Bronzesnake,
I wish I had more time to contribute, this topic is moving faster than I can keep up. We seem to be a little off topic, but I would like to reply.
I disagree with you on this one L.C.
Deuteronomy 1: 39 "Moreover your little ones and your children, who you say will be victims, who today have no knowledge of good and evil, they shall go in there; to them I will give it and they shall possess it"
Remember Deut. 32 -- the suckling also.
Deuteronomy 32:25 The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling also with the man of gray hairs.
The scripture must be in harmony, as I understand your interpretation of Deuteronomy 1:39 it contradicts Psalms 58 and Isaiah 48.
Psalms 58:2 Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.
Psalms 58:3
The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as
soon as they be born, speaking lies.
Isaiah 48:8 Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and
wast called a transgressor from the womb.
Deuteronomy 1:39 is referring the sin committed by the Jews concerning the promised land. If you are looking for an age of accountability out of this that would be age 20. The little ones and children this is talking about are those under age 20.
Numbers 14:29 Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me,
Numbers 32:11 Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not wholly followed me:
Numbers 32:12 Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the LORD.
Numbers 32:13 And the LORD’S anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the LORD, was consumed.
Another Scripture which we might consider is in 2 Samuel 12:22-23. David appeared to have little doubt that when his new little baby died, that child was safe...
2 Samuel 12: 22-23 "So he said, 'While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, 'Who can tell whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me"
David had little doubt that - in some future state - he would meet up with his baby again.
David’s child was taken because of David’s sin.
David knew his son was saved. God gave him that comfort. The child did not make a freewill decision, God rescued him. Saved him.
God does save babies in exactly the same way every person is saved, it is entirely His action.
John 6:37
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
John 6:39 And this is the
Father’s will which hath sent me, that of
all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
John 6:40 And
this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
James 1:16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
James 1:18
Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
John 6:44
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And
they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
John 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you,
that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the
author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Ephesians 2:10 For
we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
These verses and so many more teach that God must choose us and draw us. He looses none that He has chosen.
I have not questioned the ability of God to save children. The problem arises when you try to establish an age of accountability.
There is much evidence that 20 cannot be the age, yet it is the only possibility available with scripture.
The age of accountability was invented by man to make the idea of freewill salvation work.
It is adding to the prophesy of the book.
Revelation 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Revelation 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
When we understand that salvation is 100% Gods work, and man can do nothing to guarantee his salvation we find that God not only saves the old and the young but He even saves the unborn, by changing their hearts, (born again B4 birth
).
John the Baptist and Jeremiah were saved while still in the womb. True joy is salvation.
Luke 1:41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
Luke 1:44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
