When a baby sins, is it because of his own sin or Adam’s inherited sin?

This is kind of a loaded question, because a baby is obviously not born with a sinful record. If a baby in a Christian family dies, those parents will see that baby in the resurrection. But if the baby lives on, we know what happens. Every human is born with a sinful nature, and we all have sinful tendencies.

The Bible says, “All have sinned.” Now this means committed sin. That baby, eventually, will understand the difference between right and wrong and likely will choose wrong at some point, because that’s what our sinful nature leads us to do.

Some have also wondered what the age of accountability is, but the Bible is not specific on this subject. However, in the wilderness experience, those who didn’t believe perished in the wilderness— and this included anybody that was 20 years or older. I don’t believe you could fight in the army until you were 20 years of age. And in the Jewish culture, a boy is considered a man when he turns 12. He can go to the temple and participate in the services. So I would conclude that somewhere between 10 and 20, a young man or woman becomes accountable for sin.

People often wonder about Jesus’ life as a baby. He was born with a clean record—and every baby on entrance into this world is sparkling clean as far as the record of sin. However, we are born selfish creatures. Jesus was born with the same potential to sin as you and I have. That’s why the Bible says He was “tempted in all points, even as we are.” The only difference is this: He didn’t sin. That’s why He can be our High Priest and Advocate. He was not born as some kind of superman—immune to any kind of contamination. He wrestled with temptation, but He never gave in, giving us an example that if He could overcome by trusting the Father, we also can overcome by trusting Him.

Key Bible Texts

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23 KJV)