Comments on: Do children, babies, or aborted babies go to Heaven? http://blackandreformedministries.com/2008/03/19/do-children-babies-or-aborted-babies-go-to-heaven/ "But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises." Hebrews 8:6 Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:23:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: Kathy http://blackandreformedministries.com/2008/03/19/do-children-babies-or-aborted-babies-go-to-heaven/#comment-1045 Kathy Sun, 04 May 2008 02:36:53 +0000 http://blackandreformedministries.wordpress.com/?p=149#comment-1045 Scottie, I second that request. I've read through the Bible several times and have yet to find any that speak of an "age of accountability." It appears to me to be a man-made doctrine, because it sounds nice to say that God must let all the little kids go to heaven because they're too young to know what they're doing. That may be the case, but it seems to violate Scriptures that teach that man is desperately wicked from birth (even conception, being the seed of Adam), and does not deserve to be saved. Anyway, our church (a sovereign grace Baptist church) has never taught about an "age of accountability", so I may be wrong on this, but I think that picking the age of 12 (as some do) is based on the Jewish tradition of Bar Mitzvah, although I don't think it's in the Bible. I'm not sure about this, but I think the only time the age of 12 is mentioned is when Jesus was at the Temple talking with the Jewish religious leaders. I'm not sure why some people pick the age of 3, or whatever other age they pick. I look forward to hearing more of the reasoning behind this, because I've never fully understood it myself. Scottie,

I second that request. I’ve read through the Bible several times and have yet to find any that speak of an “age of accountability.” It appears to me to be a man-made doctrine, because it sounds nice to say that God must let all the little kids go to heaven because they’re too young to know what they’re doing. That may be the case, but it seems to violate Scriptures that teach that man is desperately wicked from birth (even conception, being the seed of Adam), and does not deserve to be saved. Anyway, our church (a sovereign grace Baptist church) has never taught about an “age of accountability”, so I may be wrong on this, but I think that picking the age of 12 (as some do) is based on the Jewish tradition of Bar Mitzvah, although I don’t think it’s in the Bible. I’m not sure about this, but I think the only time the age of 12 is mentioned is when Jesus was at the Temple talking with the Jewish religious leaders. I’m not sure why some people pick the age of 3, or whatever other age they pick. I look forward to hearing more of the reasoning behind this, because I’ve never fully understood it myself.

]]> By: scottie3371 http://blackandreformedministries.com/2008/03/19/do-children-babies-or-aborted-babies-go-to-heaven/#comment-1028 scottie3371 Fri, 02 May 2008 00:56:00 +0000 http://blackandreformedministries.wordpress.com/?p=149#comment-1028 Can someone be kind enough to show me the passages on "the age of accountability". I would like to study this topic according to the Word and make sure that I am studying it in context. I don't want to get duped into believing a man made notion like the secret rapture thing. Thanks! Can someone be kind enough to show me the passages on “the age of accountability”. I would like to study this topic according to the Word and make sure that I am studying it in context. I don’t want to get duped into believing a man made notion like the secret rapture thing. Thanks!

