Why We Believe Children Who Die Go To Heaven

This is an article written by Dr. Mohler (President, Southern Baptist  Theological Seminary) and Dr. Akin (President, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary). This is a  great and uplifting article for those Christian parents, and hope for the unsaved parent, who may have lost a small child.

WHY WE BELIEVE CHILDREN WHO DIE GO TO HEAVEN

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

Few things in life are more tragic and heartbreaking than the death of a baby or small child. For parents, the grief can be overwhelming. For the minister, to stand over a small, white casket and provide comfort and support seems to ask for more than he can deliver.

Many console themselves with the thought that at least the child is now in a better place. Some believe small children who die become angels. They are certain these precious little ones are in heaven with God.

However, it is important for us both to ask and answer some important questions if we can. Do those who die in infancy go to heaven? How do we know? What evidence is there to support such a conclusion? Sentimentalism and emotional hopes and wants are not sufficient for those who live under the authority of the Word of God. We must, if possible, find out what God has said.

It is interesting to discover that the Church has not been of one mind on this issue. In fact, the early and medieval Church was anything but united. Some Church Fathers remained silent on the issue. Ambrose said unbaptized infants were not admitted to heaven, but have immunity from the pains of hell. Augustine basically affirmed the damnation of all unbaptized infants, but taught they would receive the mildest punishment of all. Gregory of Nyssa offered that infants who die immediately mature and are given the opportunity to trust Christ. Calvin affirmed the certain election of some infants to salvation and was open to the possibility that all infants who die are saved. He said, “Christ receives not only those who, moved by holy desire and faith, freely approach unto Him, but those who are not yet of age to know how much they need His grace.” Zwingli, B.B. Warfield and Charles Hodge all taught that God saves all who die in infancy. This perspective has basically become the dominant view of the Church in the 20th century.

Yet, a popular evangelical theologian chided Billy Graham when at the Oklahoma City memorial service he said, “Someday there will be a glorious reunion with those who have died and gone to heaven before us, and that includes all those innocent children that are lost. They’re not lost from God because any child that young is automatically in heaven and in God’s arms.” The theologian scolded Dr. Graham for offering what he called “. . . a new gospel: justification by youth alone.”

It is our conviction that there are good reasons biblically and theologically for believing that God saves all who die who do not reach a stage of moral understanding and accountability. It is readily admitted that Scripture does not speak to this issue directly, yet there is evidence that can be gleaned that would lead us to affirm on biblical grounds that God receives into heaven all who have died in infancy. Some evidence is stronger than others, but cumulatively they marshall strong support for infant salvation. We will note six of them.

First, the grace, goodness and mercy of God would support the position that God saves all infants who die. This is the strongest argument and perhaps the decisive one. God is love (1 John 4:8) and desires that all be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). God is love and His concern for children is evident in Matthew 18:14 where Jesus says, “Your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.” People go to hell because they choose in willful rebellion and unbelief to reject God and His grace. Children are incapable of this kind of conscious rejection of God. Where such rebellion and willful disobedience is absent, God is gracious to receive.

Second, when the baby boy who was born to David and Bathsheba died (2 Samuel 12:15-18), David did two significant things: 1) He confessed his confidence that he would see the child again and, 2) he comforted his wife Bathsheba (vs. 23-24). David could have done those two things only if he was confident that his little son was with God. Any other explanation does not do justice to the text.

Third, in James 4:17, the Bible says, “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” The Bible is clear that we are all born with a sin nature as a result of being in Adam (Roman 5:12). This is what is called the doctrine of original sin. However, the Scriptures make a distinction between original sin and actual sins. While all are guilty of original sin, moral responsibility and understanding is necessary for our being accountable for actual sins (Deuteronomy 1:30; Isaiah 7:16). It is to the one who knows to do right and does not do it that sin is reckoned. Infants are incapable of such decisions.

Fourth, Jesus affirmed that the kingdom of God belonged to little children (Luke 18:15-17). In the passage he is stating that saving faith is a childlike faith, but He also seems to be affirming the reality of children populating heaven.

Fifth, Scripture affirms that the number of saved souls is very great (Revelation 7:9). Since most of the world has been and is still non-Christian, might it be the untold multitude who have died prematurely or in infancy comprise a majority of those in heaven? Such a possibility ought not to be dismissed too quickly. In this context Charles Spurgeon said, “I rejoice to know that the souls of all infants, as soon as they die, speed their way to paradise. Think what a multitude there is of them.”

Sixth, some in Scripture are said to be chosen or sanctified from the womb (1 Samuel 1:8-2:21; Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 1:15). This certainly affirms the salvation of some infants and repudiates the view that only baptized babies are assured of heaven. Neither Samuel, Jeremiah or John the Baptist was baptized.

