OceanSide church of Christ
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ACCOUNTABILITY IS BASED UPON “KNOWLEDGE-ABILITY”
Victor M.
Eskew
INTRODUCTION
A.
Bible teaches that God
will hold all men accountable for their actions.
1.
Romans 14:12
So then every one of us shall give an account of himself to
God.
2.
Matthew 25:19
After a long time the Lord of those servants cometh, and
reckoneth with them.
3.
Revelation 20:12
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and
the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the
book of life:
and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the
books, according to their works.
B.
Again, the question of accountability has never been
disputed. The
age-old question is:
“When do men reach the age of accountability?”
1.
Most will respond: “When one knows the difference between right
and wrong.”
2.
This is a fairly subjective response. Individuals have
been baptized between the ages of 8 and 16 years old.
C.
We will not be able to answer this question to everyone’s
satisfaction.
D.
Our premise is that accountability and “knowledge-ability”
are tied closely together.
I.
TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, ONE MUST HAVE “KNOWLEDGE-ABILITY”
A.
“Knowledge-ability” refers to an individual’s ability to
obtain knowledge.
B.
Salvation definitely involves knowledge.
1.
John 8:32
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you
free.
2.
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh
to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek him.
C.
A
person must have the mental capacities to ingest information that leads to
knowledge. If
one does not have such abilities, God will not hold him accountable.
1.
Infants and toddlers
2.
Those mentally incapacitated from an early age
D.
This group has been referred to as being “safe” in the arms
of Jesus.
1.
They do not possess sin, so they do not need to be
redeemed.
2.
Jesus said that the
But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them
not, to come unto me:
for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
E.
Herein lies the problem in the area of accountability. At what age does
one become accountable?
1.
Accountability is based upon one’s knowledge.
2.
This speaker sincerely believes that we have baptized some
with far too little knowledge. Being able to say the words, hear, believe,
repent, confess, and be baptized, is not enough!
3.
There are many things that must be understood.
a. A
concept of sin, the transgression of God’s law
b. The
need for blood to cleanse
c.
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God
d. The
authority of Christ
e.
Repentance
f.
Baptism
g. The
F.
More time and more teaching will produce real faith, less
doubts in the future, and fewer baptisms that are “in order to be safe,” a
phrase and practice nowhere found in the NT.
II.
ACCOUNTABILITY IS BASED UPON “KNOWLEDGE-AVAILABILITY”
A.
There are some who have the ability to know, but who do not
have knowledge available to them (i.e., those who live in the deep recesses of
the dark rain forests).
B.
These individuals will be held accountable. Because they have
not heard the truth will not render them guiltless. Ignorance of the
law is no excuse.
C.
Argument: How could God do this? These people have
not even heard the truth.
1.
The Bible plainly teaches that these individuals can know
that God exists (Rom. 1:18-20). Too, if they had desired to know His will,
this would have been provided (John 17:17).
If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine,
whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
2.
The disciples were commissioned to go into “all the world”
and preach the gospel to “every creature” (Mark 16:15). Paul said that he
had fulfilled his part in that commission (Col. 1:23).
If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be
not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was
preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a
minister.
If the other apostles completed their responsibilities,
then all men at one point had opportunity to hear and obey the gospel. Thus, people in the
world today have forefathers to blame for their ignorance.
D.
God is a merciful God, however. These individuals
will not be under as severe judgment as those who had His will readily available
to them (Luke 12:47-48).
And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared
not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many
stripes. But
he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with
few stripes.
For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required; and to
whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
III.
“KNOWLEDGE-ADAPTABILITY” IS INVOLVED IN ACCOUNTABILITY
A.
There are those who have both the ability to obtain
knowledge and have knowledge available to them.
B.
These individuals are responsible for adapting the
knowledge of truth to their lives. The Bible term for this is “obedience” (Matt.
24:45-47).
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hat
made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that
servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto
you, that he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
C.
Those who know, but do not adapt truth to their lives shall
suffer greater punishment.
1.
Luke 12:47
And that servant, which new his lord’s will, and prepared
not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many
stripes.
2.
Matthew 11:20-24
Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his
mighty works were done, because they repented not. Woe unto you
Chorazin! Woe
unto thee,
D.
Most who come to our assemblies fall into this
category. They
have the ability to acquire knowledge. Knowledge is presented unto them. Now, they must
adapt the message of truth to their lives. If they do not, they will suffer punishment
greater than the wicked cities of
IV.
ACCOUNTABILITY ALSO INVOLVES “KNOWLEDGE-ANIMOSITY”
A.
John 8:31
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye
continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.
B.
