Church of Christ · System Teaching
When Does a Person Become a Sinner?
Other ways you may hear this claim (2)
The Church of Christ booklet teaches that a person becomes guilty through his own sin rather than inheriting another person’s guilt. Ezekiel 18:20 strongly supports personal responsibility. The separate question of human sinfulness, mortality, and the effects of Adam must still be handled passage by passage.
WHAT THE TEXT CLEARLY SAYS
Ezekiel 18:20“The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father...”
Scripture holds people responsible for their own sin. James 1:14–15 traces temptation, lust, sin, and death. Mark 10:14 treats little children as fitting examples of those to whom the kingdom belongs.
WHAT MUST NOT BE ASSUMED
The Bible does not give a universal numerical “age of accountability.” Nor should Psalm 51:5 or Romans 5 be dismissed without exegesis. This issue should not be used as a shortcut for the separate baptism question.