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Vlad Stepanov | PentecostalTheology.com
What happens to infants and children, of Christian and non-Christian parents, who die before having the chance to hear and accept the Gospel?
Stan Wayne [01/28/2016 2:06 PM]
Good question – very complex -obviously the scripture does not address this head on so we have make deductions – of we have the concept of “suffer the little children – of such is the Kinngdom” and “except YE become as a child”
Tim Cushen [01/28/2016 3:21 PM]
If a child has committed no sin (certainly infants and young children fit this category) then the prevailing thought would be entry into heaven.
John Kissinger [01/28/2016 3:37 PM]
But aren’t all children born in sin? There was a similar discussion on that not long ago if ALL CHILDREN TAKEN IN THE RAPTURE? http://www.pentecostaltheology.com/all-children-taken-in-the-rapture/
Tim Cushen [01/28/2016 4:26 PM]
I would respectfully disagree. A child that has not the ability to know right from wrong cannot commit sin
John Ruffle [01/28/2016 4:42 PM]
Jesus takes them home.
David Lewayne Porter [01/28/2016 5:33 PM]
Just a question but do children have knowledge of sin?
Romans 5:13
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
Age of accountability, just asking.
John Conger [01/28/2016 8:41 PM]
I believe Paul addressed this in Rom. 7 :9-For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.He was held innocent (or at least nit guilty) until a particular time came and he was held accountable and spiritually died. Remember where sin is not imputed there’s no law and therefore no death
Varnel Watson
A good discussion from back in the day perhaps worth revisiting
Anonymous
Good question – very complex -obviously the scripture does not address this head on so we have make deductions – of we have the concept
Anonymous
To ask the question is to have a man centered view of salvation, assuming that one must be mentally competent to make a choice, and that man’s choice, not God’s sovereignty, is the determining factor in salvation. And that the very young, for example, are somehow “innocent.”
Scripture says all have sinned, there is none righteous, no one seeks after God.
All have sinned and the wages of sin is death.
We are all fallen, corrupted and sinful from conception.
All need redemption.
All who are redeemed were chosen by God in eternity past.
And just FYI, we lost Nathaniel James 5 months into pregnancy. We know the pain.
Dr MacArthur favors infant salvation. His book is, Safe in the Arms of God.
Anonymous
Duane L Burgess Philip Williams
anyone who believes that God sends innocent children to Hell because they weren’t chosen from eternity past believes in a different God then me. Who ever believes that might as well be a Mormon or a JW in my opinion.
Duane L. Burgess, to even slightly consider that your own lost child may not be with God right now is just sickening.
David mourned for his child while he was sick and dying and as soon as the child died: 2 Samuel 12:20-23 (KJV) 20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed [himself], and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat. 21 Then said his servants unto him, What thing [is] this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, [while it was] alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. 22 And 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? 23 But 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.
And yes absolutely it is up to man to answer back the call unto salvation. Calvinism is heretical and blasphemous to the gospel.
Anonymous
Scripture speaks of a child being old enough to know right from wrong. That’s a requirement for sin according to Paul.
Anonymous
Philip Williams at what age
Anonymous
Brett Dobbs
“He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.” Isaiah 7:15-16
I believe earlier than 12, the age often used.
Anonymous
Philip Williams I would have to agree.
Anonymous
Philip Williams so what happens?
Anonymous
Brett Dobbs tell us Philip Williams
Anonymous
Troy Day age of accountability
Anonymous
Brett Dobbs well Philip Williams refuses to tell us
Anonymous
Troy Day after the age of accountability then the kid is responsible for his or her sins. And needs to repent trust in Jesus to save them.
Ezekiel 18
Anonymous
Brett Dobbs the BIBLE speaks of NO such age of accountability John Mushenhouse could give us more exegesis on this one here
Anonymous
Troy Day
“He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.” Isaiah 7:15-16
Anonymous
Troy Day
When Moses sent the spies into the promise land and they all except for Joshua and Caleb came back fearful because of the giants in the land. God punished them by not allowing all of Israel to go into the land. Except for their children. And here’s why.
Deuteronomy 1:39-40 (NKJV) 39 ‘Moreover your little ones and your children, who you say will be victims, who today have no knowledge of good and evil, they shall go in there; to them I will give it, and they shall possess it. 40 ‘But [as for] you, turn and take your journey into the wilderness by the Way of the Red Sea.’
Romans 2:11-16 (KJV) 11 For there is no respect of persons with God. 12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; 13 (For not the hearers of the law [are] just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and [their] thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) 16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
I think this would also apply to children as well. And a child’s moral compass takes time to develop.
Anonymous
Brett Dobbs you really think a child @ 12 has such knowledge of good and evil? Have you any children that are 12?
Anonymous
Troy Day I don’t necessarily think that it’s exactly at the age of 12. It really depends on the child. Some may come to a good understanding by the age of 10 and maybe some come to the age at around 14.
Anonymous
Brett Dobbs there are various ancient traditions
there were kings crowned much younger
the Jewish Bar Mitzvah should be considered
BUT all these are relevant to culture and do change in various cultures and times – a child @ 12 today do not have the mindset of an OT Jew from the Bible at age 12 – not the same to compare
ONE thing is FOR SURE the BIBLE does NOT set age of accountability as a biblical term, age to consider or anything written on stone – it is all cultural and personal interpretation that changes through life and history
Anonymous
Children are born sinners because they have a sin nature passed on them by man originally from the sin of Adam. A child or any person who cannot fathom right from wrong are innocent.
Anonymous
Acts 17:26-27 (NKJV) 26 “And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 “so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;
Anonymous
Very good question which most theologians do.not have an answer.
A child is just a grown up person in his earlu years because inside of a child is a spirit …which is ageless.