Protestants: Where does the Bible say that babies are not held accountable for their sins?

Question

I received several responses to a previous question (see link) indicating that babies DO sin, but that they are not held accountable for their sins. Where does the Bible say, "Babies are not held accountable for their sins" (not necessarily in those exact words)?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Avzwt9JRYDoqQ8gsArrzAlnsy6IX?qid=20070402233430AAubwos

Answer 1

Babies sin?

LOL

thats pretty scarry

Answer 2

Most believe they must reach an age or maturity level "of accountability" and until then they are accountable they are basically in a state of grace.

One text that provides insight on those who are either totally unaware (babies) or are too immature (children) or other-wise mentally incapable (the mentally handicapped) of bearing personal responsiblity is 2 Samuel 12 when David's first child by Bathsheba died he said:
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22 ..."While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, 'Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.' 23 But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me."
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God reveals here that David's baby - who is never acheived any level of awareness and thus was unable on its own to respond in faith to God's salvation promises -- will be reunited with David in the next life

I find that the concept of original sin is commonly misused and misunderstood -- it just means that humankind lost the original and perfect relationship we had with God at creation and that by accepting the utterly gracious gift of salvation in Christ we can be restored to this original relationship.

Those who try to build complex theological formulas with only partial understanding of the concepts and without the context of the complete Gospel message end up making warped and discredible applications like "the frying of children"

God Bless

Answer 3

Are you for real ????

We all start our lives on a Journey to experience life
With that come learning from our mistakes so we all have to start somewhere don't we

And who cares what the bible says it was only written and interpreted by man to gain control over the people

What it comes down to at the end of the day is Self responsibility
And faith and understanding in your own self

Love & Blessings
Milly

Answer 4

I don't believe babies sin. How could they? They're still learning about the world. They don't know about good or bad until someone teaches them about it. Also, according to Ezekiel 18:20, children aren't held responsible for their parents' sins. The link below helps prove my point. Enough said.

Answer 5

The first mention of this principle can be found at Numbers 14 (see verse 31 in particular):

28 Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the LORD, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you: 29 The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above. 30 Except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun, you shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in. 31 BUT YOUR LITTLE ONES, WHOM YOU SAID WOULD BE VICTIMS, I will bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised. 32 But as for you, your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness.

This is not to say that God still considers the "age of accountability" to be 19 and under, however. Given the state of society today, we have juveniles rightfully being tried as adults when they commit certain crimes. God decides what the age of accountability is; but you can be certain it's not during infancy!

Answer 6

Babies are born into Adam's sin which has the effects of sickness, death, pain , and the sinful nature. It does not condemn them to spiritual death ( hell ), only physical death. At the age of reason, they ( after committing an act of sin ) become guilty of personal sin , which does condemn them to hell. After salvation , God removes the effect of the sinful nature and after His return to earth he will completely remove all effects of Adam's sin. The Bible isn't really clear about this, but this explanation seams to agree with all passages and agree with God's justice.

The word "hate" in King James Bible means to not like as much as the other. Jesus alos used it when referring to his blood family. It doesn't mean he hates them.

Answer 7

They only sin that is attributed to babies is the original sin
according to christian doctrines and belief.A child is born pure from his/ her mothers womb according to Islam and are
accountable for their sins after they reach the age of Puberty
where they are able to Distinguish Right from wrong.

Answer 8

I think you can find the answer in Romans. In order for there to be sin one has to understand the law. If a child does not comprehend how can they sin.

Answer 9

I'd imagine most responses will make some remark about "intent" (or at least they should), which babies do not have.

Amazingly, that is a concept that religion borrowed from many legal systems; just more proof that man invented god.

Answer 10

It says tha children are sanctified by believing parents. If parents are unbelievers and Christ returns before the child reaches the age of accountability and becomes a believer... well, I wouldn't want to be those parents or the child..

Answer 11

If God hated Esau while he had done nothing wrong in the womb, then do you think he was saved? Our Arminian responders have some explaining to do if they've just proclaimed all babies as innocent.