Do
those babies who die in infancy go to heaven? As a pastor this question much
more than an idle curiosity or a point of theological speculation to me. I have
been called upon, on may occasions to minister to mothers who had lost their
babies and to preach the funerals of infants and toddlers. At such times I want
to do what I can to comfort the mourning parents, and yet be thoroughly honest
regarding the teachings of Holy Scripture.
There
are many who say that "The baptized babies of believing parents go to
heaven." But the Word of God nowhere places any saving efficacy in the
ordinance of baptism. And the Bible plainly forbids the practice of baptizing
babies. Only those who are themselves believers are to be admitted to the
ordinance of baptism; and then it is to be performed only by immersion (Acts
8:36-39). Some people, out of mere sentimentlism, say that, "Infants who
die become the angels of heaven." But those who read the Bible know that
the heavenly angels were created by God to minister to his elect people (Heb.
1:13-13). A few people even say that, "Those babies who die in infancy are
lost." The Bible certainly does not teach that. When David's servants told
him that his baby boy had died, David went into the house of the Lord and
worshipped God, and said, "He is dead, wherefore should I fast? Can I
bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me" (I
Sam. 12:23). David's clear implications was that he hoped to meet his son again
in heaven when they die." But we still want something more personally
satisfying, when we take the tiny coffin of an infant to the grave. I want to
share with you some things that have helped me to answer this question from the
Scriptures. Do those babies who die in infancy go to heaven.
Depraved
We
know that all men are born with depraved, sinful hearts. Sin is not something
boys learn at school, Sin is the inbred disease of the human race. All are born
in sin. David said, "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my
mother conceive me" (Ps. 51:5). He tells us that all men "are
estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they are born speaking
lies" (Ps. 58:3). Through the sin and fall of our father Adam, we all
become sinners. We are all born, spiritually dead sinners. Paul said, "By
one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon
all men, for that all have sinned" (Rom. 5:12). Every baby born into the
world is born a sinner, guilty of Adam’s transgression, deserving eternal
punishment. Even that baby who dies in infancy must have an atonement for sin
through the blood of Christ, and must have a new nature by Divine regeneration,
or it cannot go to heaven.
Judgment
Yet,
the bible teaches us that anyone is ever sent to hell because of Adam's sin.
The Bible addresses men and deals with then as responsible, reasonable, and
accountable beings. Every warning and every promise is addressed to people who
are morally responsible to God for their own actions. While all are deserving
of God's wrath because all are sinners by nature, none are ever said to be
judged guilty by God except those who willfully transgress his law, which
infants cannot be said to do. In fact the Bible seems to imply that God will
not eternally condemn anyone solely upon the basis of Adam's transgression. The
Lord himself declares, "The fathers shall not be put to death for the
children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: “Every
man shall be put to death for his own sin" (Duet. 24:16).
Answer
Knowing my heavenly Father's character, that he is just, righteous, and good, when I read statements such as David made about his son, and consider the whole Revelation of God in Scripture, I can, with confidence and joy say, yes, those babies who die in infancy do go to heaven. They are chosen of God, redeemed by Christ, and regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Like all of God's elect, they are saved by the pure, free, sovereign grace of God.
Don Fortner, Pastor
Grace Baptist Church of Danville
Danville, Ky.