When Babies Die Do They All Go To Heaven?
…is the salvation of all babies sentimental theology or biblical doctrine?
The Three Stages of Grace
We’ve died once to the penalty of sin:
Titus 2:11 ¶ For the grace of God has appeared, with salvation for all people,
Saved by grace.
All of man’s estate from birth hopelessly marred in the fathomless effects of sin. By nature we are all children of wrath, sons of disobedience, slaves to sin; with the only merits of our righteousness compared to the riches of dirty, filthy rags. From the moment of our conception in the womb– we are completely sinful. The wages of sin is death; all who sin die.
That is why even infants die; they are sinful, sinners, and worthy of eternal perdition (Roms. 5:12-19).
This applies to all people – the born and unborn; the young and aged; infants and adults; those who cannot mentally grasp basic ideas and the most profound of thinkers; and finally all who have heard the gospel and those who have never heard.
Here are some difficult but necessary questions we need to ask then: Are infants who die; the mentally handicapped; or those who are ignorant of and have never heard the gospel given a special exemption from the effects of sin, eternal judgment and punishment, and the righteous justice of a holy God? Are they somehow insulated from eternal wrath because of their age, mental capacity, and ignorance? Is salvation to be granted to them due to their “state of being” and not solely due to the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ?
Important questions.
Those that assert that all babies who die receive instant heaven, do so out of good motives to sooth the aching hearts of grieving parents (which we all understand). But our hope beloved in the tragic death of an infant is not in the destiny of the child, but in the character of God. A baby’s perceived innocence or guiltlessness affording them “instant heaven” is only an accommodation by the sentimental whims of man. “In sin my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5) David said. We are all sinners (including children) not because we commit acts of sin; but because we are sinful by nature (Rom 3:10-18; Eph 2:1-4). There is not beloved a God-sized hole in our hearts that needs filling by divine intervention. Our entire being is corrupt–and it is the same for our children.
Someone’s age is not that which insulate one against God’s holy divine judgment anymore than someone’s mental cognation or ignorance from not hearing the good news of the gospel. Somethings are still a mystery to us and we must leave them in the just hands of a righteous God. It would be wrong for any of us to be inflexibly dogmatic on the guaranteed eternal salvation of all infants, all who are mentally handicapped, and all those who die in the ignorance of never hearing the gospel. Those that are given to such unbiblical dogmatic emotions, IMHO, out of probable good motives are really promising false hope.
And the promise of eternal life is not up to us, but only up to God Himself.
We need to be born again. Paul leaves no doubt in the bankrupt abilities of man and the greatness of the grace of our God in salvation: “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9). “The grace of God has appeared bringing salvation…” (Titus 2:11) and without grace, there is no hope of eternal life.
Grace is “hard” to live by; for grace robs man of his glory, of all boasting in his own abilities to be made acceptable to God, and dashes his religious pride to the ground. Grace strips us self-confidence, perfectionism, and our own goodness. Grace crushes our arrogance and exalts Christ; lifts holiness and dashes human morality
We die daily to the power of sin:
Titus 2:12 instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age,
Sanctified by grace.
No man through human effort can perfect himself. “Having begun in the Spirit are you trying to perfect yourself in the flesh?” (Gal. 3:3). It is a temptation for any of us once we have tasted of the fount of God’s grace in salvation, to then revert back to a life of works in our sanctification. Paul says here in Titus that grace is our teaching; “instructing us to deny…” We are new creations in Christ, but yet we are incarcerated in unredeemed flesh (Romans 7). The things we want to do, we don’t do; and the things we don’t want to do, we do. “O wretched man am I” Paul says in the midst of this struggle.
Sanctification does and must flow from genuine regeneration; but we must remember beloved, it is all of grace.
One day we will be free from the presence of sin:
Titus 2:13 while we wait for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Titus 2:14 He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a special people, eager to do good works.
Glorified by grace.