After surveying these arguments, it is important for us to remember that anyone who is saved is saved because of the grace of God, the saving work of Jesus Christ and the undeserved and unmerited regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. Like all who have ever lived, except for Jesus, infants need to be saved. Only Jesus can take away their sin, and if they are saved it is because of His sovereign grace and abounding mercy. Abraham said, “Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25). We can confidently say, “Yes, He will.” When it comes to those incapable of volitional, willful acts of sin, we can rest assured God will, indeed, do right. Precious little ones are the objects of His saving mercy and grace.

CONCLUSION

On September 29, 1861, the great Baptist pastor, Charles Spurgeon, preached a message entitled “Infant Salvation.” In that message he chastened some critics who had “. . . wickedly, lyingly, and slanderously said of Calvinists that we believe that some little children perish.” Similar rumblings have been heard in some Baptist circles of late. Spurgeon affirmed that God saved little ones without limitation and without exception. He, then, as was his manner, turned to conclude the message with an evangelistic appeal to parents who might be lost. Listen to his plea:

“Many of you are parents who have children in heaven. Is it not a desirable thing that you should go there too? And yet, have I not in these galleries and in this area some, perhaps many, who have no hope hereafter? . . . . Mother, unconverted mother, from the battlements of heaven your child beckons you to Paradise. Father, ungodly, impenitent father, the little eyes that once looked joyously on you, look down upon you now and the lips which had scarcely learned to call you “Father” ere they were sealed by the silence of death, may be heard as with a still, small voice, saying to you this morning, “Father, must we be forever divided by the great gulf which no man can pass?” If you wilt, think of these matters, perhaps the heart will begin to move, and the eyes may begin to flow and then may the Holy Spirit put before thine eyes the cross of the Savior . . . if thou wilt turn thine eye to Him, thou shalt live . . .”

Little ones are precious in God’s sight. If they die, they go to heaven. Parents, who have trusted Jesus, who have lost a little one, if they have trusted Jesus, can be confident of a wonderful reunion someday. Are you hopeful of seeing again that little treasure God entrusted to you for such a short time? Jesus has made a way. Come to Him now and someday you will see them again.

If you would like to download this article in PDF, click here.

Thoughts from a speck

Genesis records creation, and subsequently, man. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). He took great care and thought into making man, for we see that He created him in His own image. We were created for fellowship with God the Father, the Creator of the Universe, to bring Him glory.

God was walking in the cool of the day looking for Adam and Eve after they had eaten of the tree of life. My wife and I often enjoy sitting on our porch in the cool of the day, especially towards the fall watching the leaves change colors, or even during a summer thunderstorm. One of us will call the other and we will go outside, to sit and talk. We will talk about our day, thoughts, and dreams. Yet, this is what God desired, He was calling for them; He wanted their fellowship for His glory. So with us, He wants to walk with us and talk with us and to have a relationship with Him. Jesus said this in John 17:3, “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” The key word here is “know”; it is translated to “understand” or “perceive.” This is the same type of knowing as between a husband and wife. God desires to have a deep, intimate relationship with His creation. Jesus goes on to describe that relationship when He says in 17:20-26:

I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.

God the Father, the Creator of this Universe wants me to KNOW Him. But, is God too busy to deal with me? God surely has more important things to do and bigger fish to fry than to spend time with me, right? Wow, so wrong. Psalm 139 helps us to see just how important we are to Him. Verses 13-16:

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

God formed us individually in the womb. As I ponder these things, it is humbling. If you take an aerial shot of my yard with me standing in the middle of the picture from five feet off the ground, you can still tell that I am standing there. If you were to take the same shot about 30 feet above the ground, just above the house, I get considerably smaller. If then, we take the same shot showing the neighborhood, you can not even tell I was in the picture to begin with. Back up to city level, county level, state level, national and space level, and then the question becomes, John who? He’s where? That’s where the speck title comes in. I am a speck upon a speck upon a speck upon a speck in the grand scheme of things. No matter how big and bad I think I may be sometimes, when I stop to think on these things, I am humbled to think that the God who created the universe, not only created me in detail, but desires to have a personal relationship with me.

What got me thinking about this was when I was standing on the shore of the beach. As far as I could see straight out, was nothing but ocean; to right and to the left, the same thing. I think the ocean, if you think about it, really gives a powerful perspective to just how minute we are. Yet, according to Isaiah 40:12, my Heavenly Father holds the world’s ocean in the palm of His hand. The same chapter goes on to say in verses 21-26

Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in; who brings princes to nothing, and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness. Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows on them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble. To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing.

