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Surely I was sinful at birth … Psalm 51:5

“Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” – Psalm 51:5

http://www.westerfunk.net/archives/chri … 20pretend/

Interesting … science backing up the Scriptural, spiritual reality of our hearts. We are sinful from birth, even from the time our mothers conceived us, just as David says in this Psalm. Well, we at least begin lying at six months old, as this article states. Before this study, it was thought babies did not lie prior to 4 years old. Now the bar has been lowered to six months. This study simply confirms that which is stated in the Scriptures: we are sinners from the womb. Our disposition, from the very beginning, is bent on evil, namely a suppression of the glory and righteousness of God. We must be delivered from this very nature by the work of Christ alone in order to even see Christ at all as worthy of our praise. The only difference between a grown up and a baby is that the adult has the means to carry out the wickedness that lies within the heart. Babies can’t talk in tangible language, they have very little strength to exert, but they can throw tempter tantrums, scream until they get their way, and as shown in this article, they have scientific proof babies begin conceiving deception in their hearts as early as six months. As cute as babies are, this is the reality of all of us and it starts at conception (just as the Psalm said). “It is hard to exaggerate the importance of admitting our condition to be this bad.” (Piper) We must be saved utterly by the work of God in Christ to deliver us from the deadness and nature of our hearts that are turned away from the glory of God. It is by grace alone (God granting regeneration, repentance, and faith) through God-wrought faith alone, in Christ alone that we are saved. Praise God for His mercy and may He move on my daughter Adelaide to turn her heart from the natural deadness that lies within, turned away from God, and draw her to Himself. May He raise her up, by His pure mercy, even now, and grant her regeneration unto salvation. We are prone to wander unless God holds us back by His mercy. This verse and this science both show this to be the case.

NOTE: I am NOT in any way saying I believe that babies who die either in the womb or at a very young age go to hell, as someone may think I lean based on my above statements. But unfortunately, there is not a lot of Scriptural evidence pertaining to this subject, except for one place that alludes to it in 2 Samuel 12:22-23. David has committed adultery with Bathsheba, she conceived, and now as a result of God’s punishment on David for committing the sin he did, the baby died. It states, “[David] said, ‘While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, “Who knows whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?” But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.'” In other words, as it seems the Scripture says here, I shall go to the child in heaven upon dying, but he will not come back to me in this life. Other than this, there are really no other places that speak of what happens to them upon death. And really this statement begs a lot of questions pertaining to the subject in my mind. Having affirmed the “sinful from conception” verse above that David himself wrote in the inspiration of the Spirit, whatever level of sinning a baby can do must be covered by the blood of Christ. So it is likely God, in His mercy, delivers children at this age from wrath through the work of Christ. But you must believe in order to be saved, someone may say. Right. So, how does that work? I have no clue, nor does Scripture say. We have this one ambiguous verse pointing that direction. And that’s about it. All in all, it is speculation to delve too deep into the subject, but rather we should simply trust the Lord that He knows what He is doing and know His actions are wise, just and righteous. This is an area where I believe we are forced to trust the Lord and know that He is good and find comfort in Him, not in answers to things that are not revealed. So really all I can do is leave it there.

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2 Comments

  1. Andre

    How do you interpret Ezekiel 18, clearly saying that God holds each individual accountable for sins he/she commits? It states that children never inherit the sins of the father. If God creates human from our mother’s womb and are wonderfully made – does he create us with sin right away?
    Sinning is commiting something-doing something-it is missing the mark. Can infants really miss God’s mark?

    Thanks.

    • I believe that is true as well. The doctrine of original sin, that we inherited a sinful nature from Adam (held to by Roman Catholics and Protestants alike, although Catholics hold to more of a semi-pelagian view, something condemned by the Council of Orange in 529 AD) doesn’t do away with accountability and responsibility. The issue with original sin is that we inherit a sinful nature, not that we inherit specific violations of God’s law. We sin because we’re sinful. Our nature is corrupted from conception and is only made right by a correction of grace. So an infant is still corrupted by nature, but not corrupted in the sense that an adult is who is specifically and repeatedly violated God’s law. I believe that in this, there is grace for babies in the cross that aren’t able to intentionally violate God’s law. I believe He is fair and just, and whatever that looks like in the end, He will do it. However, this doesn’t do away with the fact that we all inherit a sinful nature. This is repeatedly spoken of in scripture.

      The doctrine of original sin is an orthodox doctrine. In the early church, Pelagius (over against Augustine) did away with this doctrine that is absolutely essential to a proper understanding of the Gospel and Pelagius’ view is properly identified as heresy. As I said before, The Council of Orange wrote a statement that has some great content that speaks to the issue of original sin, the state of our natures, free will, etc. http://www.davidwesterfield.net/beliefs/orange/

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