In reply to:[color:"blue"]Mustn't one be regenerated in order to have an effectual prayer? In allowing little ones to pray you are giving them a status, which you deny in doctrine. As for the neighbor across the street, I'm not sure I see the relevance.
You cannot be a Christian or a believer UNTIL you are born again. A child can pray, but until they are born again, their prayers are no different than the pagan child's across the street! God gives us the gift of repentance and faith when we are regenerated. We cannot truly pray without the help of the Holy Spirit. We are dead spiritually before God gives us that new life. We are to teach our children about the Lord before they are born again. We teach them to sing His praises and worship Him even if they are not yet able to do it "in Spirit and inTruth". We are to do this even before this is a spiritual reality to them. These things can be used by God to bring them to the truth.
In reply to:[color:"blue"]If someone is elect, then Christ died for his sins whether they are yet regenerate or not. Accordingly, the question we should be discussing is not whether one is regenerated and in the kingdom, but rather whether God would have us say to the child of a professing believing parent that Christ died for his sins.
It is not wise to assure someone that Chist died for their sins because it may not be true. But it is always right to share the Gospel with someone and show them that they need a Savior and that God commands them to repent. Yes Christ died for the sins of the elect, but we don't know who is elect for sure.
In reply to:[color:"blue"]Obviously, you being a baptist don't think that infants should be baptized. So, it is quite consistent of you to think that infants of professing believers should not be considered ones for whom Christ died.
I consider them to be ones who should be prayed for diligently until they are safe in the Lord's hand. I consider them to be ones the Lord would have us diligently teach. Children desire to please their parents and compliance in outward things can be mistaken for faith. I consider it a great responsibility to pray for their salvation and pray that they are among those for whom Christ died. Susan