Some have the ability to obtain knowledge. Knowledge has been
made available to them. They have also adapted their lives to that
knowledge.
However, they have turned from the truth they once possessed, loved, and
lived by.
These will be held accountable in a more severe fashion than anyone (II
Pet. 2:20-22).
For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world
through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again
entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the
beginning. For
it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than,
after they have know it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto
them.
CONCLUSION
A.
Again, we must emphasize the accountability and knowledge
go hand-in-hand.
B.
Once we have come in contact with truth, we better embrace
it for the rest of our lives and with every fibre of our being (Prov.
23:23).
ACCOUNTABILITY IS BASED UPON “KNOWLEDGE-ABILITY”
Victor M. Eskew
INTRODUCTION
A.
Bible teaches that God will hold all men accountable for
their actions (Rom. 14:12; Matt. 25:19; Rev. 20:12).
B.
Again, the question of accountability has never been
disputed. The
age-old question is:
“When do men reach the age of accountability?”
1.
Most will respond: “When one knows the difference between right
and wrong.”
2.
This is a fairly subjective response. Individuals have
been baptized between the ages of 8 and 16.
C.
We will not be able to answer this question to everyone’s
satisfaction.
D.
Our premise is that accountability and “knowledge-ability” are tied
closely together.
I.
TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, ONE MUST HAVE “KNOWLEDGE-ABILITY”
A.
“Knowledge-ability” refers to an individual’s ability to obtain
knowledge.
B.
Salvation definitely involves knowledge (John 8:32; Heb. 11:6).
C.
A person must have the mental capacities to ingest information that leads
to knowledge.
If one does not have such abilities, God will not hold him
accountable.
1.
Infants and toddlers
2.
Those mentally incapacitated from an early age
D.
This group has been referred to as being “safe” in the arms of Jesus.
1.
They do not possess sin, so they do not need to be redeemed.
2.
Jesus said that the
E.
Herein lays the problem in the area of accountability. At what age does
one become accountable?
1.
Accountability is based upon one’s knowledge.
2.
This speaker sincerely believes that we have baptized some with far too
little knowledge.
Being able to say the words, hear, believe, repent, confess, and be
baptized, is not enough!
3.
There are many things that must be understood: sin, the blood of
Christ, Jesus is the Son of God, the authority of Christ, repentance, baptism,
and the kingdom.
F.
More time and more teaching will produce real faith, less doubts in the
future, and fewer baptisms that are “in order to be safe,” a phrase and practice
nowhere found in the NT.
II.
ACCOUNTABILITY IS BASED UPON “KNOWLEDGE-AVAILABILITY”
A.
There are some who have the ability to know, but who do not have
knowledge available to them (i.e., those who live in the deep recesses of the
dark rain forests).
B.
These individuals will be held accountable. Because they have
not heard the truth will not render them guiltless. Ignorance of the
law is no excuse.
C.
Argument:
How could God do this? These people have not even heard the
truth.
1.
The Bible plainly teaches that these individuals can know that God exists
(Rom. 1:18-20).
Too, if
they had desired to know His will, this would have been
provided (John 17:17).
2.
The disciples were commissioned to go into “all the world” and preach the
gospel to “every
creature” (Mark 16:15). Paul said that he had fulfilled his part in
that commission (Col. 1:23).
If the other apostles completed their responsibilities,
then all men at one point had opportunity to hear and obey the gospel. Thus, people in the
world today have forefathers to blame for their ignorance.
D.
God is a merciful God, however. These individuals will not be under as severe
judgment as those who had His will readily available to them (Luke
12:47-48).
III.
“KNOWLEDGE-ADAPTABILITY” IS INVOLVED IN ACCOUNTABILITY
A.
here are those who have both the ability to obtain
knowledge and have knowledge available to them.
B.
These individuals are responsible for adapting the
knowledge of truth to their lives. The Bible term for this is “obedience” (Matt.
24:45-47).
C.
Those who know, but do not adapt truth to their lives shall
suffer greater punishment (Luke 12:47; Matthew 11:20-24).
D.
Most who come to our assemblies fall into this
category. They
have the ability to acquire knowledge. Knowledge is presented unto them. Now, they must
adapt the message of truth to their lives. If they do not, they will suffer punishment
greater than the wicked cities of
IV.
ACCOUNTABILITY ALSO INVOLVES “KNOWLEDGE-ANIMOSITY”
A.
John 8:31
B.
Some have the ability to obtain knowledge. Knowledge has been made available to
them. They
have also adapted their lives to that knowledge. However, they have turned from the truth they
once possessed, loved, and lived by. These will be held accountable in a more
severe fashion than anyone (II Pet. 2:20-22).
