To me, it means we have consciously chosen to do that which we know is against the will of God.
Society does not imprison small children for accidentally starting fires, nor does it criminally hold culpable the mentally deficient.
Why would anyone imagine a God with less mercy than the common legal system?
“Why would anyone imagine a God with less mercy than the common legal system?”
Which is why we leave it to God to make judgements between actions he undertakes to show mercy verses condemnation. The Bible only says what happens when men hear the truth and do not heed it, it does not say how God will judge folks who died as babes or never got the chance to fully hear the truth. That is why we must trust God to judge rightly and fairly. Christ said it would be more tolerable for those of Sodom in the judgment then it would be for those who rejected His message(when he sent the disciples out to preach); that gives you a clue as to how fair and loving God is in his judgment!