Can a young child become a Christian?

narnia59 · 2025-12-10T12:57:00-0600

Always in His Presence said:
Let me know when you are ready to have a two sided conversation -

Let me know when you are willing to provide the courtesy to answer a simple question that I asked at the very beginning of this conversation.

Why do you think others should participate in a two sided conversation when the first question that was asked in this conversation, you simply choose to ignore? Dance around? That's not "two-sided". That is you wanting to completely dominate the conversation in a rather passive-agressive way. And your continual refusal to answer leads me to the conclusion you have no answer that is defensible in any way. So, you choose to continue to deflect.

Should I bother to ask the fifth time?

timothyu · 2025-12-10T13:21:10-0600

We are all born into a creation that is built upon personal survival. It is instinctive in nature. Children are born with the same ability as A&E were to follow instructions. It is up to the parent to guide them on the right path of courtesy and away from selfishness, before any concept of institutional religion may enter the picture. They, in the beginning, are drawn to what protects them, long before they realize they too can be antagonists for personal gain.

Children, at some point, will all follow the same path as the rest of us of self-interest, and unlike the rest of God's creatures, will eventually make conscious choices to put themselves ahead of the will of God and each other for gain, or not. It is only then that they need be reminded of the consequences of failure to serve God and each other. Change is always possible.

Our selfishness is inevitable behaviour, as our animal instinct, like the rest of creation, is survival by putting ourselves first. Sin occurs when we take advantage of that survival instinct to take more than is necessary at the expense of others. We alone (the only species that knows we will die) are aware of the consequences of our actions though, and unlike our fellow creatures, are capable of avoiding harm to others through not being selfish. It is all in the home upbringing of little kids that saves them, not Christianity. Plenty of time later for them to understand the religions that want to get their hooks into them..

Always in His Presence · 2025-12-10T13:22:34-0600

narnia59 said:
Let me know when you are willing to provide the courtesy to answer a simple question that I asked at the very beginning of this conversation.

already answered one - waiting for you to answer one - it's called conversation.

narnia59 said:
Why do you think others should participate in a two sided conversation when the first question that was asked in this conversation, you simply choose to ignore?

Nope - I've addressed the thoughts and points a couple times - not ignoring - just tired of waiting for you to engage in like manner.

narnia59 said:
Dance around?

You can if you want - but it will be a solo dance

narnia59 said:
That's not "two-sided". That is you wanting to completely dominate the conversation in a rather passive-aggressive way.

My answering one of your questions and addressing your posts while asking you to answer one question is not completely dominating anything.

narnia59 said:
And your continual refusal to answer leads me to the conclusion you have no answer that is defensible in any way. So, you choose to continue to deflect.

Your mind reading machine is busted.

narnia59 said:
Should I bother to ask the fifth time?

I will answer you instantly when you show a single modicum of reciprocity in this conversation.

Always in His Presence · 2025-12-10T13:24:17-0600

d taylor said:
-

Any person any age can receive God's free gift of Eternal Life and become a born again child of God.

The big problem is most are not being correctly taught or told how to receive God's free gift of Eternal Life.

But if a child (or any person ) is correctly taught how to receive God's free gift of Eternal Life. By belief in Jesus for Eternal Life, they receive Eternal Life, a pernamnet gift from God, at the very moment of their belief in Jesus for Eternal Life.

So it is not the age that is the problem, but the teaching.

I would say a child who can simply believe in promises. Has a better chance in believing in Jesus for Eternal Life, than many young aged people and adults. Because an older person can get hung up in the legalist garbage of baptism, repentance of sin, confessing, obedience to the Law (ten commandments, etc..), making Jesus Lord of their life. bearing fruit, etc.......

well said.

narnia59 · 2025-12-10T13:45:52-0600

Always in His Presence said:
already answered one - waiting for you to answer one - it's called conversation.

Nope - I've addressed the thoughts and points a couple times - not ignoring - just tired of waiting for you to engage in like manner.

You can if you want - but it will be a solo dance

My answering one of your questions and addressing your posts while asking you to answer one question is not completely dominating anything.

Your mind reading machine is busted.

I will answer you instantly when you show a single modicum of reciprocity in this conversation.

Please provide the specific post number where you answered the very FIRST question in this conversation.

