Can illegitimate children be saved? Deuteronomy 23:2 No one born of a forbidden marriage [or one of illegitimate birth] nor any of his descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, even down to the tenth generation. It's taught throughout the Bible who is able to receive salvation. But there is one thing I'm uncertain of. How far does that promise extend. Because in Deuteronomy 23:2 it states that no illegitimate child shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, and not their descendents. There are other instances where certain people are singled out and are said told can't enter. But does this mean that they can't be saved? Or what? I'm confused and concerned. Although I am married to the father of two of my children, they were all born out of wedlock. Please advise if you can. Thank you. ************************************************************************************************* 2 Chronicles 25:4 Yet he did not put their sons to death, but acted in accordance with what is written in the Law, in the Book of Moses, where the LORD commanded: "Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sins." Psalms 79:8 Do not hold against us the sins of the fathers; may your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate need. First of all, the passage in Deuteronomy 23 that you quote may refer to illegitimate children (children born outside of marriage) OR one born of a forbidden marriage - in context any child that was not born of a married Jewish mother and father. It applies to the Old Covenant, not to the New. But even then, as the verses above show, God did not punish people for the sins of their fathers. "The assembly of the Lord" referred to temple worship. The Kingdom of Heaven is a New Testament concept. We, however are in the New Covenant. No matter how we came into this world, what counts is how we respond to Jesus - that's what determines our future. Not how we were born, but the fact that we are RE-born!!! No one can help how they came into this world, but EVERYONE has control on how they leave it! So take heart, and teach your children about how much Jesus loves them and lead them to Him. Remember what Jesus said in John 3:16-18a: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that WHOEVER believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son in to the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. WHOEVER believes is him is NOT CONDEMNED…." Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast. Salvation is not based on who you are, where you've been, what you've done or what you haven't done. It is based on faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank God, He does not punish us for the sins of our fathers and mothers! And thank God, He forgives our fathers and mothers just like He does us if we come to Him with a repentant heart! ********************************************************************************* All files c1999 Karleen E. Page, All Rights Reserved. ONE copy may be printed or copied to your PC for personal use only. Please email karleenp@earthlink.net for any other permissions. Thank You. Posted at "Ask OldTimer" www.members.tripod.com/~KarleenP/text/askoldtimer.htm