----- Original Message -----
From: "Nancy Newcomb" <nan_new39@...>
To: <soundofgrace@...>
Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2003 8:46 PM
Subject: Re: [soundofgrace] Infant Salvation
> Chris,
>
> That was an awesome post. I too find it grievous to have motives impugned
> over this belief. In my own life, and in various situations, I have found
> that Christ offers comfort through many means, although He is the source
of
> the comfort. I think that having a hope of the resurrection that is tied
to
> the hope of others who Christ died for is much more glorious than if I was
> to have hope for myself only. Why? Because God designed it that way. As
> believers we are to comfort one another by these words. I'm thankful to
be
> able to share the good news of Jesus--who shows grace towards their
> infants--with grieving parents.
>
> Still "shallowly" comforted by His promises,
> Nancy
[Chris] Thanks, Nancy! Your post comforted me. I guess that makes me REALLY
shallow. };o)
>
> >From: Chris Arnzen <carnzen@...>
> >Reply-To: soundofgrace@...
> >To: soundofgrace@...
> >Subject: Re: [soundofgrace] Infant Salvation
> >Date: Sun, 28 Dec 2003 01:31:38 -0500
> >
> >
> >
> > > It's shallow comfort for a parent to rest in believing he'll see his
> >child
> > > again. (whether it's true or not)
> > > His comfort must be totally in Christ, and the trial of losing a child
> >is
> >an
> > > exercise in stretching his faith to that end.
> >
> >
> >[Chris] Okay, folks, I am ending my part in the discussion here. I am
> >simply
> >tired of seeing the motives for my beliefs impugned. I am amazed that
many
> >of my brethren are insinuating that I, and brethren such as myself
> >(including Spurgeon) who believe we can extend biblical comfort to those
> >Christian parents mourning the loss of an infant by reminding them of the
> >promises given by the inspired Apostle Paul in 1 Thes.4:13-18, are merely
> >offering shallow comfort, even though we are biblically convinced in
infant
> >salvation (even if you disagree with our conclusions). Most of you making
> >these passionate protests, with few exceptions, are agnostics over the
> >issue
> >any way, which means in the long run, when all is said and done, WE MIGHT
> >BE
> >*RIGHT*!!! I cannot help but believe that much of this sentiment stems
from
> >an arrogant form of Hyper-Calvinistic piety, that insists that if anyone
> >seeks comfort in ANYTHING else, other than Christ being in Sovereign
> >control
> >over all events, he or she is a shallow Christian. If this was true, then
> >Paul would never have offered his words of comfort even to those mourning
> >the loss of adult Christian loved ones in 1 Thes.4:13-18. Otherwise, he
> >would have merely said, "Do not concern yourself, brothers, about those
who
> >have fallen asleep, because knowing they are at peace with the Savior for
> >all eternity is not where you are to receive comfort. That's God's
> >business,
> >so just mind your own business. Just trust in the fact that God will do
> >what
> >is right in regard to their eternal destiny. If you concern yourself
about
> >anything less than the Person of Christ you are being shallow and
> >man-centered." But our tender and compassionate God did not say that in
His
> >Word. Obviously the Person of Christ must be our chief focus in EVERY
area
> >of thought, and the main source of our comfort in any trial, but *HE*
> >offered additional (not superior or even equal) comfort. *HE* is the one
> >who
> >inspired Paul to remind us about departed Christian loved ones rising
again
> >and returning with Him as a powerful source of comfort. It is one thing
to
> >disagree with my conclusions that infants who die will not be tormented
in
> >hell. It is entirely another thing to insinuate that my belief in
offering
> >comfort to mourners who grieve the loss of an infant with SCRIPTURAL
> >promises is shallow. As I have repeated many times, I am not merely drive
n
> >by mushy-gushy Hallmark Card sentiment to draw my conclusions. I just
have
> >not as of yet been biblically convinced that infants will be tormented in
> >hell for the very same reasons I have not as of yet been biblically
> >convinced that they are proper candidates for baptism. Just as the
> >Scriptures teach who the proper candidates for baptism are, and why, when
> >and how they are to be baptized, they also teach who those who are
> >tormented
> >in hell are, and why they are being tormented (for their deeds). I see no
> >infants mentioned in either category.
> >
> >
> >
> >--
> >Read the Sound of Grace pages at
> >http://www.soundofgrace.com
> >
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> >
> >
> >
>
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