The Age of Accountability

[koreahog2005]

Acts 16:25 says that Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God. There's no mention of the law and gospel, and there's no mention of the jailer listening. Plus, it sounds like the jailer was asleep during that time (Acts 16:27). Aren't you assuming quite a bit?

 

[John Gilmore]

Originally posted by Matt Black:
Also John, ref your penultimate post, how are 'believe' and 'repent' (your words) not 'doing' words?

Yours in Christ

Matt

Dead people can not do anything. Eph. 2:1; 1 Cor. 2:14.

 

[John Gilmore]

koreahog2005,

There's no mention of the law and gospel, and there's no mention of the jailer listening. Aren't you assuming quite a bit?

I know faith comes from hearing not inner enlightenment.

 

[koreahog2005]

But if the jailer was asleep, how could he hear (Acts 16:27)?

 

[Matt Black]

Originally posted by John Gilmore:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Matt Black:
Also John, ref your penultimate post, how are 'believe' and 'repent' (your words) not 'doing' words?

Yours in Christ

Matt

Dead people can not do anything. Eph. 2:1; 1 Cor. 2:14. </font>[/QUOTE]That doesn't answer the question at all! 'Repent' and 'believe' are quite clearly verbs.

Yours in Christ

Matt

 

[John Gilmore]

Originally posted by koreahog2005:
But if the jailer was asleep, how could he hear (Acts 16:27)?

How can infants hear? The prisoners did hear and believe the gospel because none of them fled. Acts 16:28. And, if the jailor had children, they all heard the word and were baptized that same night. Acts 16:32, 33.

[ September 06, 2004, 11:58 AM: Message edited by: John Gilmore ]

 

[John Gilmore]

Originally posted by Matt Black:
'Repent' and 'believe' are quite clearly verbs.

Yours in Christ

Matt

"I am" also has a verb but nothing is being done.

 

[Matt Black]

I didn't think this would descend to a lecture on the English language, but so be it!

'Repent' and 'believe' are ACTIVE verbs - they require action on the subject's part.

'I am' and 'be blessed' are PASSIVE verbs requiring no action on the subject's part

Yours in Christ

Matt

 

[koreahog2005]

John, infants cannot intellectually understand the gospel before they die as infants. Adults cannot hear the gospel being preached when they are asleep. The jailer was asleep when Paul and Silas were singing praise hymns. The sequence of events is clear:

1. Paul and Silas sang while the other prisoners listened at midnight.
2. An earthquake occurred.
3. The jailer was roused out of his sleep.
4. The jailer assumed the prisoners had escaped.
5. The jailer was about to kill himself.
6. Paul let the jailer know that all the prisoners were still there.
7. The jailer asked, "What must I do to be saved?"
8. Paul and Silas answered his question.
9. Paul and Silas "spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house" (Acts 16:32).
10. The jailer and all his household were baptized, "having believed in God with his whole household" (Acts 16:34). The Bible doesn't specify the ages of those in his household, but they all believed in God.
It's bedtime in Korea.

 

[John Gilmore]

Originally posted by Matt Black:
I didn't think this would descend to a lecture on the English language, but so be it!

'Repent' and 'believe' are ACTIVE verbs - they require action on the subject's part.

'I am' and 'be blessed' are PASSIVE verbs requiring no action on the subject's part

Yours in Christ

Matt

I don't want to get into English grammer either. Scripture makes it clear that man's role in salvation is purely passive. 2 Tim. 1:9. So verbs such as hear, believe, repent, be baptized, be born again, etc. must be understood in their passive sense.

 

[John Gilmore]

Originally posted by koreahog2005:
The jailer was asleep when Paul and Silas were singing praise hymns.

We know that the jailor was awake when he put Paul and Silas in stocks. He fell asleep sometime afterwards and before the earthquake. We do not know whether or not he heard Paul and Silas praying and singing.

 

[koreahog2005]

John, you said:

We do not know whether or not he heard Paul and Silas praying and singing.

Thanks for acknowledging that much. Maybe we should try to get the discussion back on the subject of the age of accountability.

 

[John Gilmore]

koreahog,

10. The jailer and all his household were baptized, "having believed in God with his whole household" (Acts 16:34). The Bible doesn't specify the ages of those in his household, but they all believed in God.

Or "believing in God with all his house." KJV Those who follow a theology of no infant faith or baptism, infant faith but no baptism, or no infant faith but baptism, must conclude that there were no infants in the house. Those who follow a theology of infant faith and baptism admit the possibility of infants in the house.

 

[I Am Blessed 24]

I think "stage of accountability" would be a much better way to describe 'awareness of sin' than "age of accountability"...

 

[koreahog2005]

John, Acts 16:32 states, "And they spoke the word of God to him together with all who were in his house." Those that heard him believed (Acts 16:34). It seems obvious to me that those who heard him speaking could intellectually understand what he was saying before they believed. Apparently you and I will never agree on the meaning of "faith" or "believe." We are going to have to agree to disagree. I don't think infants are capable of faith before they die physically as infants. If I am proved wrong on earth or in heaven, I promise I will stand still in humility when you tell me, "I told you so." If you want to discuss this passage further or move on to another passage, I'll be glad to do so.

 

[koreahog2005]

"I am blessed 16", I agree with you. That is an interesting name. You look very young. . . but maybe a bit beyond 16 years of age. I am guessing that the "16" has a different meaning.

 

[koreahog2005]

Sue, I just looked at your web site. You can't be 59!

 

[koreahog2005]

I get it now -- 16 grandchildren -- you are blessed!

 

[I Am Blessed 24]

koreahog

Yes, I am a 'bit' beyond 16. That picture was taken three years ago. I will be 60 in November...

And I have been blessed with 16 beautiful grandchildren!

§ue

 

[John Gilmore]

koreahog2005,

No, natural man is not able to intellectually understand or receive the things of the Spirit. 1 Cor. 2:14. Adults can not of their own reason or strength believe in Christ Jesus or come to Him. But the Holy Spirit has called them to the faith of Christ by the gospel.