When are we held as sinners, guilty before god?
IF you say once we actually sin, doesn't that mean that we still might be saved by keeping the law?
Are humans born then in a state like Adam was created in, or jesus was born with?
was jesus one born w/o a sin nature, or was he one that chose not to sin, hence never got one because of that? if so, why couldn't we do the same as he did?
I believe the scriptures clearly teach that babies and very little children do not understand the difference between right and wrong and are therefore not accountable. You could tell a one year old child not to lie or steal, and they will not have a clue what you are talking about, it would be like telling your pet dog not to lie or steal.
There are quite a few verses that show little children do not know between good and evil.
Deu 1:39 Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children,
which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.
God did not punish the children of the Jews who sinned in the wilderness because they did not know what they were doing. They were allowed to enter the promised land, while all the parents perished.
Jon 4:11 And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city,
wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?
Here, God asks Jonah if it were not just and right that he should spare Nineveh because there were 120,000 small children in the city. They were no more guilty of their parents sin than the cattle.
So, I believe the scriptures clearly show God does not hold any child responsible for any sin they commit until they are mature enough to understand their actions. Once they do understand right from wrong and willingly commit sin, then they spiritually die. This is why Paul could say he was alive without the law once, but when the commandment came, sin revived and he died.
Rom 7:9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived,
and I died.
10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life,
I found to be unto
death.
11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it
slew me.
If Original Sin is true, it would be impossible for Paul to say he was ever alive once. But that is exactly what he told us.
The law was written 1500 years before Paul was born, so he is not speaking of the actual law being written. No, he is speaking of when he matured and became aware of the law. He had just said that he had not known sin but by the law.
Rom 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid.
Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
So, Paul is clearly speaking about becoming knowledgeable of the law, becoming aware of it and understanding it. When a man understands the law and willingly sins, he is then justly convicted by the law and spiritually dies.
As far as sinning, no man HAS to sin. Have you ever been compelled to sin? Be honest.
I've never been compelled to sin, not once. But I have chosen to sin thousands of times.