 “...take every thought captive to obey Christ...”

• Philippians 4:8 “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

• Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind...”

  • How can we prevent ourselves from being conformed to this world? By controlling our thoughts – not giving in to our natural inclinations and the way of the world.

  • We have to constantly refill our minds with truth or the devil will fill it with error

• Are we thinking about the temporal issues, or are we thinking about the unseen, the eternal things?

Verse 3

“For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God...”

• In what sense are Christians dead?

  • The old nature is dead. We are not dead physically or spiritually, but the “old man” is dead

    • You have died to that old life you had! You are not the way you used to be anymore!

    • We can still commit sin, but the old enjoyment of sin is gone

  • We are dead to the law

  • We are dead to the world

• Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me...”

• What does it mean that are lives are with Christ?

  • We have life through him – if there was no Christ, we would still be dead in sin

  • Philippians 1:21 “For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.”

  • John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life...”

  • Our lives are wrapped up in him – not food, jobs, earthly pleasures. We get our sustenance from Christ.

    • John 15:4 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.”

    • Jesus does not give us a squirt of eternal life and send us on our way. We are connected with him, living off of him

  • This is a real test – if your life is not all about Christ, you are not a Christian

• In what way is this hidden?

  • It is mysterious – what has happened to us is mysterious to the world

    • It is not a physically visible thing, but it is spiritual

  • It is a security – no one on earth can harm you because you are with Christ

    • John 10:28 “No will can snatch them out of my hand...”

    • Exodus 33:22 “And while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed.”

  • It is also hidden from us in a sense – we cannot fully grasp the glory of it all!

Verse 4

“When Christ, who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

• When will Christ be revealed/appear?

  • His second coming

  • 1 John 3:2 “Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”

  • Revelation 1:7 “Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all the tribes of the earth will wail on account of him.”

    • The very people who persecuted him will see him and see that he is who he says he is

• Is Christ hidden now?

  • He is to unbelievers, but he has been revealed to believers by faith

    • But he will be revealed fully and we will see him face to face!

• It is not just Jesus that will be revealed, but Christians will too

  • We will be publicly unveiled

  • In that moment it will be revealed and identified whether your life really was in Christ or not

  • We know there will be many who will be shocked

    • Matthew 7:22-23 “On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prohpesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you...'”

• When Jesus is being revealed in all his glory, we will be there with him. It is like he wants to share that moment with us – he alone is worthy of glory and recognition, but he will put us on display with him. “Here is my bride, without any spot or blemish.”

• View everything through the final revelation of Christ in glory! Look to this big glory that is coming

• Romans 8:18 “The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

One Thing

One thing to know:

One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see. (John 9:25b)

One thing is necessary:

Mary . . . sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:39-42)

One thing to do:

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:14-15)

One thing to ask for:

One thing have I asked of the LORD ,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to inquire in his temple.
(Psalm 27:4)

See the original post by Justin Taylor here

The Cup

"For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup

foaming with wine, well mixed,

and he pours out from it,

and all the wicked on the earth

shall drain it down to its dregs."

(Psalm 75:8)

In my Lord's hand there is a cup,

Its contents foam with wine;

And guilty ones will drink it up

Lest with the King ye dine.

Soul sorrowing, Lord Jesus prayed

"Let this cup pass from me."

Yet love compelling, he obeyed

And drank on Calvary.

Will you reject the Savior's blood,

And sip down bitter sin?

Friend, bathe beneath the cleansing flood

And be made pure within!

To The One Who Conquers:

-I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God (Rev. 2:7)

-He will not be hurt by the second death (2:11)

-I will give some of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, with a new name write on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it. (2:17)

- I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.  And I will give him the morning star. (2:26)

-Will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life.  I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. (3:5)

- I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God.  Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. (3:12)

-I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. (3:21)

Thou Canst Not Fear Now

My soul, thou hast trodden down strength,

And fearest thou now?

The noise of the whips and the rattle

Of wheels in the hurry to battle,

The thunder of Captains, the shouting,

Bewilderment, weariness, flouting -

Are these new things to thee?

The Lord thy God is a Man of War;

Verily thou hast followed afar

If thy garments have never been rolled in blood

In the place swept through by the red, red flood,

Where battles be.