We are talking about GOD. He is the Omniscient One, the Omnipresent One, and the Omnipotent One. Yet, as Jesus said, He wants to KNOW each and every one of us. The farther I journey into this life with Christ, it does not cease to create within me a sense of awestruck wonder to realize God’s love for me. In return, I want to KNOW Him, I desire to be used for His glory. I want to put aside myself and serve to the pleasure of the One who created all. I echo David’s prayer: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer (Psalm 19:14).” Psalm 24:

The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle! Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory! Selah

How great is the Lord and worthy of my praise. I praise Him that He chooses to remember a speck like me. In light of eternity, I am nothing, but He loved me so much, He sent His Son to die for me. And so it is with you. We can have access and a personal daily relationship with the King of Glory. Amen.

While I’m Waiting

Even though I try not to get my theology from songs, I do think there are times when a song is very applicable. This has been a summer of discouragement, encouragment, and re-realizations. The discouragements have come in the form of ministry positions. As I have been praying about various opportunities, the Lord has not seen fit to open a door. But through my summer school course in Philippians, God has really reached into the depths of my soul and helped me to see the joy in life, no matter the circumstances (thank you, Dr. Tyler).  This is the encouraging and re-realization part of the summer. Even though I have read these verses many times, God in His infinite wisdom knew that I would need this class at this time. He is sovereign. He is in control. His timing is perfect. Thus, Philippians has been a summer long focus and it is helped from allowing me to become too discouraged in my circumstances.

Some of the verses that really stuck out to me were:

Philippians 2:1-11: So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 3:7-16: But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

Philippians 4:4-9: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Also, another thing the Lord really taught me through the summer was to be used by Him where ever I happen to be. So, I had lunch with my Bible Fellowship Teacher and discussed ways to be involved. I have joined his teaching team, and my wife and I have agreed to become Care Group Leaders. We are excited about this oppurtunity and looking forward to seeing how God uses us. Through this time, God has really pressed on my heart a song by John Waller. I leave you with this song, and I hope if anyone is discouraged, for whatever reason, this blog entry may have helped you a little bit.

“While I’m Waiting” the music video to the song is here: http://vimeo.com/3768562

I’m waiting
I’m waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I’m waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait
I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience

While I’m waiting
I will serve You
While I’m waiting
I will worship
While I’m waiting
I will not faint
I’ll be running the race
Even while I wait

I’m waiting
I’m waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I’m waiting on You, Lord
Though it’s not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience

While I’m waiting
I will serve You
While I’m waiting
I will worship
While I’m waiting
I will not faint
I’ll be running the race
Even while I wait

I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting
I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting
I will serve you while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting on You, Lord

My Hero. My Pastor. My Friend.

Dr. Mark Corts. Pastor Emeritus, Calvary Baptist Church. Winston Salem, NC

As I draw nearer to the third anniversary of his stepping into glory, I find myself reminiscing. First, to say it has been three years, astounds me. I can not believe it has been that long. I remember the day of the funeral. Through the whole service, it never really hit me that he was gone. However, when the casket was rolled down the center aisle, did it click. I went out to my car and wept and wept. I knew he was in glory, but still the pain was real. I still sit back every once in a while and remember the man who God used so mightily in my life.

My family started going to Calvary around my sixth grade year. I had been a part of another church where the pastor had committed adultery, and thus stepped down. On top of that, he had plagerized a popular pastor’s sermons, down to the personal illustrations. That was pathetic. Up until that point, I had looked up to the man. Needless to say, I came to Calvary hurt.

When I began going to Calvary, my parents had to make me go. I did not want to go because of what had happened at the previous church. I felt I had been stupid to trust a man like that, and therefore figured all pastors were like that. Boy. I was WRONG (thank the Lord). Dr. Corts had a way remembering your name years after he had only met you once and then ask about a particular reference in your life. He had a gifted memory. He also had a love for people that I have not seen in anyone else. You could tell that he loved people, and he loved Jesus. Dr. Corts was one of the best expositors of the Scripture I have ever heard. He had a way of coming along side of you, putting his arm around you and encouraging you. He seemed to know the right things to say.

I remember when my family finally joined Calvary. We went down front to move our membership. I then proceeded to introduce myself to him and tell him that my name was “John”. He of course knew that because he had just introduced us to the congregation. From that moment on though, my perspective began to change dramatically. I began to realize that not all pastors were like the one I had come from. No, I realized that there were godly men, with godly motives who were pursuing Christ with their whole lives. Dr. Corts was one of those men.

As I grew spiritually at Calvary, I rededicated my life to the Lord, dedicated my life to vocational Christian Ministry and interned in the Evangelism Department. I can safely say that God used Dr. Corts’ example, his teaching, and his life to help lead my life towards God. I wish I could succinctly sum up what I feel, but I think it goes beyond words. There is still a sadness there. But there is also immense joy knowing that Dr. Corts is at the feet of Jesus. He is rested and healthy.

If there is one passage of Scripture I would hold in honor of Dr. Corts, it would be Matthew 5:13-16: Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” For me he was the city on the hill, and he allowed the light of Christ to shine through him for all to see.