Has Caitlin sinned yet?
As a father the thought of death claiming someone in my family sometimes crosses my mind. As a Seventh-day Adventist Christian, the thought of death does not bring fear. Death is nothing but a temporary sleep, from which we will be awakened at the Second Advent of Jesus Christ, provided that one’s relationship with Him is in good standing. So the thought of the passing away of a family member does not worry me, if Iknow that my family is firm in their love of Jesus.
What about my dear daughter, Caitlin Ema? Although we read to her about Jesus and other Bible characters, at six months old, I doubt if she understands the stories we tell her. I doubt if she has developed a concept of right and wrong (or is that innate?). At her age, I don’t have the assurance that she loves Jesus. How do I know then that if she dies at this young age that she will be re-united with us at that resurrection morning?
When the Bible says, “… all have sinned …” does that include babies? Has Caitlin sinned yet? If babies are sinners too, and yet they do not understand the concept of forgiveness, how can they be saved? If the only way to salvation is Jesus, can babies, who do not know Jesus yet, be saved?
Sin is usually defined as “going against the will of God”. With that definition, to sin does not require pre-knowledge of the will of God. Whether we know it or not, God still has a will, and thus we have the ability to go against His will, regardless of our knowledge of His will. Do babies have the ability to violate the will of God?
Although I will probably never know the answers to these questions in this lifetime, I sure hope that God is merciful enough that if something happens to Caitlin Ema at this young age, He will still re-unite us at the time of His appearing. I cannot imagine being permanently separated from this beautiful baby girl.
May 24th, 2005 at 10:53 pm
I don’t just hope it, I know it - that God is merciful enough.
June 3rd, 2005 at 9:55 am
“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent…” Acts 17:30.
Babies can’t repent and remain ‘excused’ before God. The good news is that even babies born into sin are already covered by the blood of Christ!
August 28th, 2005 at 7:04 pm
Sin has always been explained to me in this way… Sin is like a gene. It is passed down through your father. That is why the bible talks about how all humans were conceive in sin and that is why is was so imperative that Jesus was not conceived by a human man but could be carried in a womb of a woman. So from birth, we are sinners. But just like “Always” said, there is a period from birth to the age of accountability that children are “excused” because they cannot understand sin, the grace of the cross and be able to repent.