Rippon and anyone else who jumped in.
A couple here on the BB have indeed said that infants are born sinless . That view is against Scripture . If , as you have said , they are covered by the blood -- then , I maintain that they are in need of the Savior because they are sinners .
They are in need of a Saviour because they have to die and need Jesus to be resurrected and took to Heaven.
While I do not uphold the Catholic, they themselves say one of their own, St Augustine taught infants in hell.
The absolute
necessity of this
sacrament is often insisted on by the
Fathers of the Church, especially when they speak of infant baptism. Thus
St. Irenæus (II, xxii): "
Christ came to save all who are reborn through Him to
God — infants, children, and youths" (
infantes et parvulos et pueros).
St. Augustine (III De Anima) says "If you wish to be a
Catholic, do not
believe, nor say, nor teach, that infants who die before baptism can obtain the remission of
original sin." A still stronger passage from the same
doctor (Ep. xxviii, Ad Hieron.) reads:"Whoever says that even infants are vivified in
Christ when they depart this life without the participation of His
Sacrament (Baptism), both opposes the
Apostolic preaching and condemns the whole
Church which hastens to baptize infants, because it unhesitatingly
believes that otherwise they can not possibly be vivified in
Christ,"
St. Ambrose (II De
Abraham., c. xi) speaking of the
necessity of baptism, says:" No one is excepted, not the infant, not the one hindered by any
necessity."
But to use other History like the "Synod of Dort".
Article 17: The Salvation of the Infants of Believers
- Since we must make judgments about God's will from his Word, which testifies that the children of believers are holy, not by nature but by virtue of the gracious covenant in which they together with their parents are included, godly parents ought not to doubt the election and salvation of their children whom God calls out of this life in infancy.
They only included the children of the elect.
If infants do go to hell, their bodies are buried, so I guess that is what they meant by the way to hell being paved with babies bones.
I also notice you lean towards them going to hell also. IMO
Mentally impaired folks and infants are among the "all have sinned" of Romans 3:23 . On a side note , it's interesting that even Calvinists have regarded the usage of the word "all" in this particular passage as referring to each and every person ever . But some from the non-Cal side of the aisle would like to mitigate the force of "all" here . They would like it to mean almost "all" with some exceptional waivers .
Bob , I have already expressed in the past that Scripture is not clear on the subject of infants going to hell or heaven . Aside from 2 Samuel 2:23 views expressed are in the realm of speculation . BTW , I do not think that much can be gleaned from that isolated verse to substantiate a doctrinal base . One verse does not a doctrine make .
So, you think your thoughts on the subject should be the final sayso. There are many many who disagree with you, and I am one.
You may not lean that way, but it sure seems like it to me. IMO
No Calvinist or Augustine himself has said : The way to hell is paved with infant skulls .
No Calvinist has said : There will be babies in hell no longer than the span of my hand .
All such like-minded "quotes" are fabrications . The more they bandy about these unfound sayings the more I will challenge them to cease and desist -- put up , or shut up .
I think those who spoke that way were talking about infants being lost and their bodies being buried as being the way to hell. IMO
While I myself am no Calvinist, I certainly concur with your thoughts. It is the work of the Evil One to accuse falsely, he is The Accuser. But apparently lying and doctrinal perversions are far less grievous than the honest discussion of race and human behavior here. It looks like that to which you are protesting and clearly present a solid case for is irrelevant to those who profess to be concerned about "inflammatory" language.
Sometimes the truth hurts when you uphold a Catholic and they themselves say that St. Augustine believe in infants going to hell. Also, it is a matter History that Calvin himself was raised a Catholic and held to many of the veiws of Augustine. So, maybe you need to get your facts right before stating such inflammatory statement. What is your purpose of jumping in here without giving any records of what you state.
Proved you wrong on St Augustine once, why should we start again?