So, Winman, do you believe there are some people in heaven who are atoned for by Christ and others there because they are innocent and deserved to be their on the basis that they never sinned?
I do believe that babies who die go to heaven, and therefore there are persons in heaven who never sinned and need no repentance. I believe this is exactly who Jesus is speaking about in Luke 15;
Luk 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over
ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
The 18th chapter of Matthew is all about children. Jesus told his disciples they must be converted and become as little children to enter the kingdom of heaven. He said that their (little children) angels do always behold the face of his Father. Again, Jesus compares these children to 99 sheep who never went astray.
Mat 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you,
Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of
these little ones; for I say unto you,
That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 18:12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the
ninety and nine which went not astray.
14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of
these little ones should perish.
Jesus also spoke of the elder son who NEVER transgressed his father's commandment at any time in Luke 15;
Luk 15:29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee,
neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31 And he said unto him,
Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is
alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Jesus told us about the elder son who claimed to have never transgressed his father's commandment at any time. Such a person could not exist if Original Sin is true (it isn't).
Did the father call the boy a hypocrite or correct him? NO, the father confirmed that what the elder son said was true. He called him SON, and said THOU ART EVER WITH ME. They were never separated by sin.
Note that he also contrasted the elder boy to the prodigal, only the prodigal was DEAD and LOST.
But now the prodigal was ALIVE AGAIN, which proves he was not born dead in sin. He was alive at home with his father until he knowingly and willingly went out in sin and joined himself to a citizen of that far country.
But when he repented, twice Jesus said the prodigal was alive AGAIN.
If Original Sin were true (it isn't) no one could be alive AGAIN.
Finally, note that there is no celebration for these 99 persons who never went astray and need no repentance, and the elder boy also complained that there was no celebration for him. So, they seem to be sort of 2nd class citizens.
