The Age Of Accountability,
Imputed Righteousness
and Demetrius
Dan Corner
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The Age of
Accountability
Though it is not perfectly clear, there is a time period when a baby and very young person is protected from hell fire over personal sin, which is not sin for them. This is both rational and Scriptural. If not true, then innocent babies and little children would be damned to fiery torment upon their death with no choice of their own to escape, which is unthinkable. Besides that, here is Scriptural support:
Once I was alive apart from law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. (Rom 7:9-11)
Babies and little children are alive, not dead. For each person this age would be different, based on their knowledge and faith:
Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins. (James 4:17)
But the man who has doubts is condemned ifhe eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin. (Rom 14:23)
Young children lack knowledge about right and wrong:
But before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste. (Isa 7:16)
This mysterious age of accountability does exist and the Calvinistic doctrine of infant damnation for the non-elect is shown to be preposterous and out of harmony to the rest of Scriptures like all five points of Calvinism. The Calvinistic false concept of God could allow him to send innocent babies to be tormented in fire forever!
Imputed Righteousness
Imputed righteousness is a doctrine that is both fiercely hated and lovingly embraced. For advocates of eternal security it is an opportunity to sin without concern while thinking God will always see them as righteous. Unfortunately, many are not aware that one’s righteous standing through a submissive faith in Jesus Christ can later be nullified. The righteous can die spiritually. Because this is factual, being shown with many New Testament causalities, one must be mindful of the various spiritual safeguards throughout Scripture given to prevent this. To read more, please see http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/esimputedrighteousness.htm
Demetrius
There can be no doubt that there have been some very amazing conversions to Christianity. The example of Saul of Tarsus, who persecuted Christians to their death and who was later changed into the mighty Apostle Paul, is the ultimate. He was certainly the greatest example of Christianity of all times.
After him there have been others. Of that number the little known Demetrius may have been one of the most noteworthy as well, but we can’t be sure. If that is the case, we first read of him in Acts:
About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in no little business for the craftsmen. He called them together, along with the workmen in related trades, and said: “Men, you know we receive a good income from this business. And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited, and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.” When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”(Acts 19:23-34)
That Demetrius was an idolater, as well as a maker of idols who lived in Ephesus. He stirred up other business people with a speech regarding how Paul’s teachings are not beneficial for their business. The pagan goddess, Artemas, was afterwards praised loudly for 2 hours. The city clerk had to quiet down the commotion. At a later time, John wrote:
Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true. (3 John 12)
Who was the Demetrius John reported well of? Could it be that he was the same Demetrius of Acts 19? If so, he too was one of the greatest conversions to Christianity.
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