Taking an earlier metaphor of forgiveness and salvation a step further, today Passover signifies (among other things) that the new-covenant blood of the spotless Lamb—the overcoming God-Man-Word "who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29)—is able to completely deliver slaves from the bondage of sin.

"Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commands." Deut. 7:9.

We could go in a thousand directions here couldn't we? Whew.

William

Do babies need a Savior or not?
If they don't, will they be found in heaven independently of Christ's sacrifice?
If they do, why is this, since they have no sin?

Here's a reason. They are a part of the "whole race of men" that needed to be restored.

Didn't the race need to be restored because of sin? But babies have no sin.

Yes, babies do have sin.

"In sin my mother conceived me..."

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

We often think babies have no sin simply because our concept of sin is not sufficiently broad. We are not aware of our own exceeding sinfulness. If we could know the full depths of our sin, we would probably perish as a consequence.

I have seen newborns who have the seeds of pride and selfishness firmly implanted in them. They are born with "inherited tendencies" toward sin which may not have been acted out yet. However, their emotions/desires are already sinful. We pity them, and view them as innocent, because we suppose they are too small to know better. This may be true, but it does not make them any less sinful. Less guilty, perhaps.

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

We know what Gulley most recently taught, so naturally your question is attached to a wet string: implying personal forgiveness for personal guilt.

Does a baby need a Savior? Of course! But not because it needs justification for personal sin or condemning guilt.

This idea was, quite honestly, birthed in Augustine's dirty bathwater. My apologies to the city of Hippo. Naturally.

William

I agree, Green. But Tom doesn't. He believes we just sin when we choose to sin.

Why does a baby need a Savior?

Hi Green,

Pardon the friendly intrusion, but I read this text as referring to the effects of Adam's sin upon humanity, and not what composes sin or personal guilt.

William