My dear readers,

Answering Remaining Questions from Calvary Pandan Church Camp 2024 (5)

Question 1: Is there an exact age of accountability? Does it apply to those who have an intellectual disability and have trouble understanding the gospel?

Answer 1: The age of accountability depends on the individual’s maturity. In legal terms [Church Constitution, Article 8.1.1(d)], a person is not old enough to vote in Congregational Meetings until he is 21 years old. His age of accountability (in voting) is 21 years. In Singapore, a child needs parental written consent before being baptized if he is below 21 years old [Article 8.8.4]. The age of accountability for baptism is 21 years. When it comes to the age of accountability for salvation, it will be based upon the child’s mental and emotional maturity to know the difference between right and wrong, and his capacity to understand the message and significance of the gospel of Christ. He needs to understand the concept of sin, death and hell. He needs to understand God’s love for him and why Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came from heaven to be born of the virgin to live, suffer and die for his sin. He needs to understand the meaning of being raised from the dead. Once the child can understand these truths, he has reached the age of accountability to be saved by God in Christ.

As to the ones who have an intellectual disability all their lives and cannot understand the gospel but are also born in sin like every child, can they be saved from their sin? Like babies who die before the age of accountability, they possess only the original sin and do not commit any willful sin. We know babies or children who die before the age of accountability can be saved from their original sin inherited from the first Adam. The example from the Bible is taught in 2 Samuel 12:22-23: “²²And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? ²³But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” King David’s baby who was conceived out of wedlock (in an adulterous relationship with Bathsheba) died. After the baby died, King David said that he would go to his dead baby one day, which means the baby had gone to heaven, and would not return to him. We know that King David went to heaven after his death. The question is, “How is a baby or child who die before the age of accountability saved by God in Christ?”

When a believer receives Christ, he needs to confess with his mouth and believe in his heart to be saved (cf. Rom 10:9-10) because he has the original sin and has committed many willful sins against God. When he is born again in Christ, he is imputed with the righteousness of God. Romans 4:23-25: “²³Now it was not written for his sake alone [Abraham], that it was imputed to him; ²⁴But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; ²⁵Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”

The imputation of the righteousness of God in Christ will take place in the life of the baby or child who dies before the age of accountability and has not committed wilful sin; they do not need to “confess” like Abraham, an adult believer. Jesus saves them by imputing them with the righteousness of God, just as He does for all believers. Since all without intellectual disability must believe in Christ to be saved, they will be given the understanding of the gospel of Christ according to the Holy Scriptures.

Those who are born with an intellectual disability are like a child all their lives, thus when they die, they will be saved like children who die before the age of accountability. Furthermore, they will not remain as babies or intellectually disabled in heaven. They will be in spirit only like all believers who have died in Christ until the day of glorification. God will give all His children a glorified body that is spiritual, immortal, powerful, and glorious at Christ’s return.

Another question is, “Will all babies before they reach the age of accountability and born with an intellectual disability be saved when they die, or only some will be saved?” There are four views. The first view is no one knows. The second view is that only babies (including all born with an intellectual disability) born to a Christian parent are saved. The third view is that babies (including all born with an intellectual disability) are elected by God just as God elects adults to be saved. The fourth view is that all babies (including all who are born with an intellectual disability) are saved. My personal view is the fourth view, which is that God is a God of mercy and love and will save all of them because He is a gracious God.

Question 2: Is a child still a gift from God if a married couple conceives through IVF? Is it against God and unbiblical to go through IVF since it breaks the Sixth Commandment (“Thou shalt not kill”)? Would the child then be cursed and bear the consequences of his/her parents if it is wrong?

Answer 2: “In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a process of fertilization where an egg is combined with sperm in vitro (‘in glass’). The process involves monitoring a woman’s ovulatory process, removing an ovum or ova (egg or eggs) from their ovaries and letting a man’s sperm fertilize them in a culture medium in a laboratory. After the fertilized egg (zygote) undergoes embryo culture for 2-6 days, it is transferred by catheter into the uterus, with the intention of establishing a successful pregnancy.” [Wikipedia] 

Whether the fertilized egg will survive in the mother’s womb is in God's sovereign hand. God is still the One who gives life and takes life. Therefore, the “child” born via IVF is no less a gift from God. Life begins once fertilization occurs.

IVF process of conception is a medical option available in our time. The biblical guideline is whether this medical option breaks God’s teaching. The Sixth Commandment teaches man not to kill. If the IVF process does not involve killing, then there is no prohibition. Suppose parents desire to seek God’s will for a child using IVF, like all medical treatments, e.g. surgeries, organ transplants, machines to keep a person alive, etc., available today for the extension of life. In that case, God is still the ultimate decider. It is considered God's will that the child be born to the family. No curse is attached to this procedure of seeking God’s will for a child.

Life begins under many terrible situations, such as children born out of wedlock or rape by evil men. One must never think or say that these children born are “cursed” because of how their life began. It is hurtful to the parents and children and is a sin. God is sovereign. When the Bible says that God has ordained us before the foundation of the world, it includes every means by which the child begins his existence. Psalm 76:10: “Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.” What matters is when a person receives Christ as Lord and Saviour, he is blessed with the mind of Christ to understand and accept joyfully God's sovereignty in his life. He has been specially made by God, including his past experiences. His loving heavenly Father ordained them to shape and mould him into who he is today! For the child of God to not accept and be thankful for his past implies that he believes God has made a mistake, which is a sin against God.