In August, Beth and I will
celebrate 15 years of marriage. Over that time we have suffered from 4
pregnancy losses. The pain that one experiences from this loss can be intense.
A beloved child has died.
Likewise, in the news
lately we have heard stories of a 2 year old being eaten by alligators, and if
we looked elsewhere we would find more accounts of people dying at extremely
early ages. When tragedy of this magnitude strikes, a lot of questions come
racing into our minds. We naturally wonder why they happened, and what the
destiny is of our dearly departed loved one, who was so young. This article
will address what the Bible says about their eternal destiny. The same could be
said of those who are severely mentally handicapped from birth.
At first glance this
can be a very confusing topic because certain passages seem to teach that all
people without distinction are sinners from the womb and are therefore headed
to hell without them placing their faith in Christ. Take for example the
following passages. “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Rom.
3:10). “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
(Rom. 3:23).
The two most significant
proof texts that are used to teach the belief that people are sinful from the
womb and all headed to hell from that point on are Romans 5:12 “Therefore,
just as sin entered the world through one man (Adam), and
death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.”
And the NIV translates David’s words in Psalm 51:5 in the following way: “Surely
I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.”
It is on the account of
passages like these that many Christians and churches teach something called
the “Doctrine of Original Sin.” That is, since Adam and Eve are the original parents
of all mankind, when they sinned, all of their descendants— every person who
has ever lived— is likewise held accountable for their actions. To quote one
writer, “As much as it pulls on our heartstrings, children and the
feeble-minded are just as deserving of hell as the rest of us.”
However, 2 Timothy 3:16
states that “ALL Scripture is inspired by God…” Thus, God’s word is
without error or contradiction. Therefore, proper Biblical theology MUST take
into consideration ALL passages concerning a topic. So what else does the Bible
teach on this topic?
The Bible plainly states
that a person cannot be held accountable for someone else’s sins, specifically
in context, for the sins of their parents or their children (Ezek. 18:4, 20;
see also Deut. 24:16; 2 Chron. 25:4; Ecc. 11:9; Matt. 16:27; Rom. 2:6; 14:12; 2
Cor. 5:10; Rev. 2:23; 20:12). Interestingly, this is contrary to the teaching
of original sin— that all mankind is held accountable for our original parents’
sin. So which is right??
How do we explain Romans
5:12 and Psalm 51:5 with the other passages? Let us start by considering the
context of Romans 5 since it is the clearest of these two passages.
In the previous 11 verses
the Apostle Paul stresses that salvation is from God. Even when we were against
God, Christ died for us (Rom 5:8). We have been made right with God and now
enjoy reconciliation with Him thanks to what Jesus has done. Then we come to
the passage in question. In verse 12, Paul says, “Therefore, just as sin
entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death
came to all men, because all sinned.” As a result of Adam’s sin, death
entered the world, and physical death does affect every person.
Verse 13-14 continue on, “for
before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into
account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam
to the time of Moses, (CATCH THIS) even over those who did
not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the One to
come.”
Paul is telling us that
certain laws and guidelines do not apply to certain individuals. For example, a
five-year-old does not know what a speed limit is, nor does this law apply to
them because they do not drive. However, at the appropriate time, this law will
apply to them when they start driving with a permit or drivers’ license. The
speed limit laws will then apply to them because they are of age and operating
within the limits of our society. The law existed when they were 5, but its
application and authority over them came later in life.
Paul speaks of the time in
his own life in which he was alive spiritually but then when the law came, he
says that he died spiritually (Rom. 7:8-9). The only time then that a
person could be alive spiritually in the absence of God’s law is prior to them
understanding good from evil, right from wrong (Deut. 1:39; Isa. 7:16; Jonah
4:11; Rom. 9:11).
Furthermore, back in Romans
5, the Apostle Paul continues by explaining that whatever mankind received from
Adam has been completely nullified by the atoning work of Jesus Christ! "...through
one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men"
(Rom. 5:18 NASB). Thus, the only consequence which remains is physical death
yet this is overcome by the promise of eternal life!
But what about David saying
that he was sinful from birth (Ps. 51:5)? Contrary to the NIV, David does
not apply the sin and iniquity to himself. The phrases “in iniquity” and “in
sin” are used to modify the act of being conceived and the act of
being born...the sin belongs to the mother. "In sin my mother conceived
me" would be grammatically the same as saying "in drunkenness my
father beat me." On the other hand, it's possible that the phrases
"in iniquity" and "in sin" are meant to describe the
pervasiveness of sin in the world into which David was born. Thus, David is
expressing and confessing his awareness of the depth of sin in his heart and
the seriousness of his sin with Bathsheba (see Jack Cottrell, The Faith
Once for All, p. 181-182).
Therefore, what is the
answer to the question of the eternal destiny of young children and those who
are severely mentally handicapped from birth? The answer is original grace.
Jesus said it like this. “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder
them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mark. 10:14).
In His service,
Matt
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