Grace will see us through til the end. “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 1: 24-25)
Many people use the text in 2 Samuel 12:22-23 as proof that all babies go to heaven. In this text David states, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, Who knows, the Lord may be gracious to me, that the child may live.” But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”
People have assumed that David was declaring that the child was in heaven and that David would be reunited with him one day. I have always been uncomfortable with this interpretation of the passage and with the subsequent act of using it to build a whole doctrine of the eternal destination of children who die in infancy. I am especially uncomfortable with this interpretation, in light of all of the Scripture detailing man’s sinful condition while yet in the womb and of the requirement for all sinners to place their trust and faith in Jesus Christ. Christians have been willing to accept this interpretation, because in their humanness they cannot conceive of a God who would allow infants to perish in hell. This attitude reveals a lack of understanding of the nature of God and the sinfulness of man. We either believe that God is good all the time (with the definition of good being that which is derived from Scripture and not our own human wisdom) and that everything He does is good, or we do not.
That being said, I am not yet willing to be dogmatic on either stance. This probably comes from my desire not to distress grieving parents of infants we have died.
People have assumed that David was declaring that the child was in heaven and that David would be reunited with him one day. I have always been uncomfortable with this interpretation of the passage and with the subsequent act of using it to build a whole doctrine of the eternal destination of children who die in infancy.
I fully agree. David was simply grieving over his own sin and how it cost his young son his life. He was not laying out doctrine.
Where Scripture is silent we must not be dogmatic. To do so, even with the best of motives for grieving parents who have lost an infant or small child early in life, would be giving a false hope.
I’ve counseled some who have lost little babies. And in the midst of their pain and sorrow, we weep with those who weep; we walk faithfully through the valley of death with them; but in the end, we must lovingly encourage them to the just, holy, merciful, loving God of the Bible. Our rest and hope should be in Christ alone and His sovereign grace.
I appreciate your wisdom and care in your words.
Updated post slightly for clarification. Hope it helps in understanding…
We are all sinners (including children) not because we commit acts of sin; but because we are sinful by nature.
Will you please help me understand what this statement means? What is your definition of nature? I think of nature in terms of how we were created and what we were created to be.
Did God create us to sin?
Just a note, I’m not trying to argue. I simply want to understand this view better. If you have addressed this question before, please point me in that direction. Thank you.
I understand the point of view presented. First, what about the character of God? Throughout the Bible those chosen speak of his mercy and grace. Is he not our heavenly Father who is good and gracious. “The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made” Psalm 145:9 Also, doesn’t the Psalms & Romans speak of the responsibility of the witness of men. In Deuteronomy 1:39 God gives mercy to the children because they have no knowledge of good or evil. Does that not illustrate the mercy God has for the children who are not capable of choosing right from wrong. Jonah 4;11 also shows God’s mercy to those who aren’t capable of choosing right from wrong. In Jeremiah, God calls those who do not wilfully sin innocent even though they posess a sinful nature. Ezekiel 18:20-21 also suggests choice. Is this a wrong conclusion? What about the conditions of salvation or the rejection of the gospel in opposite? (Galatians 5:19-21) Are babies capable of such things as unbelief and evil works? Can they comprehend? What about the love and compassion Jesus so often showed the little children? Matthew 19:13-14, Mark 10:13-16, Luke 18:15-17. “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” Why is it difficult to believe a man after God’s own heart? David knew God intimately. If he believes he will be reunited with his child in heaven, why shouldn’t we? I think our God is a loving, compassionate, merciful God. Whose mercy and grace intercede for children. How could anyone suggest hell for babies?
I understand the Bible to show that there is an “age of accountability”. In the Old Testament the age appears to be 20 as evidenced by all those older than twenty dying in the wilderness and all those under 20 were not condemed because of what the over 20 group did.
Carl that’s an interesting comment.
