My view on the unborn/age of accountability.
We must first acknowledge that scripture does not deal with this subject clearly where a case could not be made either way on whether babies born or unborn who have yet to attain decision making ability who die are saved or damned.
I can only deal with the knowledge that we serve a loving & just God, so the damned side of the argument which I have looked at though viable to a certain extent, really does not provide the entire picture. This verse does give a valid foundation for the damned position. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;. I found other references which I could have also included in this, but to be honest, I found research on the "damned" side to be rather depressing, cold, and aloof in the portrayal of God instead of the loving and just God I see throughout scripture. Yes even in the OT.
What we do know from scripture is that God does identify them as children in the womb. Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, [and] I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Much is made from the side that we are all born sinners, yet God is able to sanctify the yet to be born, so who am I to say if some, none, or all have or have not been sanctified by God?
Let me go on.
John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for
if ye believe not that I am [he], ye shall die in your sins.
As one can see "to believe or not to believe" requires the ability to make a decision to make a choice to accept Christ or not. We can all agree that the unborn, and children to a certain age, (Which I do not know that age.) do not have that ability, with decision making. Nor have they yet been given the ability to act upon knowledge, in order to be a law unto themselves. Romans 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law,
do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
"do by nature" as you can see requires action to fall into this category as well.
How about our Lord? Certain things we do know, about children and our Lord's interaction with them. We do know that Jesus Christ, identified with children as seen below in Matthew.
- Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
- Mark 9:42 And whosoever shall offend one of [these] little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
Yet He also made mention as seen above in Mark; "little ones that
believe in me", which goes along with what I believe when it comes to the unborn, and those who die before they have the ability to make choices.
I keep in mind that God would want none to perish: 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward,
not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
So do we really believe that God would allow the unborn or those without the ability to make a decision to perish? Remember God is merciful. If God showed mercy only to such as are worthy, then He would show none at all, for the best are unworthy.
So saying, I believe that Heaven is full of children! Sad for those who have lost them here, and all the more reason to want to be there with them! Choose Jesus! BELIEVE!!!!!!
I leave you my brothers & sisters in Christ Jesus with this verse with emphasis added:
[4] According as he hath chosen us in him
before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (Eph 1:4 KJV)
YBIC
C4E
Lamentation 3:31-33 For the Lord will not cast off for ever: But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.
Not to make light of the subject, for it touches many deeply, but is it any wonder that our Lord wanted the children to come to Him?
I do love babies, until they need to get changed, then back to the momma. :wink:
I can't believe there will be diaper changing happening in Heaven!