The Age of InnocenceMaud church of Christby Jim BradshawSunday Evening, May 4, 2014

Mat 18:1-6 ESV At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" (2) And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them (3) and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (4) Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (5) "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, (6) but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

The Age of Innocence

Mat 19:13-15 ESV Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, (14) but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." (15) And he laid his hands on them and went away.

The Age of Innocence

When Does Life Begin?Num 5:28 ESV But if the woman has not defiled herself and is clean, then she shall be free and shall conceive children.

Psa 139:13-14 ESV For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. (14) I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

Jer 1:5 ESV "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations."

When Does Life Begin?Luk 1:36 ESV And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.

Luk 1:41 ESV And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,

Luk 2:12 ESV And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."

In both scriptures, “baby” comes from the same Greek word – brephos

Psa 51:5 ESV Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Do We Inherit Sin?

If I were to say that I was born in a field of spuds and in a potato patch did my mother conceive me. Question would that mean that I was born full of potatoes?

1) We are dealing with poetic language, not mean to be scrutinized word for word.

2) Other interpretation can be gleaned for example David is simply saying that he became just as his mother was (as all are) at the time she conceived him, Rom. 3:23.

Gen 8:21 ESV And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in his heart, "I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.

Notice it says “youth” not birth. In N.T. times “youth” meant someone up to 30 years old. With the increase ages of time of the flood, youth may have even been older

Do We Inherit Sin?

Sin Requires Personal Participation

Eze 18:18-21 ESV As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what is not good among his people, behold, he shall die for his iniquity. (19) "Yet you say, 'Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?' When the son has done what is just and right, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live. (20) The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. (21) "But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.

Sin Requires Personal Participation

1Jn 3:4 ESV Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.

Jas 4:17 ESV So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

When Do We Hit the Age of Accountability?1. When we understand sin and can personalize it.

2. When we have the ability to Believe and Obey.

What if one dies before they reach the Age of Accountability?2Sa 12:20-23 ESV Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate. (21) Then his servants said to him, "What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food." (22) He said, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, 'Who knows whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?' (23) But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me."

Hear – Romans 10:17

Believe – Heb. 11:6; Mark 16:16

Repent – Luke 13:3, 5; Acts 2:38

Confess – Matthew 10:32,33

Be Baptized – Acts 2:38; 22:16

Live faithfully – 1 Corinthians 15:58Steps to Salvation