Thoughts on the Salvation of Infants

Not too long ago I was asked about what happens to children and others who lack the mental capacity and/or awareness to believe in the gospel when they die. I also read a post from a blogger which criticized all those (which would include me) who don’t go as far as to say that absolutely every infant who dies goes to heaven without exception. In light of these things I thought it would be a good idea to repost some thoughts I had on the subject a while back. It doesn’t come to a total conclusion to the question but gives some known things from Scripture that can help guide one’s opinion:

1. When a person dies it is proof that they are guilty of sin. This is an unavoidable reality that there is no such thing as a truly innocent child before God.

2. There is Biblical reasoning to believe that God does not hold infants accountable in the same way that He holds one accountable who has not heard the gospel. Romans 1 is a clear indictment of all men whether they have heard the gospel or not. However, because Romans 1 focuses on creation and conscience it is reasonable to say that God may not hold infants accountable for their sin in the same way.

3. There are (though few) examples of the salvation of infants in the Bible. The first is in 2 Samuel 12 when David seems to indicate that his child who had just died would be in heaven. The second example is that John the Baptist was regenerate from the womb (Luke 1:15). These are not examples that should be taken universally but we can say that God seems to have saved infants in the past.

4. Jesus had much affection for Children and sought to protect them (see Matt. 18). Jesus loved to use children as an example of saving faith. The fact that children are unable to do much of anything apart from outside help is a great example of man's inability to come to God apart from the new birth. This is only helpful to us in knowing something about God, we cannot reach a conclusion based on this fact alone.

5. God is good and I trust Him. Was it man that first saw the need for salvation and devised a way for God to save us? Is man capable of coming to God on his own anymore than an infant? The answer to these questions is surely not. So I concede to God the right to decide what is most glorifying to Himself in this case.

The most important thing is that we cannot assume that God must save all infants. God is just to condemn any sinner. So ultimately we must say that we don't know if God saves all infants. People have their opinions and their interpretations of different Scriptures but the fact of the matter is that this is a gray area in Scriptures and we must cling to God's goodness and rightness in all things.

Grace and Peace,
Stephen