We Love God!

God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)

All those dying in infancy, as well as those so mentally incapacitated that they are incapable of making an informed choice, are among the elect of God chosen by Him for salvation before the world began. The evidence for this view is scant, but significant. 1. In Romans 1:20 Paul describes people who are recipients of general revelation as being, “without excuse.” Does this imply that those who are not recipients of general revelation (i.e., infants) are therefore not accountable to God or subject to wrath? In other words, those who die in infancy have an “;excuse” in that they neither receive general revelation nor have the capacity to respond to it. 2. There are texts which appear to assert or imply that infants do not know good or evil and hence lack the capacity to make morally informed and thus responsible choices. According to Deuteronomy 1:39 they are said to “have no knowledge of good or evil.” 3. The story of David's son in 2 Samuel 12:15-23 (esp. v. 23)… What does it mean when David says “I shall go to him?” If this is merely a reference to the grave or death, in the sense that David, too, shall one day die and be buried, one wonders why he would say something so patently obvious! Also, it appears that David draws some measure of comfort from knowing that he will 'go to him.' It is the reason why David resumes the normal routine of life. It appears to be the reason David ceases from the outward display of grief. It appears to be a truth from which David derives comfort and encouragement. How could any of this be true if David will simply die like his son? It would, therefore, appear that David believed he would be reunited with his deceased infant. 4. There is consistent testimony of Scripture that people are judged on the basis of sins voluntary and consciously committed in the body. See 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Revelation 20:11-12. In other words, eternal judgment is always based on conscious rejection of divine revelation (whether in creation, conscience, or Christ) and willful disobedience. Are infants capable of either? There is no explicit account in Scripture of any other judgment based on any other grounds. Thus, those dying in infancy are saved because they do not (cannot) satisfy the conditions for divine judgment. 5. We have what would appear to be clear biblical evidence that at least some infants are regenerate in the womb, such that if they had died in their infancy they would be saved. This at least provides a theoretical basis for considering whether the same may be true of all who die in infancy. These texts include Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 1:15. 6. Some have appealed to Matthew 19:13-15 (Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17) where Jesus declares, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Is Jesus simply saying that if one wishes to be saved he/she must be as trusting as children, i.e., devoid of skepticism and arrogance? In other words, is Jesus merely describing the kind of people who enter the kingdom? Or is he saying that these very children were recipients of saving grace? 7. Given our understanding of the character of God as presented in Scripture, does He appear as the kind of God who would eternally condemn infants on no other ground than that of Adam's transgression? Admittedly, this is a subjective (and perhaps sentimental) question. But it deserves an answer, nonetheless.

Sam Storms

We Love God!

God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)

Beef Satay With Spicy Peanut Sauce

January 27, 2023

CATEGORY	CUISINE	TAG	YIELD
Meats, Grains	Chinese	Satay	1	Servings

INGREDIENTS

2	lb	Beef rump, round or chuck
		sliced 1/4" thick
1/2	c	Soy sauce
2	T	Sherry
1	T	Sugar
2		Ginger, 1/2-inch thick
		chopped
1		Onion, sliced thin
1		Clove garlic, chopped
1	c	Smooth peanut butter
2	T	Soy sauce
1	T	Sugar
2	T	Rice wine
1 1/2	T	Chinese vinegar
1/4	c	Sesame oil
1		Clove garlic, minced
1	T	Minced ginger
1	t	Chili paste
3	T	Chicken broth or water, up
		to 4

INSTRUCTIONS

Combine all ingredients and allow to stand several hours or overnight
in refrigerator. Thread beef onto metal skewers or wooden skewers
which have been soaked in water. Broil or grill over charcoal to
desired doneness. Serve as is or with Spicy Peanut Sauce.  Peanut
Sauce: Blend all ingredients until smooth. Serve as a sauce for  meat,
chicken or crudites.  Serves 4 to 6.  Per serving: 2343 Calories
(kcal); 187g Total Fat; (69% calories from  fat); 76g Protein; 107g
Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 11531mg Sodium  Food Exchanges: 3
Grain(Starch); 7 1/2 Lean Meat; 6 Vegetable; 0  Fruit; 32 1/2 Fat; 1
1/2 Other Carbohydrates  Converted by MM_Buster v2.0n.

A Message from our Provider:

“God is glorified by a thankful heart.”

Nutrition (calculated from recipe ingredients) ---------------------------------------------- Calories: 4194 Calories From Fat: 2694 Total Fat: 309.4g Cholesterol: 607.8mg Sodium: 7874.4mg Potassium: 5500.9mg Carbohydrates: 129.4g Fiber: 27.2g Sugar: 58.2g Protein: 253.2g