We are born sinners: Psalm 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. Ephesians 2:3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. Condemnation is upon us for not only our sin natures (original sin), but also the sins that flow from that nature (sins we commit). The only way out is Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:1). As to children and those with mental disabilities - they are sinners - but if they are of God's Elect, they will be saved and enter eternal life at their deaths. This is the only Biblical way these situations can be approached. It is indeed a great mystery. Unless someone wants to argue universalism (which I believe to be an error) we can not say that "all" children, babies, and mentally retarded people go to heaven. They may, but we have no Scriptural foothold to stand on to make that assertion (i.e. God has not revealed that to us). We must trust and believe that God will be just in His dealings with men - just in saving those who are His elect and just in condemning those who are not. Peace, Steve Pastor Taylor wrote: > Bro. Lawson, > > So, people don't go to hell for their "sinful nature"...they go to hell > for the sin they commit? > > I believe we have a "propensity to sin" but I also believe that I have a > choice whether I do or not. Further, I believe that I need a savior > because I have sinned...broken the law of God. How can God be just and > condemn someone to hell who hasn't broken his law? (Infant, Babies, > unborn children) > But then people would say that these are going to heaven anyway, without > repentance and faith...but others at 15 would go to hell because they > know better....doesn't this make God a respector of persons? Of sorts... > > pastorjt > > -----Original Message----- > From: Delmer G. Lawson [mailto:delgene@...] > Sent: Friday, March 19, 2004 8:03 AM > To: pastorsforum@... > Subject: Re: [PastorsForum] Sinners Prayer > > Pastor Taylor: > > I believe that a person, e.g., a baby, retarted, or in any other way not > able to know the difference between good and evil, if they were to die, > would go to heaven. Jesus died for all sin and sinners. It is only a > responsible person who acknowledges he/she is a sinner can be washed in > the blood, and saved to go to heaven. > > Because of Calvary, yours, > Delmer G. Lawson > Jesus loves you, and I do too > > -- > To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: > pastorsforum-unsubscribe@... > > "In essential things, unity; in non-essential things, liberty; and in > all things, charity." > > -- > To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: pastorsforum-unsubscribe@... > > "In essential things, unity; in non-essential things, liberty; and in all things, charity." > > -- ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Pastor Steven G. Rockhill Lisbon Reformed Presbyterian Church PO Box 88 Lisbon, NY 13658 315-393-9041 revrock@... +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++