]]> By: scottie3371 http://blackandreformedministries.com/2008/03/19/do-children-babies-or-aborted-babies-go-to-heaven/#comment-1026 scottie3371 Fri, 02 May 2008 00:34:48 +0000 http://blackandreformedministries.wordpress.com/?p=149#comment-1026 I would say that this is a touchy subject which I don't think anyone can definitively answer beyond a shadow of a doubt. All we can do is study God's Word for what it does say and not add or detract anything from it. That being said, I think a lot of responses come from a personal viewpoint: "How could God hold a baby accountable?", "How could God hold a mentally retarded person accountable?", etc. Of course it would be very hard for someone who just lost a baby or knows a retarded family member to doubt that God absolutely saved their loved one. But someone in this situation, no doubt. would/could be hyper-sensitive to rationally exegete this subject. But what does God say about His nature and the only way to salvation? A truly reformed mindset would recognize that we are all born rebellious to God. We are enemies of God and deserving of His wrath. There is only one way to change that. The Holy Spirit initiates salvation to the elect. We can't initiate it. God chose us; we didn't choose Him. That is what a true Reformed/Calvinistic viewpoint admits. It is because of irresistible grace and limited atonement that some are saved and others are not. I agree with those who said that if all babies go to heaven then it would make sense that abortion would be a positive alternative instead of looking at it for what it truly is: murder. I can't say whether God elects all babies to salvation. Only He knows all that He does and why He does it. And I guarantee you that what He does is for one purpose, and one purpose only: His glory! So, we must trust Him in all things known and unknown. As painful and uncertain as that can be it is imperative in the life of a true Christian. Lionel and others that are seriously considering this topic, please check out this link. I thought it was a gracious exposition of Scripture dealing with this topic. God bless! http://www.a1m.org/page.php?page=template1.php&pageid=5a878f5478326e3e8ec698d7e9640187 BTW, let's not forget what Romans 9:14-24 says about those God elects and those He doesn't. It has nothing to do with us and what we do or don't do. It's completely about Him and what He chooses to do. He is the potter and we are the clay. No one has a justifiable right to question God's decision in creating us as a vessel of mercy or a vessel of wrath. It's His choice, not ours. I would say that this is a touchy subject which I don’t think anyone can definitively answer beyond a shadow of a doubt. All we can do is study God’s Word for what it does say and not add or detract anything from it. That being said, I think a lot of responses come from a personal viewpoint: “How could God hold a baby accountable?”, “How could God hold a mentally retarded person accountable?”, etc. Of course it would be very hard for someone who just lost a baby or knows a retarded family member to doubt that God absolutely saved their loved one. But someone in this situation, no doubt. would/could be hyper-sensitive to rationally exegete this subject. But what does God say about His nature and the only way to salvation? A truly reformed mindset would recognize that we are all born rebellious to God. We are enemies of God and deserving of His wrath. There is only one way to change that. The Holy Spirit initiates salvation to the elect. We can’t initiate it. God chose us; we didn’t choose Him. That is what a true Reformed/Calvinistic viewpoint admits. It is because of irresistible grace and limited atonement that some are saved and others are not. I agree with those who said that if all babies go to heaven then it would make sense that abortion would be a positive alternative instead of looking at it for what it truly is: murder. I can’t say whether God elects all babies to salvation. Only He knows all that He does and why He does it. And I guarantee you that what He does is for one purpose, and one purpose only: His glory! So, we must trust Him in all things known and unknown. As painful and uncertain as that can be it is imperative in the life of a true Christian. Lionel and others that are seriously considering this topic, please check out this link. I thought it was a gracious exposition of Scripture dealing with this topic. God bless!

http://www.a1m.org/page.php?page=template1.php&pageid=5a878f5478326e3e8ec698d7e9640187

BTW, let’s not forget what Romans 9:14-24 says about those God elects and those He doesn’t. It has nothing to do with us and what we do or don’t do. It’s completely about Him and what He chooses to do. He is the potter and we are the clay. No one has a justifiable right to question God’s decision in creating us as a vessel of mercy or a vessel of wrath. It’s His choice, not ours.

]]> By: Marlon http://blackandreformedministries.com/2008/03/19/do-children-babies-or-aborted-babies-go-to-heaven/#comment-826 Marlon Mon, 24 Mar 2008 12:35:34 +0000 http://blackandreformedministries.wordpress.com/?p=149#comment-826 I might add that regarding the question that I posed, I think the answer is yes. I might add that regarding the question that I posed, I think the answer is yes.

]]> By: Marlon http://blackandreformedministries.com/2008/03/19/do-children-babies-or-aborted-babies-go-to-heaven/#comment-825 Marlon Mon, 24 Mar 2008 12:34:14 +0000 http://blackandreformedministries.wordpress.com/?p=149#comment-825 Good post. Regarding those who go to hell, I find it interesting that every passage of which I'm aware related to those who go to hell, I've only seen it mentioned that they will go because of their deeds. In other words, while we all inherit sinful natures from Adam, I'm not aware of any passage in which we're told that someone would be punished because of our father's (Adam) sins. In fact, when Scripture speaks of sinners, it mentions sins that people are so wrapped up in that they can be described by the sins they knowingly commit, i.e. fornicator, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, homosexuals, thieves, the covetous, drunkards, revilers, etc. Exactly for which of them would an unborn baby be punished? The question seems to be since God chooses those who will be saved, does He always allow those who He did not choose for salvation to always live long enough that they can be identified by the sins they commit? Note: After writing this, I realized that Saiko had a post that makes the same point. Good post. Regarding those who go to hell, I find it interesting that every passage of which I’m aware related to those who go to hell, I’ve only seen it mentioned that they will go because of their deeds. In other words, while we all inherit sinful natures from Adam, I’m not aware of any passage in which we’re told that someone would be punished because of our father’s (Adam) sins. In fact, when Scripture speaks of sinners, it mentions sins that people are so wrapped up in that they can be described by the sins they knowingly commit, i.e. fornicator, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, homosexuals, thieves, the covetous, drunkards, revilers, etc. Exactly for which of them would an unborn baby be punished? The question seems to be since God chooses those who will be saved, does He always allow those who He did not choose for salvation to always live long enough that they can be identified by the sins they commit?

Note: After writing this, I realized that Saiko had a post that makes the same point.

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