Today in my Pentecostal Theology class there sparked a discussion on whether we as humans are born with original sin or original innocence. i.e. are we born as sinful beings or as innocent beings because we have not yet sinned?
Moreover, if a baby/child dies do they go to heaven or to hell? Original innocence suggests that if they die before committing their first sin, then they get into heaven on their own merit of a sinless life. However, Christianity teaches that nobody bar nobody gets into heaven on their own merit, but it is only through Christ's atonement of their sinfulness/sinful nature that gets us in. There is no biblical evidence for us being born innocent until we sin. Hmmm... Is not every person that enters the world doomed to sin?
What are we therefore saying? That young babies/children who die without accepting Christ are going to hell? That's a bit strong, ain't it? But are we always looking for a theological loophole to make us feel better and fit our circumstances? Also, what about God's grace?
In the 3 minutes that this discussion lasted, I concluded that we are born with original sin and that God is still the judge of all people, of which we play no part in, and He is a just and fair God.
I hope that this, my Torchbearing buddies, provides food for thought, and I'd love to hear those thoughts...
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you may want to read this article it might be helpful and edifying to you as you contemplate these issues.
Are those Who Die in Infancy Saved?
By Dr. Sam Storms
www.enjoyinggodministries.com/article2.asp?id=177
Rob Whittaker covered this, but I dont know if it was in spring school or winter-- if spring, you missed it. His answer to this question was that it rests in the fact that we have a fair/just God.. and he went on to explain that babies die because of all kinds of things -- not because God decided to kill them. God simply allows bad things to happen sometimes.. (we already know that whole deal) And so Rob suggested that God perhaps can see what the baby/diabled person's heart WOULD be.. in other words, if they had the opportunity to live out a "normal" life, and had the chance to accept Jesus, would they?
I dont know how i feel about that answer, but it's a start..
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