Post by Eli Brayley on Jun 13, 2008 8:00:01 GMT -7
While I do not believe that crying babies is an evidence of sin, I do in fact believe that babies are born sinful. You are either a 'son of Adam' or a 'son of God', either a new creation in Christ or the old creation in Adam. The one is created in righteousness and true holiness, the other is corrupted by sin and Satan. However, having said that, I also believe there's more to this issue than meets the eye since the Bible is quite clear that children do not go to hell, but to heaven. How does that work?
The answer, I believe, is found in Romans 5:12-13,
"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: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law."
This verse is describing the sin of Adam by which death entered the world, but notice how it includes all men in his sin by saying "all have sinned" (past tense). All men, of the first creation, sinned in Adam... death came upon all men through his one sin because we all were there in his loins: his seed was corrupted. Thus, being a 'son of Adam' carries with it a death sentence. "Thou turnest [enosh] to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye sons of [adam]." (Psalm 90:3) All men who are born are descendants of Adam, and therefore are born of a corruptible seed, stained with sin and destined to die.
Therefore babies die, for they are inherently sinful, but where is a baby's eternal destination? The Scripture cannot allow for hell. Jesus said, "Suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 19:14), and that, "their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 16:27) There are many Scripture's that speak of children's innocence of right and wrong (ex. Deuteronomy 1:39, Isaiah 7:16), so that even though they are indeed born corrupt, they are completely unable to comprehend their own state, good and evil, and the law of God. And therefore, because of this innocency, they have no conscience or law to condemn them.
"For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law." (Romans 5:13)
For until the law, sin was in the child, but sin is not imputed where there is no law. There is no condemnation to one whom there is no law. And this beautiful truth is the very same for born again Christians, who are dead to the old man and are made alive in Christ: "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus", because "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death!" The Christian is also free from condemnation because in Christ he is dead to law, it no longer has any claims upon him. Any man or woman who has died with Christ by faith is as legally innocent and pure as a little child, even though they may still feel the corruption of their flesh yet within them. Sin is not imputed where there is no law. "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin." (Romans 4:8)
This is how I reconcile original sin with the heavenly acceptance of children, and not only children, but the heavenly acceptance of all the sinful men and women who have been made pure and righteous in Christ, no thanks to themselves.
God bless,
-Eli
The answer, I believe, is found in Romans 5:12-13,
"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: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law."
This verse is describing the sin of Adam by which death entered the world, but notice how it includes all men in his sin by saying "all have sinned" (past tense). All men, of the first creation, sinned in Adam... death came upon all men through his one sin because we all were there in his loins: his seed was corrupted. Thus, being a 'son of Adam' carries with it a death sentence. "Thou turnest [enosh] to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye sons of [adam]." (Psalm 90:3) All men who are born are descendants of Adam, and therefore are born of a corruptible seed, stained with sin and destined to die.
Therefore babies die, for they are inherently sinful, but where is a baby's eternal destination? The Scripture cannot allow for hell. Jesus said, "Suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 19:14), and that, "their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 16:27) There are many Scripture's that speak of children's innocence of right and wrong (ex. Deuteronomy 1:39, Isaiah 7:16), so that even though they are indeed born corrupt, they are completely unable to comprehend their own state, good and evil, and the law of God. And therefore, because of this innocency, they have no conscience or law to condemn them.
"For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law." (Romans 5:13)
For until the law, sin was in the child, but sin is not imputed where there is no law. There is no condemnation to one whom there is no law. And this beautiful truth is the very same for born again Christians, who are dead to the old man and are made alive in Christ: "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus", because "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death!" The Christian is also free from condemnation because in Christ he is dead to law, it no longer has any claims upon him. Any man or woman who has died with Christ by faith is as legally innocent and pure as a little child, even though they may still feel the corruption of their flesh yet within them. Sin is not imputed where there is no law. "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin." (Romans 4:8)
This is how I reconcile original sin with the heavenly acceptance of children, and not only children, but the heavenly acceptance of all the sinful men and women who have been made pure and righteous in Christ, no thanks to themselves.
God bless,
-Eli