Children And Salvation

[GraceSaved]

Do we *know* that the Holy Ghost can't appeal to the unborn or a child or a person who is mentally handicapped, in such a way they may make a response known only to God?

I know this:

 

Romans 9:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

[GraceSaved]

These verses have nothing to do with salvation. Read them in context.

 

Although I have heard some "Calvinists" use the Psalm 22 verse as one of the verses proving their claim of predestination.

These verses have to do with children.

[John81]

Indeed, God will do as He pleases and whoever He decides to have mercy on, or not, that's totally up to Him, He will be in the right, and He doesn't have to explain Himself to us.

[GraceSaved]

More encouraging verses.

 

Matthew 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

 

Matthew 21:16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

 

Scripture indicates that God has a special place in his heart for babies and children.

[GraceSaved]

Romans 9:11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

[John81]

I've no concerns about this issue at all. I fully trust God with the matter.

[GraceSaved]

I've no concerns about this issue at all. I fully trust God with the matter.

I'm trying to encourage the person that posted this topic.  :-)

[John81]

Total faith in God is the best encouragement. If we have faith in God so that we trust Him with all things, we won't be concerned or worried about so many things.

[GraceSaved]

Obviously, the poster was concerned, hence the reason for the scriptures. 

[John81]

No doubt, and I'm not knocking your sharing Scripture.

 

All I'm saying is that whether or not we see or think we may see a clear explanation of something in Scripture (not just this matter, but anything) if we have settled our full faith and trust in God it won't matter. Whether or not we think we know the answer to something or not, if we have full trust and confidence in God we will have that peace Jesus promised.

 

In my own case I consider, "Where did my Mom go when she died? What about my brother and sister who were still born? What about my sister who lived an hour and a half and died? What about my relative with cognitive disabilities?"

 

I could add other things, but this gets to the point. Since I fully trust God with everything, that includes all of those things, so I don't need to even ask those questions, wonder about them, be concerned over them or any such things. My full faith, trust and confidence are in God. He will do what is right, whatever that is.

 

This wasn't always the case. In my earlier walk with God I was much more prone to want a "thus saith the Lord" sort of answer for any question I had. It took a lot of growing and maturing in the Lord before I could move beyond that. I'm very thankful the Lord has brought me to the point where my faith in Him gives me complete peace because I trust Him in all matters whether I understand them or not.

[GraceSaved]

if we have full trust and confidence in God we will have that peace Jesus promised.

 

 

Well why didn't you just say that?  

[John81]

[LindaR]

Genesis 18:25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

[TheSword]

So is one saved until they affirmatively reject a calling from Christ...until that moment that when they understand and know they need to follow Christ but reject it?  Even if you don't call it that, it sure sounds that way.  I do agree with you, that God's grace covers young children who do not understand.

But how do you reconcile that with the fact we are all born sinners?  Is the story of Adam and Eve someone a representation of us all?  We are born innocent, though with a capacity and propensity to do evil, and then when we understand, and we see and understand, we must then affirmatively put our faith in Christ. At some point, all of us will be tempted and lured by evil, just as Eve was.  Just as Adam and Eve realized their nakedness, we all at some point realize our disobedience to God. 

 

I think a better description would be is not condemned until they realize what sin is and its implications (i.e. against a holy God and merits death, etc)

[Standing Firm In Christ]

He that believeth not is condemned already.

Question: if one was not condemned until one was given the opportunity to trust Christ, and instead o rejected him, why the command to the Apostles to go into all the world making Disciples? Why not just leave them in this "alleged" uncondemned state?

Sorry, but man is condemned from the moment he takes his first breath in this world. (Unless somehow Christ is revealed to him as a fetus as was revealed to John the Baptist)