My soul, art thou dreaming?

Thou hast felt the keen edge of the sword,

The thrust of the spear;

Thou hast fallen and risen,

Hast fainted, revived and striven,

Forgetting to fear.

Thou hast trodden down strength in the battles of old,

And fearest thou now?

My soul, thou hast proved thy God,

And fearest thou now?

Behold Him, thy Light and thy Cover,

Thy Champion, Companion, Lover,

Thy Stay when the foeman oppresses,

Thy Song 'mid a thousand distresses.

Is this all new to thee?

The Lord thy God - hath He stood aloof?

(Verily, thou hast put Him to proof)

Hast thou ever, resisting alone unto blood,

Betrayed, overwhelmed by the red, red flood,

Sunk shamefully?

My soul, learn to triumph;

Thou hast felt the keen edge of the sword,

The thrust of the spear;

Thou hast fallen and risen,

Hast fainted, revived and striven,

Forgetting to fear.

Thou hast trodden down strength in the battles of old;

Thou canst not fear now.

~Amy Carmichael

What is in a name?

Here's a link to a story about a renaming ceremony in India for girls named "unwanted". The article talks a lot about the gender in India and how the Indian culture views having female babies.


"285 Indian Girls shed "unwanted" names"

How to Think about Curses in the Psalms

How to Think about Curses in the Psalms

Here are some great thoughts by Justin Taylor on how to view curses in the psalms. I have heard this question asked a lot and it can be a big area of contention for people who are seeking God.

Short Thoughts on Life

Importance of Life: 
Leviticus 24:17 - "Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death."
John 15:13 - "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."
Mark 8:36,37 - "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?  For what can a man give in return for his soul?"


The Paradox/Attainment of Life:
Matthew 10:38 - "And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.  Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
John 12:25 - "Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life."


The Result:
Colossians 3:3,4 - "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."
1 John 5:11 - "And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son."
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."

Why Are We Saved by Faith?

I've been reading Spurgeon's "All of Grace" and I can say that I wish I would have read it a lot sooner on in my Christian walk. The ability of Spurgeon to lay out the fundamentals of Christianity and salvation is truly a blessing in this book and it is going on my top ten list (that's not saying much). Here is a summary of a chapter on why we are saved by faith and not some other channel. Have you ever asked yourself that question? I hadn't until Spurgeon asked it and answered it in Chapter 10. The following points are pretty much verbatim.

Reasons:

1. It gives glory to God... He will not give salvation in a way which will suggest or foster pride... Faith sets the crown upon the right head, and therefore the Lord Jesus was inclined to put it upon the head of faith.

2. A sure method of linking man with God... Faith saves because it makes us cling to God, and so brings us into connection with Him...Oh the blessedness of faith because it unites us with God!

3. Faith touches the "springs of action"... God gives us salvation by faith because by creating faith in us He thus touches the real mainspring of our emotions and actions...what sails are to a ship, that faith is to all holy duties and services.

4. Faith has the power of working by love. 'With the heart man believeth unto righteousness', and hence God gives salvation to faith because it resides next door to affections, and near akin to love; and love is the parent and the nurse of every holy feeling and act.

5. Faith creates peace and joy. It enables man both to live and die without fear; it prepares both for action and for suffering; and hence the Lord selects it as a most convenient medium for conveying grace to us and thereby securing us for glory.


What can be your objection to a way of salvation which commends itself to the mercy and the wisdom of our gracious God?

-All Of Grace, Chapter 10 by C.H. Spurgeon

Columbia Fellowship on Facebook!

If anyone does not know, we maintain a facebook group page called [for now] "Columbia Bible Study" that we update with information on meeting and Bible Study times and basically the information we will be posting here - except you can talk to any of the members through the facebook page. If you have a facebook and want to join, go here:

http://www.facebook.com/groups/217484411609516/

Greetings, Brethren

Lord willing, this site will be the host for updates about our meetings and more general church events. We may also post encouraging things from what we're reading or have heard recently. My prayer would be that the Lord would use this site for the profit of His redeemed.

Grace and Peace.
 -Mike