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Thoughts and Ramblings on "Infant Salvation"

Published by Andrew Esping under on Thursday, January 28, 2010
Earlier this week I had a chance to discuss the issue of infant salvation with some of my friends from college.

Although opinions differed greatly we did come to a general agreement that Scripture has not spoken much on the issue and therefore we must trust in God to do what is good and just in His eyes.

Although we somewhat resolved the issue, I would like to ramble on for a bit and give some thoughts that I have had on the issue.

The ordeal of Infant salvation is a though one to discuss in todays culture.  In America alone we are surrounded by the murder of thousands of babies each year in abortion clinics, not to mention the ever present sad occasion of a still born child or other sad mis happenings.

Most humans have a tender spot in their hearts for new born babies, infants and toddlers, and I am no exception.  I think those feelings probably comes from the beauty we see in God's creation of the newness of life, that's what makes this specific issue of infant salvation so hard to discuss, especially for the Calvinist.

As a Calvinist, I believe Scripture teaches that when Adam fell, as our Covenant representative, we all fell IN him.  Therefore, all descendants of Adam are born with his corrupt nature which they receive at conception.

That being said, I do not believe it possible (or in line with Scripture) to state that all human children that die at birth or infancy are immediately ushered into heaven.

However, we look around today at the modern day church, or even to those church's who claim to be "reformed" or "Calvinistic," we see that many people today hold strongly to this doctrine.  People state different reasons for why they believe this, some of the more popular reasons are that "They are Innocent!"  This idea that children are born sinless and therefore cannot be held accountable for doing any evil.  Another popular statement is that "God is to merciful to send a child to hell."

Although both these reasons are appealing to our flesh, I believe that neither of them are in line with Scripture.

The first argument made (that human children are born innocent) I believe is in error due to the simple fact that all children are born with Adam's radically corrupt nature, and therefore all humans from birth justly deserve eternal punishment away from the face of God.

5Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
   and in sin did my mother conceive me.

-Psalm 51:5


The second argument made (God is to merciful to send a child to hell) I also must must frown upon from Scripture's view point.  As sad as it may seem, a child is still a human and still possesses a radically corrupt nature, therefore from the beginning of life they deserve what every other human deserves, separation from God.

So does this leave all those who die an infant to certain doom?  I believe this is not the case.  Due to by reformed beliefs, I acknowledge that since salvation requires no cooperation from the human, no prior learning is necessary to be regenerated and receive salvation.  How this happens, I don't understand, however I believe we get a clear snapshot of this from within Scripture:

   And the LORD afflicted the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and he became sick. 16David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. 17And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. 18On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, "Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us. How then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm." 19But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, "Is the child dead?" They said, "He is dead." 20Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate. 21Then his servants said to him, "What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food." 22He said, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, 'Who knows whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?' 23But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me."
2 Sam 12:15-23


David seems to be very clear in his speech that he will soon be reunited with His son in paradise.


This is really the only  Scripture we have that touches on the subject, and even this passage isn't real direct with it's message.


All in all, it really boils down to God will do what pleases Him and He will bring total glory and honor to His name in all that He does.  


And you can be 100% sure, that every single last thing that He has done, does and will do, is entirely Just in every aspect. 

2 Comments:

Anonymous said... @ July 7, 2010 at 7:29 PM

Hey Werdna- ash here. Nice blog that I happened to find. I have to side with you and say that I don't find it logical that all aborted or unborn babies go to Heaven. As you know, the Bible says that not many will enter into Heaven, yet throughout many centuries millions and millions of young unborn children have died. If you think about it, Heaven would definitely contain a lot of people if all unborn children went to Heaven, when the Bible clearly states that not many will enter into Heaven. I just don't see how all unborn babies could go to Heaven when clearly Scripture states that fact mentioned above.

Andrew Esping said... @ September 27, 2010 at 5:15 PM

Hey Splash!

Sorry it took.....a long time for me to respond (I've ignored this blog for quite some time).

I believe you are 100% correct. Scripture gives us no information concerning this issue except that we are sinners from the beginning; and if life truly begins at conception, we deserve eternal damnation from that moment on.

We also know that salvation requires no effort from man, therefore God can easily regenerate those who are unborn.

It all depends on what pleases God!

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