Some pastors out of what I calll “a sentimental hermaneutic” try to sympathize with families who have tragically lost an infant or even a young child by appealing to an age of accoutibility teacching. In their zeal they try to create a loophole in the gospel to make provision for those who by age alone, God would save automatically.
However, biblically, this doesn’t square. Even in the OT we see examples of this. The most obvious is The Flood. All people, even children, a part from Noah’s family, died in the flood because of their iniquity. If all those under a predetermined age of accountibility were to be considered as innocent, then provision would have been given to them in the Ark. But it was not so.
God judges us all, not according to age, but according to Himself and His holiness (Rom. 3:23; Psalm 51:5; Eph. 2:1-3).
Hope this helps a bit…. Thank you for posting.
Steve
Ok, your belied is that since babies and young children don’t have the cognitive ability to recite the sinner’s prayer, they all automatically go to hell and then suffer eternal torment in the lake of fire? That they never even get a chance to choose Jesus? That someone who God knows would have been a believer had they lived, be sent to hell simply because their mother aborted them? That goes against everything the Bible tells us about the goodness of God. Jesus is the only way to get to Heaven and he knows what’s in the heart of each person and knows what decision they would make.
I will just lay out bullet points as comments. As the Father of a Downs Syndrome child, I too was faced with this challenge. My assurance lay in the scriptures, in the end, asit must for all who seek an answer. For Jesus siad: “My Words are Living. My words are Spirit”. They are the “Theopneustos” of God… his exhalation as it were, of Him speaking.
Malachi records for us the purpose of Christian Marriage: “God desires Holy Offspring” (Mal 2: 15b).
Peter declares that the Promises of Christ, is “..for you and for your children. For all who are far off–for all whom the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:39)
Paul even extends the privelege and benefit of being a believer to unbelieving spouses, and to the children declaring that because of your faith they are made Holy (1 Cor 7:12-14 paraphrase mine). I believe that “holiness” and “special benefits” are applied here on earth, on this side of eternity. i.e. People will not be able to skate into heaven based on another persons faith.
Again, this is just my conviction– but I believe that Children who die in childbirth, children who are mentally retarded without a capacity to recognize and repent of their sin mentally, if these children are of parents who are believers in Christ, then I believe that they will enjoy the rewards of Heaven. I believe that children of believing parents, still need to “Claim Christ as their own, and come under His Lordship and Obeidience”.
Children who are born to unbelievign parents, children who are born in areas where the Gospel has never been preached, if they should die- thier parents do not enjoy the security of knowing that their child will live eternally without being cast into hell. They may delude themselves with lies to make themselves feel good, but they cannot claim the reward of the Promises Christ offers to his “Called out ones”.
I am going to stop because, I do not want to “bang the drum” of Covenant Theology. If the Administrator wishes to remove my post, he may.
So, with all of this said, each of us has their own opinion and view point on this topic and any topic in the Bible. Who’s right then? Or is it how you’re brought up to believe that influences your opinion and view points? Hmmm….. I say black, you say white. I say pre-trib, you say post-trib. On and on the debate goes. The Lord is still there either way, but it’s insane that as mere mortals we think we have it all figured out and in a thousand and one different ways depending on who you’re talking to.
Glenn, in your last post, you said: “..so Who’s right then?”. In short, the answer is “God is. Always has been”.
A better question would be: “So why the divide, and the difference?”
I would just caution going from a debate on Soteriology (The Study of Salvation) and what part Children assume in this plan, to use as an example of divide: classifications of Eschatology (The study of the end times). One subject falls into the area of Essential Primary Points while the latter falls into what I call “Tertiary Non Essential points needed for unity”.
I’m not going to hijack the thread, so no long discussions. I would say that the reason for the divide is that we are still human. We still are clothed in vessels stained with sin. It affects everything. It affects our reasoning, our logic, our mental processes, it creeps into our theology. The goal is to listen to the Holy Spirit, and then study to show yourself approved, and then to choose where on the theological scale you land. From there after, listen to the Lord in prayer and study, as He may change your theological paradigm. (John MacArthur Jr is a great example of a teacher who still sees himself as a student, and who has CHANGED his position, and then said “Look… This is what I am now convicted of to believe in. That takes swallowing pride, fear that you may fly into opposition, but it shows a servant who still to this day struggles to “…be thou faithful”.
