What is the Age of Accountability?

  I. Introduction.

A.    Growing up in the Lord’s church I have always heard of the term age of accountability.

1.    Term used to describe age that each individual reaches when they go from the saved condition of early childhood to the state where they are accountable before God for their actions.

2.    Sermon directed to children who have been raised by parents who are Christians.

B.    Comes in a time in every child’s life when they begin to understand what the Bible says about the need to be baptized in order to be saved.

C.   Comes a time in most children’s life when that understanding bothers them & they begin to question the need of being baptized.

1.    Perhaps some of you young people are going through that stage in your life now.

2.    Hopefully this lesson will be able to help you.

D.   Let’s answer the question: How do I know when I am ready to be baptized.

 

II.  Don’t base your answer on:

A.    The fact that you have reached some kind of mystical appropriate age.

1.    some have tacked on the years 11-14 as the appropro age to be baptized.

2.    Heard of some brethren who say “Reach “X” age:  must be baptized.”

3.    Not the way that God would have it.  Not the appropriate motivation.

B.    The fact that others you have are/have been baptized.

C.   Pressure from mom/dad.

1.    MUST be done from YOUR conviction – not theirs!

2.    Hopefully – parents will understand what I mean by this.

 

III.  What should Your Answer Be Based Upon?

A.    Ask:  Am I mature enough to understand the spiritual things associated with baptism?

1.      Understand:  not just by knowing what the Bible says – but understanding the spiritual implications of such.

2.      To truly understand:

a.    know the facts.

b.    Know what the facts mean.

c.     Appreciate the importance of the facts.

d.    Understand how those facts apply to your life.

3.      The facts must affect you intellectually & emotionally.

B.    Do I understand what it means to be lost?

1.    Mk. 9:43-48

a.    lost:  spend eternity in hellfire.

1.    eternal.

2.    Fire does not go out.  Fire NOT quenched.

b.    do you know what that means?

c.     Does that cause you to fear dying in sin?

2.  Mt. 10:28

a.    What does this verse mean to you?

b.    No one can destroy the soul – but God!  No one – not your enemy, your parents, your friends, can take away your soul.

c.     Do you understand the need to fear God in a way that you fear no one else?

d.    God is someone whom you will stand before one day.

3.  Lk. 15:15-19 – notice how Jesus describes the fate of those who are lost!

a.       leave home:  waste inheritance; having to feed pigs; wishing you could eat what they eat

b.       a life filled w/misery – so bad that you want to back to father/beg him to take servant b/c you not worthy to be son.

c.       Can you understand that feeling?  Do you have that feeling about your life?

4.  You must understand what it means to be lost before you are ready to be baptized.

C.   Do I understand what it means to believe in Jesus?

1.    Mt. 16:16-18

a.     Peter’s words here meant something.  Obvious by the answer of Jesus.

b.     Jesus the Messiah – Savior of the world.  He has power to build his church!  No one could stop Him from doing it.

2.    Acts 2:36 – to believe in Jesus is to understand that He is both Lord & Christ.

a.    Before everyone else!

b.    Before friends, teachers, even before parents!

D.   Do I understand what it means to repent of my sins?

1.    Lk. 13:3 – the necessity of repentance.

a.    can’t argue against it.

b.    Lk. 24:47 – Jesus instructed disciples to preach it.

2.    Acts 2:38 – Peter preached the need to repent!

3.    However:  Knowing these passages doesn’t mean that one understands repentance.  Even knowing definition – a change of mind that leads to a change of action – doesn’t mean that one really understands repentance.

4.    What is it like to repent?

a.    Lk. 18:10-14

b.    Repentance involves:

1.    humility – man here not even willing to life up his eyes.

2.    Sorrow – as indicated by his beating of breast.

3.    Turning away from sin – be merciful to me God – a sinner!

c.     Must understand what it means before you can be baptized.

E.    Do I understand what it means to be baptized?

1.    Baptism clearly commanded in Scripture.

a.    Mt. 28:19; Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16

b.    Passages been drilled into us from life!

c.     But…do you understand the symbolism surrounding baptism?

d.    Rom. 6:1-11

2.    What is baptism like?

a.     6:3-4 – like dying; being buried; then raised from dead.  This is like what happened to Jesus.

b.     Involves changes being made in one’s life.  It should involve drastic & important change.  Most important changes you’ll make in life.

c.     6:5-7 – every relationship in your life should change.

1.    Gal. 2:20

2.    Relationship w/parents, siblings, friends, those in authority over you – MUST change for better.

d.     6:8-12 – the old person of sin is put to death – a new person who is dead to sin but alive to God.

3.  Must understand what it means to be baptized before you are ready to be baptized.

F.    Do I Understand what it means to be totally & eternally committed to God?

1.    Lk. 14:27

a.    where most you be willing to follow Jesus?

1.    along path that is filled w/self sacrifice.

2.    Path that will lead you to people who will make fun, ridicule you.

b.    path sometimes painful.

2.  Path that leads you to eternal life.

3.  Lk. 14:28-30 – two illustrations of commitment painted by Jesus.

a.    like building a tower

b.    deciding before you start whether you have what it takes to complete the job.

4.  Lk. 14:31-32 – like king going to battle.  Must decide if he has enough what it takes to win.

5.  In same way:  must understand:

a.    baptism = a serious lifelong commitment to build your life for God.

b.    Baptism = serious lifelong commitment to go to battle for God.

6.  Must understand what it means to be committed to God before Baptism.

IV.  When You are Accountable to God for Violating His Will:

A.    you will realize you are condemned before God as a sinner.

B.    How will you know when you are sinner?

1.    preaching that comes from pulpit will convict you.  Right in your heart.  You’ll feel uneasy during invitation.

2.    You’ll know that your guilty before God of things we study in bible class that God says will cause a person to miss heaven and go to hell.

3.    You’ll know because like Paul in Acts 9 – you will be in misery until you do something about your condition.

V.  You will be ready for baptism when:

A.    You understand/see your relationship w/God as a matter between you & God – and not between you, your parents, and God.

1.        No where in NT will you find preaching followed by this response:

2.        I have to ask mom/dad b/f I’m baptized!

3.        In every case baptism b/t the Lord & the individual!  PERIOD!

B.    Parents:  day coming when your child will come to you a/b the need of being baptized.

1.    some sooner than later; others later than sooner.

2.    Some even in pre-teens.

3.    If they come in obvious conviction of sin; convinced of the need; and they plan on doing something about it, then they’re ready!

C.   Young folks: if you understand the things that I have talked about tonight; then don’t delay!  Obey today!

1.    important to understand that this is the most important thing you will ever do in your life.

2.    Nothing more to evidence your maturity than by obeying the gospel.

D.   Don’t put off something that you are past ready to do.

1.    when gospel pricks your heart – when it convinces/convicts you as it did the folks in Acts 2:37

2.    Obey it!

E.  I N V I T A T I O N