[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by Adino

Yes, we get a new body, but what does this have to do with the eradication of the sin nature? Do you believe the sin nature, at enmity with God, will be ours for eternity? Must it be eradicated?

I know we're talking about babies. We're also talking about an innate nature, the very existence of, which stands in direct antagonism against God. Can even the nature itself exist in eternity with God? If it cannot exist in eternity with God, then it 1) needs to be completely eradicated in eternity and 2) it needs to be justified while on earth for fellowship as well.

Now I have no problem with the idea that those you call 'innocents'*(infants, children under the age of accountability, those mentally challenged) can be considered to be under the merciful grace of our God through an imputation of what Christ did for all mankind when they die, but I do have a problem with the idea that man is not depraved and in need of a Savior from birth. If Christ would never have come to save mankind, I do not believe heaven would have been a place populated only with aborted newborns and the mentally challenged. All mankind would have been lost.

The question becomes one of imputation. Is it possible that God imputes the work of Christ to the 'innocent' upon death? Whether this 'innocent' has the transgression of Adam imputed to his account or whether he possesses only the sinful nature at enmity against God, is it possible that God reckons them under the blood of Christ and saves them by his Spirit if they should die prior to 'losing the innocence'?

Man can only come to the Father by Christ. Christ is the only way, the only door. Therefore, even the aborted child must somehow come to the Father through Christ. If the evil nature in man has not yet come to fruition it still needs to be justified and/or eradicated. This problem is resolved with the doctrine of imputation.

Is man born saved? No. Is man born spiritually alive? No. Is the 'innocent' child who possesses an innate nature at enmity against God damned if he dies? No. He is not condemned if, when he dies, he is justified by God on the basis of the righteous work of Christ on the Cross. He is not damned if God imputes the work of the Cross.

The question then becomes: Is it possible for a child to receive the imputation of righteousness and be justified upon death even though he is yet to have a saving faith in Christ?

I would answer that God is merciful and just. Christ died for the child and anything which would have separated him from an eternity with God has been dealt with on the Cross. It is of my opinion that when an 'innocent' enters into eternity he is wrapped in the finished work of Christ via imputation and welcomed into the presence of the Almighty with open arms.

While Scripture emphatically says that faith is counted for righteousness and that Christ's righteousness is to all and upon all that believe, it does not say that same righteousness is not to all and upon all those depraved souls who die 'innocent.'

*I use the term 'innocent' loosely because if, indeed, that transgression of Adam is reckoned to all at birth or if we simply consider the innate sinful nature as something which absolutely must be removed in order to enjoy an eternal fellowship with God, then there is no one truly 'innocent.'

Adino this argument is baseless there is nothing in scripture that remotely says we are resurrected with the same nature.
Infants will be judged at the White Throne and God the Righteous Judge will do right.