I would rather as a Christian, stand before the Holy Lord and if He runs me through a “Q & A”, a “theological position examination”, and asks me why I believed thus…. I would rather endure that, and answer him, and fall on His Word, His Scripture to use as my reasoning…… Than to say “I was a Baptist cause they were the real Independant ones who refused to fall under a Leadership of Elders who would help protect their doctrine from changing….. And they had the cool modern music that I heard daily on K-Love 88, or JesusRock 93.5, et al).
Lastly, because we are each different creatively, because some of us are Fingers or Toes, and some of us are Tongues or Ears. Some of us are simply skin…. We are used to help hold things together. Some of us need Liturgy, an Psalms to sing, and some of us need the community of Holy silence in prayer. Some of the Tongues and Noses need symbols clashing, piano and guitar music playing during prayer, some of the bellybuttons and knees hate ordered methodology feeling as if that they are not allowing the Spirit to move and control the order of the service.
We each are created different. That difference has led to Man not willing to make concessions in methodology, and has given rise to disputes over doctrine. Ultimately we are products of rebellion. We rebelled against God in the garden, then as time went along, we rebelled against the Church (soetimes for good reason), and finding no new targets we rebelled against each other.
(An excellent treatise on how Society has slid down a slope in the way we think, and using the outward reflections of our inner creative nature (Art, music, poetry), and showing how it has regressed would be to read Francis Schaefer “How shall we then live?” )
Thank you Glenn, and the web board for allowing me to “opine”, and I hope I did not “bloviate”. Again, if it is too much, the web master may remove my posting.
In Him, I still am
DBP
To DBP: that was more than I asked for, but is it, “Still your opinion” on how you see the world through your eyes and then reflecting that opinion onto others.
I probably still have more questions than answers in a lot of things (whether church or otherwise), but I appreciate your opinion in this matter. It’s still the great debate though – why are we here and where are we going regardless of the age when we die? Mankind is always looking for the answer to the existence of life. No one really knows the answer to that, do they, because none of us has been there yet? One day we will and in that time it just won’t matter anymore.
Who are you to say or judge their is only one judge I am a mom of a baby who was created from god. I prayed with all my heart and soul for god to bare me a child and 5 years later he gave me a child. I lost my child in a miscarriage. My baby had a heart a pure innocent heart in my womb that was just purely developed. Even
Who are you are anyone are anything to judge over a babys innocense
I prayed for god to give me a child and I he did. I lost mine through a unexpected miscarriage and it hurt me so bad but when I got knocked down I got right back up and I thank god for giving me that mother and child bond because god and my child made me even stronger.and you know my baby had heart a pure innocent just created heart by god.and I prayed for my baby everyday for it to be safe and the safest place is in heaven with him and not with me
Babies have pure hearts and souls before they enter this world then it is up to us parents to repent their sins till they reach the age of 12 only god knows our hearts and souls
though my baby didn’t get to take a breath in this sick sinful world we live in it still took a breath inside of me and I don’t care about your opinions or any one else opinions because I know where my baby is at and he is in heaven with the angels and the good lord up above away from this sinful world a baby is pure innocent it can’t do for itself it is up to the parents to repent for their sin till they are at the righteous age. So believe what you want and who you want. Only God knows what’s in our hearts.
Steve, your article is very clear and right on. Please permit me to post that I’ve written a short book called “The Death and Salvation of Infants” (you can find it on lulu.com) that presents exactly the view that you present here, in case anyone has more questions, or objections to this view. Thanks.
steve, this sermon sounds like an effort to make sense out of God…to connect all the dots so that this can all be figured out. what if you are dead wrong???