CONCLUSION
A.
Again, we must emphasize the accountability and knowledge go
hand-in-hand.
B.
Once we have come in contact with truth, we better embrace it for the
rest of our lives and with every fiber of our being (Prov. 23:23).
ACCOUNTABILITY IS BASED UPON “KNOWLEDGE-ABILITY”
Victor M. Eskew
INTRODUCTION
A.
Bible teaches that God will hold ____ men accountable for
their actions (Rom. 14:12; Matt. 25:19; Rev. 20:12).
B.
Again, the question of accountability has never been
disputed. The
age-old question is:
“_________ do men reach the age of accountability?”
1.
Most will respond: “When one knows the difference between
___________ and ___________.”
2.
This is a subjective response. Youth have been baptized between the ages of 8
and 16 years old.
C.
We will not be able to answer this question to everyone’s
satisfaction.
D.
premise is that accountability and “____________________-ability” are
tied closely together.
I.
TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, ONE MUST HAVE “KNOWLEDGE-ABILITY”
A.
Knowledge-ability” refers to an individual’s ability to ______________
knowledge.
B.
_______________ definitely involves knowledge (John 8:32; Heb. 11:6).
C.
erson must have the mental _______________ to ingest information that
leads to knowledge.
If one does not have such abilities, God will not hold him
accountable.
1.
Infants and toddlers
2.
The mentally incapacitated from an early age
D.
This group has been referred to as being “_____________” in the arms of
Jesus.
1.
They do not possess sin, so they do not need to be redeemed.
2.
Jesus said that the
E.
Herein lies the problem in the area of accountability. At what age does
one become accountable?
1.
Accountability is based upon one’s knowledge.
2.
This speaker sincerely believes that we have baptized some with far too
__________ knowledge.
Being able to say the words, hear, believe, repent, confess, and be
baptized, is ________ enough!
3.
There are many things that must be understood: sin, the blood of
Christ, Jesus is the Son of God, the authority of Christ, repentance, baptism,
and the kingdom.
F.
More time and more teaching will produce real __________, less
____________ in the future, and fewer baptisms that are “in order to be safe,” a
phrase and practice nowhere found in the NT.
II.
ACCOUNTABILITY IS BASED UPON “KNOWLEDGE-_________________________”
A.
There are some who have the ability to know, but who do not have
knowledge available to them (i.e., those who live in the deep recesses of the
dark rain forests).
B.
These individuals _________ be held accountable. Because they have
not heard the truth will not render them guiltless.
_____________________ of the law is no excuse.
C.
Argument:
How could God do this? These people have not even heard the
truth.
1.
The Bible plainly teaches that these individuals can know that God
________ (Rom. 1:18-20). Too, if they had desired to know His will,
this would have been provided (John 17:17).
2.
The disciples were commissioned to go into “all the world” and preach the
gospel to “every creature” (Mark 16:15). Paul said that he had fulfilled his part in
that commission (Col. 1:23). If the other apostles completed their
responsibilities, then all men at one point had opportunity to hear and obey the
gospel. Thus,
people in the world today have _____________ to blame for their ignorance.
D.
God is a merciful God, however. These individuals will not be under as
____________ judgment as those who had His will readily available to them (Luke
12:47-48).
III.
“KNOWLEDGE-______________________” IS INVOLVED IN ACCOUNTABILITY
A.
There are those who have both the ability to obtain
knowledge and have knowledge available to them.
B.
These individuals are responsible for adapting the
knowledge of truth to their lives. The Bible term for this is
“____________________” (Matt. 24:45-47).
C.
Those who know, but do not adapt truth to their lives shall
suffer _______________ punishment (Luke 12:47; Matthew 11:20-24).
D.
Most who come to our assemblies fall into this
category. They
have the ability to acquire knowledge. Knowledge is presented unto them. Now, they must
adapt the message of truth to their lives. If they do not, they will suffer punishment
greater than the wicked cities of
IV.
ACCOUNTABILITY ALSO INVOLVES “KNOWLEDGE-_______________________”
A.
John 8:31
B.
Some have the ability to obtain knowledge. Knowledge has been
made available to them. They have also adapted their lives to that
knowledge.
However, they have __________ from the truth they once possessed, loved,
and lived by.
These will be held accountable in a more severe fashion than anyone (II
Pet. 2:20-22).
CONCLUSION
A.
Again, we must emphasize the accountability and
_____________________ go hand-in-hand.
B.
Once we have come in contact with truth, we better embrace
it for the rest of our lives and with every fiber of our being (Prov.
23:23).