SweetSurrender

I know! But, this is not about the birds and the bees. I've always considered babies to have come straight from Heaven because they are so innocent and trusting. So, when I became a Mormon, I believed their doctrine on spirit children. What about the belief that God knew us even before we were born? Does anyone else think this is possible? Does the Holy Bible say anything about their spirits living in Heaven before they arrive on earth?

freedom07

God knows each of us before we are formed in the womb or born (Jeremiah 1:4-5). There are many instances of God announcing the births of specific people before they were conceived which supports this fact. Just a few such predictions of births are Ishmael (Genesis 16:11), Isaac (Genesis 18:10; Genesis 21:1-7), Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25:22-23), Samson (Judges 13:1-8), John the Baptist (Luke 1:11-25), and of course, Jesus (Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31). God also knows and sets our purpose before we are conceived. This is illustrated for us in several scriptures. Jacob and Esau were to become two nations, with the older serving the younger (Genesis 25:23). Samson was to be a Nazirite of God (Judges 13:7). Jeremiah was to be a prophet (Jeremiah 1:5). All of David's days were ordained before they came to be (Psalm 139:16). John the Baptist's name was foretold (Luke 1:13), and his life service to God was known (Luke 1:14-17). Amazingly, while in the womb, John the Baptist even knew when he was in the presence of His Lord and Savior (who was in the womb of His mother), for John leaped for joy in his mother's womb (Luke 1:44)! From these scriptures, we can easily see that God loves us not only before we are born, but also before we are conceived!
http://www.bright.net/~1wayonly/eachlife.html

__________________
Romans 6:4
4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Jax

I dont believe any of us exist before we are conceived, except for in God's heart, because He knows who will be born.
God gave me the promise of a daughter, almost 7 years before she was born.
I spoke about her as if she existed, and I trusted God would fulfill His promise, she existed in faith, but not in reality until God caused her to be conceived.
The only person who existed before birth was Jesus Christ, who, as the Word of God, created, all that is.
He came to earth as a baby, grww up & lived a sinless life, and ultimately was crucified so that His perfect sinless Blood could be poured out as a ransom for us.
It is through faith in what He did that saves us, nothing else.

Boanerges

Life begans at conception.

Boanerges

God made man in His own image- the ability to produce life was a part of that likeness.

SweetSurrender

Jax,

That's right, the only person who existed before conception was Christ. Now why didn't I think of that? Of course, my friends believe that God was a man like you and I before he ascended to God Hood, so that wouldn't pass for them. But, I am glad that is settled in my mind now. Thanx!

carolinasteve

I have heard many people use the verse about God knowing us before we were in the womb(not sure which verse it is so I can only paraphrase right now)as the basis for the idea that babies start out in Heaven. Can someone please quote that verse, and also throw up some scriptural references to the spirit of the individual(or soul-not sure which) comming from the seed of the father(human, not heavenly), because I have heard that too?

Jax

Jer 1:5 says
5Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you; [and] I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.(A)

But I dont believe this means we existed in any form other than in the mind (or faith ) of God.
He see's the end from the beginning, He knew all that was going to happen and all that would be born before He even created the earth.
God 'knew us' means foresaw.

Boanerges

There is no scriptural basis for that and you cannot base your doctrine off conjecture.

Whirlwind

That's one of the most refreshing, assuring, loving, kind things I've read all this year!

Thanks!