Interesting that a person may say that he believes in salvation by grace, but if he sets forth any act of man's will, such as repentance, faith, baptism, or hearing the gospel, as a condition for obtaining it, then this position must be put on the works side.
Perhaps I am misunderstanding your statement.
Are you coming from some perspective that holds that a person can get saved outside of the work of God through the Word? That the preaching and teaching of the Scriptures is not necessary for a person to be saved?
Romans 10:14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?
He then is really closer in beliefs to the humanist Arminian in reality. I will have to bear this in mind for next time.
In truth, Brother Tom would have to agree with the Calvinists that told me my son is in hell because he never heard the gospel....that would be consistent with their thinking.
No, Brother Tom would not - for it is not consistent with the thinking that he has shared on the BB - even expressing it earlier directly to this issue.
In history, various religious groups have attempted some human involvement in saving or keeping saved. Such things as pedobaptism, last rights, confessionals... were all attempts at not only controlling the ignorant masses, but also because in some ways the Scriptures remain almost silent with only hints. Hints such as David's prayer that states that he will go to him (the baby that died) and not the reverse.
Personally the Calvinistic thinkers I have come to know do not share the thinking that your child is in hell. If fact, they would be appalled and repulsed by a statement such as that.
For your edification, the arminian thinking D. Hyles preached that if the parents were saved the child was in heaven, if the parents were not saved, then the child was in hell. Whether his father had the same view, I do not recall.
The point being that such statements come from folks who have little Scriptural credibility to support their perspective on this matter. It doesn't matter the "title" or "camp" but the perspective.
It is truly astounding and deplorable that anyone would make that statement about a child who has died.
Personally, I hold that you can with certainty rejoice to see that child for like David mentioned you will certainly go to him/her - eventually. That is a blessing of hope!
If he were to put renewed emphasis into the study of:
2 Timothy 3:15–17
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
So the Scriptures are written that the child of God "may be thoroughly furnished unto all good works." The Scriptures do not bring eternal salvation but are able to make us "wise unto it"
This isn't the place for an expedition into 2 Tim 3: But to reflect upon these thoughts.
Just as my own children were taught, Tim was no doubt taught Scriptures. As Tim grew, of course the Scriptures that he had been taught became more understandable (just as my own children experienced). The "wise unto salvation" means merely that the wisdom of knowing the Scriptures worked to bring Tim to salvation. This is just as any other person who hears the Gospel and God's word penetrates the heart to bring salvation to them. Many hear, but few actually have God's word penetrate the heart.
Often folks will preach the "all Scriptures is profitable ..." as applicable to only the saved, but in fact that isn't the case.
Great wisdom of practical living and social justice can be gathered out of the Scriptures by the heathen that have no desire for the things of God nor Salvation.
This specific part of Paul's letter to Tim could just as well have been written on the dollar bill to replace "In God we trust" or as the commandments are displayed on the wall of the Supreme Court. It is practical lessons learned.
How often do heathen people say, "Do as you would have someone do unto you." or "What goes around, comes around," not really knowing that these are Scriptural principals that the world may use, but the believer must exceed.
