I received this question twice
- "Pastor Tim, …The visual with the 4 squares was so helpful. I have not understood Romans 7 as well reading it on my own. Thank you!! (Weekend of 6/13-14/2015) I have a question about Romans 7:9 "I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died." Something I had never considered: Spiritual innocence…Infants, toddlers, some kids with special needs. When we are spiritually innocent, we are still born a sinner and commit sins… but you are not spiritually dead? Did I get that right? If that's true, what impact does this have on salvation…to be a sinner but not understand it. Maybe that's not explicitly addressed in scripture. Thanks…!"
I responded:
- "As a baby/toddler:
- You have a sin nature
- Sin nature is still tempting you
- But it is "dead" in you
- You haven't realized right from wrong yet, morally
- You sin but are not yet held accountable for it
- Therefore you are still spiritually alive at that time"
They followed up:
- "Yes, the thought of having spiritual innocence and not yet being held accountable for that sin is not something I have considered before! It is comforting to me because I have wondered this before about babies or children with special needs… This does of course lead me to question do they go to Heaven when they die? I would certainly hope so!"
Check out the video below. Here are the verses I referenced:
- Old Testament:
- New Testament
Q&A with Pastor Tim Part 39 on the meaning of spiritual infancy from Grace Church on Vimeo.
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