Amendment to previous post

This is one of the best answers I got.

From a CoC minister: James 1 says that we sin when (1) we want wrong things (2) we desire them enough to sin in order to have them (3) we reap death (not right then, obviously - the result of sin is spiritual death, Rom. 3:23, 6:23).

I think we (from birth) inherit a tendency toward sin. We inherit the rebellious nature of Adam (and Eve) and therefore sin. Before we realize what it is, we've already sinned. That's not the same as saying babies are born in sin (I don't believe that) or that children sin (define "child"). If sin is rebellion against God (and it is), one has to know God's law/will in order to rebel against it. That brings up the old "age of accountability," thing, which is itself a misnomer because it's not about age (my opinion here), but about understanding.

Calvinistic doctrine, upon which a lot of "denominational" teaching is founded, does believe in "hereditary total depravity." (do a search for a discussion of that concept). That doesn't mean, of course, that every person in such a church believes that, but if you dig into the "official" church doctrine, there it is.

My answer to your last question is NO. I don't think there's a four-year-old extant who is in rebellion to God, and therefore not lost. They aren't saved (which would imply having sinned/been redeemed), they are safe (un-lost).

Confused now? Good. Me too.