Free Grace Theology

I don't know of any christians who believe that children goto hell if they die. There is an age of accountability - that age varies from person to person.

You're right though that it is not the kids fault they are born with a nature to sin - that, however, does not absolve the person from guilt.

 

I don't disagree that those are good woks, but the examples that are used of works are Abraham and a prostitue that hid Jewish spies. Is there a significance of those examples? Why not use a modern (relatively speaking) martyr, apostle or follower of Christ?

 

I quoted that because I do believe that is really the essence of the "faith without works". However, what God motivates one individual to do may not be the same that he motivates others.

 

I would tend to agree, but if so, then Original Sin is out the window.

 

I'm not sure I follow you. Are you referring to Adam and Eve's sin or the first actual sin each person makes?

 

Maybe I've confused myself. Aren't all people considered sinners the moment they are born according to original sin and the only way to get around that is through baptism? If so, I have a hard time with that.

 

Yes, people are born sinners, but I think where you're missing it is that we are born with a nature (propensity, or instinct may say it better) to sin. It's not that our individual acts of sin make us sinners - rather it's our sin nature that makes us commit individual acts of sin.

Having said that, many people then say that God is unjust. Afterall, how could a good God hold us responsible for something we were born with? However, this is not the case, because God took care of the sin problem. When Jesus (God in the flesh) died on the cross, He took the punishment for all our individual acts of sin (past, present, and future). God's no longer holding our sins against us. The only question now is if we are going to believe God and accept this great gift or are we going to say "no thanks, I'll make it own my own".

To bring this back to your children, they are born with a sin nature, but they are not held responsible until they reach an age of accountability.

 

No of course not. They bend their own rulesets when it becomes too unpalatable, so of course Jesus lets little babies in Heaven.

 

Original sin is bar none the most appalling scam perpetuated upon the human race.

 

I'm more of a fan of the "fall from grace theory"