Well, I am about half way done with this great book by John MacArthur and had to write a post about it. This book is designed for people who have lost a child, whether it be unborn, stillborn, or a young child. I wanted to read it after a friend told me about it when she miscarried. It is awesome! I am always interested in reading someone's opinion about something the bible doesn't clearly answer...and because there is no plain explanation about what happens to young children and babies when they die, I have to agree with this author and the scripture he references.Some friends and I got into a pretty deep conversation over the 4th of July about it and we were all sharing what our husbands believed. Some believed only the elected children would go on to heaven and we do not know which children are of the elect just like adults (I agree that only the elected adults go to heaven as it is explained in Romans 9). Others, with myself included, thought that the bible says over and over how much God loves the children, and how they would all go to heaven whether they knew Christ or not. The concern of this point is at what age do they become "old enough" to not be considered a child anymore? There is no scripture reference to an age of accountability...or mothers would be going killing their young children and going to hell so that their children would go to heaven. It is a hard topic that is very interesting to research in the bible, and I feel John MacArthur holds a very strong argument for his opinion. Feel free to check the book out, ask your husband what he believes, or check the scripture yourself to see what you believe....
Comments
This book shows magnificently God's grace and compassion, and His wisdom in all things. Beautiful.
To believe that God is just is to believe that all sinful humanity must be condemned to hell. This is the great problem that all people must face. How can God be both just and the justifier of sinful humanity (Rom_3:25)? God is love and God is gracious but He is also just and if we are to know Him, we must consider Him in all His attributes
Here are some scriptures that may help you understand why we believe what we believe about being born again, etc. God does believe these things because He has written them. I hope they are helpful...
John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
John 3:2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
Joh 3:18 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Rom 3:10 As it is written:
"There is none righteous, no, not one;
Rom 3:11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.
Rom 3:12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one."[2]
According to the Word of God, one must be born again in order to see the kingdom of God, Heaven. "There is none who does good, no, not one." Romans 3:12 Without being born again in Christ we cannot do good...we are incapable of it. Like Nate said, God is loving, God is gracious, AND God is just; that is why scripture warns us to fear God. God is gracious that He saves some from this earth because none of us are worthy. The amazing thing is that He chose to save any. Praise His holy name!