I noticed you used the word elect. "If they are God's elect"...so some
may not be elect and go to hell? How do we know who is elected? Am I one
of the elect? JT

-----Original Message-----
From: Steven G. Rockhill [mailto:revrock@...] 
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2004 11:00 AM
To: pastorsforum@...
Subject: Re: [PastorsForum] Sinners Prayer

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
> 
> --
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> 
> "In essential things, unity; in non-essential things, liberty; and in
> all things, charity."
> 
> --
> To unsubscribe, send ANY message to:
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> 
> "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@...
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++

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"In essential things, unity; in non-essential things, liberty; and in
all things, charity."