I suspect, although I cannot be dogmatic about this point, that children are reared to maturity at which time they will be asked to choose whether they wish to remain with God or not. Some might think that no one so raised would ever choose to depart but the discounts the degree to which people are capable of evil.
However, aside from that rather obscure position, I would say, as a general rule that children who die are not condemned to Hell as you clearly believe.
So when Jesus said unless a person is born again- according to you it excluded babies. What age is that maturity reached?
Romans 5
The whole book, really but chapter five in particular.
Well chapter 5 speaks of faith, salvation and grace. You said babies do not need salvation. they are already endowed with "eternal life" or whatever you wish to call it. Then at some point those Hindu babies have to be born again. Same with every baby who reaches your "Maturity".
Call it what you will bu8t they were born "saved" and then lost it at your "maturity" and have to get it back again.
Children are born spiritually alive and aware of God. This is proven not only by Paul's explicit statements but also by occurrences like when the unborn child who would become John the Baptist leaped in his mother's womb at the approach of Jesus who was also an unborn baby at the time.
So show that this means they have eternal life. I would love direct references to Pauls "explicit statements " as you said.
As per the caveat explain above, it would not be as accurate to say that I believe that children who die "go straight to heaven". Rather, it would be more accurate to say that children who die are not condemned to Hell.
So you hold to some kind of purgatory or limbo then????
Why would you believe that God sends kids to Hell because their parents are evil? That would be as unjust as can be!
Why are you putting words in my mouth? I never wrote or implied this.
There's a saying, "A father eats sour grapes and his children's teeth as set on edge." Would you say that saying accurately conveys your doctrine, where because Adam sinned, God sends babies to Hell?
According to Paul,, Yes!!
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;
11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
So you have a plan B for babies. Now what about people who never have a chance ot hear the gospel? do you have a plan C??