Paul's Passing Thoughts

“And by the way, if the absence of law leaves no sin, that means particular redemption is erroneous…. All of the Reformed brain trust together is no match for babyology.”

What is “orthodoxy”? Unfortunately, it is Protestant traditions of men that have wreaked havoc on the American church. As a former Reformed pastor, I was part of conversation directly and indirectly regarding the counseling of parents who lost an infant or toddler. One thing that was avoided like the plague was a promise that their baby was in heaven with the Lord. This is due to Augustine’s view of original sin and the authority of the church to forgive sin. The Reformed view on this can be observed in the Calvin Institutes: 2.1.8, 4.16.1, 4.16.17.

Long story short, only babies baptized in the Reformed church have their sins forgiven by the authority of the church. The more I study Reformed theology, the more I understand that assurance is not found in any individual belief or experience, but rather an obedient allegiance to the formal church. This is really a mentality that cuts deep into the Protestant psyche of all stripes and explains indifference to injustice and abuse within. The vehicle may have some rust spots and nasty stains on the upholstery, but it be goin’ to heaven anyway. Also, that’s where you go if you want your totally depraved baby to be saved. I myself used to call them, “little vipers in sanctified diapers.”

It has often been thought that the Bible is ambiguous on this subject save Jesus insisting that the little children be allowed to come to him and King David’s proclamation about the infant that he lost. But biblical answers don’t always come from direct subject material, and in this case, we find comfort in theology. That shouldn’t surprise us, but I am afraid it does. Many mourn in hopelessness because a comforting answer could not be found on a Christian bookstore placard.

The definitive answer is found in Romans. All who are not guilty of sin are not under condemnation and will go to heaven. That’s because those who are not under law are under grace by default. And where there is no law, there is no sin:

Romans 3:19

English Standard Version (ESV)

19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.

Romans 4:15

English Standard Version (ESV)

15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.

Romans 5:13

English Standard Version (ESV)

13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law.

Romans 7:8

English Standard Version (ESV)

8 But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.

The next question is when humans, who admittedly bear natural sin, are “under law.” And by the way, if the absence of law leaves no sin, that means particular redemption is erroneous. It means the death of Christ also covered the sins of those who are not under law. But who are they?  The apostle Paul will tell us:

Romans 2:12-16

English Standard Version (ESV)

12 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

Paul is talking about two different kinds of law here: the Old Testament, and the law of God written on every heart of every person born into the world. As an aside, note that this doesn’t bode well for total depravity. Those who have never heard of the Bible will be judged according to the law written on their hearts as administrated by their conscience—either accusing or excusing. Those who have heard of the Bible will be judged by both. Christ was born under the law as well, but that wasn’t a problem for him because he never violated His conscience and could keep the law perfectly. At issue for all others is the development of the conscience that at some point brings the individual under the law. At that point, they need salvation.

So, the natural person does not come under the law written on their heart until they have a developed conscience that knows right from wrong. Where there is no law, there is no sin, and besides that, the death of Christ paid the penalty for natural sin:

Romans 5:19

English Standard Version (ESV)

19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

So, there are some pastors out there who have a good baby message: the hope of heaven and the exhortation for those under the law to accept the one who is the end of the law: Jesus Christ (ROM 10:4).

All of the Reformed brain trust together is no match for babyology.

paul