Age of Accountability

Many teach that infants will be lost without baptism. Though they really don't say babies are personally guilty yet, they believe the wrath of God abides on infants because of a sinful nature passed from Adam. This is a misunderstanding of God's wrath.

Others teach man has an age of accountability, whereby God judges them as sinners. I agree there is a wrath reserved for those who know what is right but do wrong anyway.

I call this the age of wrath. It is wrath beyond the general curse through Adam.

Rom 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 

Rom 1:19  Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 

The age of wrath is the day you hold the truth but practice unrighteousness. 

1. There is no proof wrath abides upon infants, until they know the truth about right and wrong. Paul expressly states the moment this occurs.

2. They have the general curse of physical death, but it does not mention any wrath beyond man's general curse through Adam.

3. Sufficient truth is made known to all societies for us to recognize our sinfulness.

This disproves the Catholic idea of the dark soul and disproves total depravity, where we cannot know what is right or do it, they teach we cannot choose it. God made sure we know truth in his own ways. Right and wrong is dissiminated throughout the world to some degree so that all the world can choose and will eventually abide in wrath.

If we can't know or do right we wouldn't be guilty.

God allows us to know enough truth for man to become defiant and to become enemies. Man is also capable enough to do good.

Col 1:21  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 

Man's wicked works aren't based upon an inherent weakness, but a mind that becomes defiant.

God passed physical death to all men based upon Adam's sin, God had sufficient proof through Adam that man even with one law and over a short period would disobey, that he could justify limiting man's life to years. Thus death passed to all men.

Yet God delayed wrath until the judgment so that man could be saved in Christ.

Rom 3:25  whom God offered as a place where atonement by Christ's blood could occur through faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because he had waited patiently to deal with sins committed in the past. 

Paul justifies God by stating,

Rom 5:12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 

Paul isn't calling babies sinners, but proving God's choice was right and justified, in that all men grow to become sinners. Even if babies don't sin, they would if they lived long enough. Thus God's decision of allowing life for a limited time so that he could save was righteous love, but limiting life was equally justified. It balances love and justice. God allowed life and death because he is looking at man as a sinful group and wants to do what is right.