So do you believe that all children are saved until they can make a conscious decision to be saved or not? Or do you believe that no children are saved until they can make a conscious decision to be saved or not?

timothyu · 2025-12-10T13:53:43-0600

Salvation as an act of God is only available to those who do His will. Little children,(especially infants) are incapable of consciously not doing His will so are righteous, hence saved for the time being. To know Jesus is to know the will of the Father, and they are already living it.

narnia59 · 2025-12-10T13:56:46-0600

timothyu said:
Salvation as an act of God is only available to those who do His will. Little children, especially infants) are incapable of consciously not doing His will so are righteous, hence saved for the time being. To know Jesus is to know the will of the Father, and they are already living it.

So your view would be that all children are saved until the time when they can make a conscious decision to be saved or not? Did I understand that correctly?

timothyu · 2025-12-10T14:00:19-0600

narnia59 said:
So your view would be that all children are saved until the time when they can make a conscious decision to be saved or not? Did I understand that correctly?

Not to be saved but to fall. We all fall only when we make a conscious decision to gain at the expense of another. With humans it is inevitable. With our fellow species, it is not as they don't have the inborn knowledge, so they don't need saving. Being inevitable, repentance then is our only recourse to do the will of God, hence finding favour. Children and adults can be taught.

narnia59 · 2025-12-10T14:12:46-0600

timothyu said:
Not to be saved but to fall. We all fall only when we make a conscious decision to gain at the expense of another. With humans it is inevitable. With our fellow species, it is not as they don't have the inborn knowledge, so they don't need saving. Being inevitable, repentance then is our only recourse to do the will of God, hence finding favour. Children and adults can be taught.

So then if a child dies before they fall, before they can make a conscious decision, you would believe they would be in heaven because they didn't need to be saved? Want to make sure I'm understanding that correctly.

timothyu · 2025-12-10T14:20:47-0600

narnia59 said:
So then if a child dies before they fall, before they can make a conscious decision, you would believe they would be in heaven because they didn't need to be saved? Want to make sure I'm understanding that correctly.

Seems logical with no conscious sin. Jesus went to the sick, not the healthy. Salvation (resurrection) is available to everyone but also the outcome is only directly related to behaviour.

RamiC · 2025-12-10T14:36:19-0600

"2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me."

6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. [11]

Matthew 18 NIV

As I understand these verses, yes a young child can be a Christian.

narnia59 · 2025-12-10T14:39:03-0600

timothyu said:
Seems logical with no conscious sin. Jesus went to the sick, not the healthy. Salvation (resurrection) is available to everyone but also the outcome is only directly related to behaviour.

So then would you not believe in a doctrine of a fallen human nature being passed to all humanity from Adam and Eve?

narnia59 · 2025-12-10T14:39:51-0600

RamiC said:
"2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me."

6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. [11]

Matthew 18 NIV

As I understand these verses, yes a young child can be a Christian.

I cannot understand a belief that Christianity is a faith that excludes children. So I would agree.

timothyu · 2025-12-10T14:41:07-0600

The way of life, not the religion

timothyu · 2025-12-10T14:44:37-0600

narnia59 said:
fallen human nature being passed to all humanity from Adam and Eve?

Scripture please from genesis. Survival instinct is passed on along with knowledge of right and wrong. Something our fellow species lacks

narnia59 · 2025-12-10T15:56:58-0600

timothyu said:
Scripture please from genesis. Survival instinct is passed on along with knowledge of right and wrong. Something our fellow species lacks

One would be 1 Corinthians 15:21–22: “For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.”

We understand to be "in Christ" to have become united to him through faith, and to be a part of the mystical body of Christ. We begin to share in Christ's nature. His Spirit lives within us. In contrast, prior to that, we are "in Adam" -- sharing his fallen human nature.

As well as Romans 5:18-19 where Paul writes, “Then as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to acquittal and life for all men. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous.”

If we do not come into this world with a fallen human nature, then why do we need to be saved at all?

timothyu · 2025-12-10T16:32:19-0600

Sharing in his nature is following the Will of the Father

d taylor · 2025-12-10T17:12:54-0600

Always in His Presence said:
well said.

-

Thank you

timothyu · 2025-12-10T17:23:58-0600

narnia59 said:
If we do not come into this world with a fallen human nature, then why do we need to be saved at all?

Simply because at some point we are bound to fall. Self serving instinct.

narnia59 · 2025-12-10T18:41:10-0600

timothyu said:
Simply because at some point we are bound to fall. Self serving instinct.

Do you think Adam and Eve were bound to fall?

Can a young child become a Christian?

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