Do Babies go to Heaven Do Babies go to Heaven when they Die?when they Die?

How would you answer this How would you answer this question . . . from the Bible?question . . . from the Bible?

BIBLE BASICSBIBLE BASICSFOR THE FAMILYFOR THE FAMILY

A Study in Systematic A Study in Systematic TheologyTheology

Soteriology: The Study of what the Bible teaches about SALVATION

Just how important is it?

So, how would you answer the question about babies and

heaven?

Some are quick to answer the question out of sentimentality

Others trust in the unbiblical teaching of Universalism

But we must always ask But we must always ask

WHAT DOES THE WHAT DOES THE BIBLEBIBLE SAY?SAY?

Article published in SBC Life, May 1998

“The Salvation of the ‘Little Ones’: Do Infants who Die Go to

Heaven?”

R. Albert Mohler, Jr. and Daniel L. Akin,

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Psalm 51:5

“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother

conceived me.”

• We all are born with the stain of original sin (see also Romans 5:12).

• There is no such thing as an “innocent” baby.

• However . . .

The Bible teaches:

• We are to be judged on the basis of our deeds committed “in the body.”

• 2 Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

• We will face the judgment seat of Christ and be judged, not on the basis of original sin, but for our sins committed during our own lifetimes.

• Each person will answer “according to what he has done,” and NOT for the sin of Adam.

• The imputation of Adam’s sin and guilt explains our inability to respond to God without regeneration, but the Bible does not teach that we will answer for Adam’s sin.

• We will answer for our OWN sin.

• So how about infants? Have those who died in infancy committed such sins “in the body?”

• NO.

Deuteronomy 1:35Deuteronomy 1:35

After the children of Israel rebelled against After the children of Israel rebelled against God in the wilderness, God sentenced that God in the wilderness, God sentenced that generation to die in the wilderness after 40 generation to die in the wilderness after 40 years of wandering.years of wandering.

God said, “Not one of these men of this God said, “Not one of these men of this evil generation shall see that good land of evil generation shall see that good land of which I swore to give to your fathers.”which I swore to give to your fathers.”

Deuteronomy 1:39Deuteronomy 1:39

However, God specifically exempted However, God specifically exempted young children and infants from this young children and infants from this sentence, and even explained why He did sentence, and even explained why He did so:so:““Moreover, your little ones and your Moreover, your little ones and your children, who you say will be victims, who children, who you say will be victims, who today have no knowledge of good and evil, today have no knowledge of good and evil, they shall go in there; to them I will give it, they shall go in there; to them I will give it, and they shall possess it.”and they shall possess it.”

The Key Issue:The Key Issue:

• The key issue here is that God specifically exempted from the judgment those who “have no knowledge of good or evil” because of their age. These “little ones” would inherit the Promised Land, and would not be judged on the basis of their fathers’ sins.

Therefore . . .Therefore . . .• This passage bears directly on the issue of

infant salvation. The accomplished work of Jesus Christ on the cross has removed the stain of original sin from those who die in infancy . . .

• Knowing neither good nor evil, these young children are incapable of committing sins in the body—are not yet moral agents—and die secure in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Other helpful Scriptures:Other helpful Scriptures:

In In Mark 10:14Mark 10:14, Jesus instructed his , Jesus instructed his disciples that they should “Let the little disciples that they should “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.”them; for of such is the kingdom of God.”

2 Samuel 12:232 Samuel 12:23 . . . . . .

““But now he is dead; why should I fast? But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.”him, but he shall not return to me.”

Charles SpurgeonCharles Spurgeon ((A sermon preached in London, Sept. A sermon preached in London, Sept.

29, 186129, 1861)) ““Now, let every mother and father here Now, let every mother and father here

present know assuredly that it is well with present know assuredly that it is well with the child, if God hath taken it away from the child, if God hath taken it away from you in its infant days . . .”you in its infant days . . .”

““Many of you are parents who have Many of you are parents who have children in heaven. Is it not a desirable children in heaven. Is it not a desirable thing that you should go there, too?”thing that you should go there, too?”

““Mother, unconverted mother, from the Mother, unconverted mother, from the battlements of heaven your child beckons you to battlements of heaven your child beckons you to Paradise. Father, ungodly, impenitent father, the Paradise. Father, ungodly, impenitent father, the little eyes that once looked joyously on you, look little eyes that once looked joyously on you, look down upon you now, and the lips which had down upon you now, and the lips which had scarcely learned to call you father, ere they were scarcely learned to call you father, ere they were sealed by the silence of death, may be heard as sealed by the silence of death, may be heard as with a still small voice, saying to you this with a still small voice, saying to you this morning, ‘Father, must we be for ever divided by morning, ‘Father, must we be for ever divided by the great gulf which no man can pass?’ Doth not the great gulf which no man can pass?’ Doth not nature itself put a sort of longing in your soul that nature itself put a sort of longing in your soul that you may be bound in the bundle of life with your you may be bound in the bundle of life with your own dear children?”own dear children?”

Summation:

• We may infer from the Bible that our Lord graciously and freely receives all those who die in infancy—not on the basis of their innocence or worthiness—but by His grace, made theirs through the atonement He purchased on the cross.

John Newton, minister and writer of John Newton, minister and writer of Amazing Grace:Amazing Grace:

Writing to close friends who had lost a Writing to close friends who had lost a child:child:

““I hope you are both well reconciled to the I hope you are both well reconciled to the death of your child. I cannot be sorry for death of your child. I cannot be sorry for the death of infants. How many storms do the death of infants. How many storms do they escape! Nor can I doubt, in my they escape! Nor can I doubt, in my private judgment, that they are included in private judgment, that they are included in the election of grace.”the election of grace.”

AMAZING GRACEAMAZING GRACE

Amazing grace! How sweet Amazing grace! How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch the sound, that saved a wretch

like me! I once was lost, but like me! I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now am found, was blind but

now I see.now I see.

AMAZING GRACEAMAZING GRACE

‘‘Twas grace that taught my Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; how precious fears relieved; how precious

did that grace appear the hour did that grace appear the hour I first believed.I first believed.

AMAZING GRACEAMAZING GRACE

When we’ve been there ten When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when to sing God’s praise than when

we first begun.we first begun.