Results 1 - 8 of 8
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Can a toddler go to heaven? | Rom 3:23 | John Reformed | 76800 | ||
Dear Disciplerami, I think you would agree that Adam and Eve were created by God, not as flesh only, but as living spirits as well. As such, they had the liberty as well as the ability to choose between good and evil. They chose evil and brought upon themselves the curse which God had told them would be the result of disobeying His command, i.e. the death penalty. Not merely physical death but spiritual death as well. The first of Adam's offsping, that we hear about, were Cain and Abel. We are not told a great deal about them, but we do know that one pleased God and the other displeased Him. Now they both believed that God existed and knew that He requiered them to glorify Him through the means sacrificial worship. Evidently, God had commanded of them something that He had not orignally commanded their parents, and the essential ingredient in compyling with this new command was faith. Because The Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God, we may safely conclude that Abel had faith but Cain did not. Why did the one have faith while the other did not? They were both born spiritually dead and therefore both must have sinned sometime or other in their lives. I believe Abel recieved something which Cain did not: A new heart. 1 Cor 4:7 For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? I cannot accept that the difference between the two men was "free will choice". The children of Adam were not born with the same blessing as Adam and Eve had recieved from God. Their parents had been created spiritual beings as well as natural beings. Cain and Abel were not. They were born bearing the curse imposed on them by their father's sin. For this reason Jesus told Nicodemus that "you must be born again". How else are we to understand Jesus as being the second Adam? Jesus suceeded in keeping God's command to perfection, not for His sake, but for the sake of those who place their faith in Him. He is our covenant head! We are "in Christ". Those who are not "in Christ" are under the penalty of their covenant head... Adam! Until you can show that spiritually dead creatures are capable (in and of themselves) of faith, I cannot accept that they are capable of any spiritual good. God Bless, John |
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2 | Can a toddler go to heaven? | Rom 3:23 | disciplerami | 76846 | ||
Dear John To everything in your first paragraph, I agree. I agree with everything in the second paragraph until you say, "They were both born spiritually dead and therefore both must have sinned sometime or other in their lives." I find nothing to support this position. My thought would be that they were innocent, having the same nature as Adam, until they sinned and fell under the same curse that came upon their parents. Continuing: You write, "I believe Abel recieved something which Cain did not:" This I do not follow. Why couldn't Abel choose to follow God's directions by offering the right sacrifice in faith, and Cain choose to disobey, offer the sacrifice of personal choice, and be displeasing to God on that basis. Otherwise, if God gave Abel something that He did not give Cain, that would not be fair. See, I don't think Cain or Abel or Adam needed anything more, or lacked anything, to make the choices they did. Question: if you believe that God gave Abel something more than he gave Cain, what would you use to support this position. You don't believe Abel was without sin, do you? To the following, I disagree: "Their parents had been created spiritual beings as well as natural beings. Cain and Abel were not." ALL men are spiritual beings, created in the image of God; not just the first man and woman. The problem for all men is when they do as Adam, and choose to disobey God. That is when all men fall under the condemnation of sin. You write, "Until you can show that spiritually dead creatures are capable (in and of themselves) of faith, I cannot accept that they are capable of any spiritual good." I could offer plenty of examples to illustrate the 'spiritually dead' people are capable of doing spiritual good. Cornelius is a good example. We might argue as to when Cornelius was saved, but we would have to conclude that it was AFTER Peter spoke words to him "by which you will be saved" (Acts 11:14). So how do you account for the actions of Cornelius before this time? Acts 10:2 says he was "devout", "one who feared God", "gave alms to the people", and "prayed to God continually." These things are 'spiritually good' and caused God to hear his prayers. I would appreciate your thoughts. Good day. |
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3 | Can a toddler go to heaven? | Rom 3:23 | John Reformed | 76854 | ||
My Friend, Cornelius could not have even understood, nevermind believed or feared God, unless God had opened his eyes and ears. He had first to raised to spiritual life prior to placing his faith in Christ. Paul is clear on this point: 1 Cor 2:14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 1 Cor 2:14 "But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised." John |
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4 | Can a toddler go to heaven? | Rom 3:23 | disciplerami | 76860 | ||
Dear John, I think there is an assumption on your part that a lost man cannot spiritually discern things. Just as the Corinthians were not thinking spiritually, and needed to be given milk, so a lost man can choose to see things from a spiritual perspective. Cornelius did not need to first be regenerated or supernaturally enlightened in order to seek God. The Word of God, the divine message that is proclaimed in the heavens, is enough to get the natural man to thinking spiritually. It's amazing how close we are, but we not as close as I would like. Have a good day. |
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5 | Can a toddler go to heaven? | Rom 3:23 | John Reformed | 76869 | ||
1 Cor 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 1 Cor 2:13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. 1 Cor 2:14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. Dear disciplerami, I honestly cannot understand how one could read 1 cor 2 and come to the conclusion that Paul is talkng about saints as "natural" men. It is quite plain that he is contrasting "but" (v.13) the saints of Corinth "we" (v.12) with "natural man" (v.14.) I am not "assuming" anything. It is as clear as glass. "we" have received, NOT the spirit of the world, BUT the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God. John |
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6 | Can a toddler go to heaven? | Rom 3:23 | disciplerami | 76884 | ||
Hi John, Thanks for continuing this dialogue with me. I mean no offense to you. Let me try again on the passages you quote. The scripture in question: “now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.” – 1 Cor. 2:12-14 The 'we' of verse 12 is talking about the apostle Paul and others who delivered the message to the Corinthians. In 2:1, he says, “and when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech…” In verse seven, he says, “but we speak God’s wisdom in a MYSTERY, the hidden wisdom which God predestined…” Still defending his authority in chapter 4, he says, “let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the MYSTERIES of God. In the beginning of chapter 3, as well, verse 1 says, "and I, brethren, could not speak to you AS TO SPIRITUAL MEN, but as to MEN OF FLESH, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still FLESHLY. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not FLESHLY, and are you not walking like mere men? For when one says, "I am of Paul,' and another, "I am of Apollos..." Now, smack dab in the middle of this defense of his authority and a chastisement of the fleshly Corinthian church, he says, "But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised." Now check out verse 15: “but he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.” Compare this with 4:3-5, “but to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.” Verse seven he refers to them ‘boasting.’ John, I don’t have to remind you that the Corinthian church needed a lot of work. I believe that Paul is trying to preach the truth to the Corinthians, but some of them were challenging his authority. They were still fleshly, acting like ‘mere men.’ It was necessary that the step back and do an appraisal of their judgments up to that time. This would require a spiritual appraisal of these matters, and a real effort to get past their carnal ways. Your thoughts please, Good day. |
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7 | Can a toddler go to heaven? | Rom 3:23 | sniper | 76886 | ||
Disciplerami, I apologize for jumping into your discussion. I have been following along in the posts. I found this post to be logical, informative, and a very good contextual study. Thank you for your work on this passage, it has helped me to better understand this issue. Sniper |
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8 | Can a toddler go to heaven? | Rom 3:23 | disciplerami | 76914 | ||
Your welcome. Thanks for saying so. I also appreciate the way John and I have been able to discourse. Have a good day. |
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