Do Babies Go to Heaven?
Do infants who die go to heaven? If you believe they do, are you able to defend that belief from the truth of the Bible? In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Answering the question regarding the eternal destiny of those who die in infancy with an emotional “I don’t believe God would send an innocent baby to hell” may be sufficient for some people.
However, there are many who desire biblical truth as the basis for their beliefs. We reach the lost with concrete truth about God’s plan of redemption. We hold up Scripture as the source of all that is necessary for “life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3) Do we then teach Christians to just believe what seems right in their own eyes? Or, do we lead them to dig deeper into Scripture beyond the “milk” to the “meat” of the principles of truth? In considering whether infants who die go to heaven or not, the Bible provides an answer. One who really desires truth will excavate until he discovers it. King David believed that Bathsheba’s son had gone to heaven when he said, “I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” (2 Samuel 12:23) David had no doubt about where he was spending eternity—just read the Psalms. And he clearly expected to be reunited with his son in heaven. It is a truth of Scripture that all shall be judged regarding deeds committed “in the body.” While we have inherited the sin nature of Adam (that bent toward disobedience), we are not judged for his sins but for our own. Moses wrote, “Surely not one of these men of this evil generation shall see that good land of which I swore to give to your fathers.” (Deuteronomy 1:35) All are condemned because of their sin. However, he continues in verse 39, “‘Moreover your little ones and your children, who you say will be victims, who today have no knowledge of good and evil, they shall go in there; to them I will give it, and they shall possess it.” The Bible makes it clear that the atonement of Jesus Christ extends to those who die in innocence. Be diligent in studying God’s Word as you seek answers!
Sin cera, Erik
Erik O. Garthe is Associate Pastor at Canton Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland.
