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Where do babies go when they die?
- Thread starter jbh28
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psalms109:31
Active Member
What if?
What if God could look down the path of that infant even though he did die as if he didn't?
What if God could look down the path of that infant even though he did die as if he didn't?
I've never heard of that. Understanding the doctrines of Calvinism and Arminianism, it would be the Calvinist who would say that babies can go to heaven whereas the Arminian (if they believe it is man's choice to follow God or not - not God's choice) would believe that all babies would go to hell because they never had a chance to choose.
Have you read Spurgeon's sermon on this...Im sure it's on the internet. Its his opinion that they go to Heaven. BTW, he was a Calvinist.
Many don't know that Spurgeon was a Calvinist, especially the sword of the lord crowd. do you have a link to it. I'll see if I can find it.
3._____ Elect infants dying in infancy are regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit; who worketh when, and where, and how he pleases; so also are all elect persons, who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word.
( John 3:3, 5, 6; John 3:8 )
4._____ Others not elected, although they may be called by the ministry of the Word, and may have some common operations of the Spirit, yet not being effectually drawn by the Father, they neither will nor can truly come to Christ, and therefore cannot be saved: much less can men that receive not the Christian religion be saved; be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature and the law of that religion they do profess.
( Matthew 22:14; Matthew 13:20, 21; Hebrews 6:4, 5; John 6:44, 45, 65; 1 John 2:24, 25; Acts 4:12; John 4:22; John 17:3 )
( John 3:3, 5, 6; John 3:8 )
4._____ Others not elected, although they may be called by the ministry of the Word, and may have some common operations of the Spirit, yet not being effectually drawn by the Father, they neither will nor can truly come to Christ, and therefore cannot be saved: much less can men that receive not the Christian religion be saved; be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature and the law of that religion they do profess.
( Matthew 22:14; Matthew 13:20, 21; Hebrews 6:4, 5; John 6:44, 45, 65; 1 John 2:24, 25; Acts 4:12; John 4:22; John 17:3 )
We don't know for a certainty where babies go. The reformed calvinists believe that infant baptism is a covenant promise and the children of believers go to heaven based on that Abrahamic covenant.
On the other hadn some adopt a concept of "age of responsibility". All children are covered by the cross until they reach that "age of responsibility". This would include most arminians.
Spurgeon espoused the age of accountability theory.
The chief problem is original sin for one who does not accept covenant theology and infant baptism. We must accept that "all the elect will be saved" and they are covered by the cross without a verbal confession.
I am afraid, we just don't have sufficient to draft a hard and fast doctrine on this point, and we are left to our own concoction based on the love and grace of God.
Cheers,
Jim
PS. My very first funeral was an infant and I wrestled hard with this question. Thankfully the parent were firm believers, and this helped.
On the other hadn some adopt a concept of "age of responsibility". All children are covered by the cross until they reach that "age of responsibility". This would include most arminians.
Spurgeon espoused the age of accountability theory.
The chief problem is original sin for one who does not accept covenant theology and infant baptism. We must accept that "all the elect will be saved" and they are covered by the cross without a verbal confession.
I am afraid, we just don't have sufficient to draft a hard and fast doctrine on this point, and we are left to our own concoction based on the love and grace of God.
Cheers,
Jim
PS. My very first funeral was an infant and I wrestled hard with this question. Thankfully the parent were firm believers, and this helped.
I would assume they would need to be born again being they were born of the flesh.
Lets see David said speaking of his child, I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. On the day of Pentecost about fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus where did Peter say David was? Men [and] brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
How did David put this? Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell,(Hades) neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
I assume David as he said went to his child.
Lets see David said speaking of his child, I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. On the day of Pentecost about fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus where did Peter say David was? Men [and] brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
How did David put this? Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell,(Hades) neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
I assume David as he said went to his child.
psalms109:31
Active Member
Flaw
To me the greatest fear from must peoples theory, if someone had no concern for themselves and wanted to save their baby from eternal hell, what would be the easy way to do it?
To me the greatest fear from must peoples theory, if someone had no concern for themselves and wanted to save their baby from eternal hell, what would be the easy way to do it?
freeatlast
New Member
It is clear from the poll that you are trying to pick a fight with certain types of belief. I say that because your poll was sort of slanted and did not offer enough options so I could not respond. However I can say that the bible is simply not clear. If one really understands the extent of the fall and the condition of the human race and what is required for salvation no mater the age then one can only deduce that babies are not saved. And any hard line belief to the contrary is simply based on emotional values not scripture.
However at the same time there are at least two or maybe three passages that could be understood that the very young (babies) if they die have been provided for by some other method then what we are given in the scriptures.
Now because of what I have stated and what scripture gives us I would hold the position that it is possible that babies go to heaven (and I hope they do) when they die, but I would never form an absolute doctrine on it without further revelation which will only come when we meet the Lord. :smilewinkgrin:
However at the same time there are at least two or maybe three passages that could be understood that the very young (babies) if they die have been provided for by some other method then what we are given in the scriptures.
Now because of what I have stated and what scripture gives us I would hold the position that it is possible that babies go to heaven (and I hope they do) when they die, but I would never form an absolute doctrine on it without further revelation which will only come when we meet the Lord. :smilewinkgrin:
No, there are others that support it (Israelites entering the promised land under 20, Gen. 8:21 come to the top of my head)
Define an "elect infant" since only believers (actually Jews...but that's another thread) are referred to as "elect"? Both points above can be easily dismissed as there is no other dispensation of salvation. Sinners are saved in only one way, by grace through faith...not by being "elect".
I think He has, though. He has stated throughout the Bible who is considered guilty and what one in that state needs to be saved. I'm thinking the Bible doesn't say much concerning infants because it should be a given to man that they don't exercise faith and cannot break God's law.
I agree with you, but some seem not to be able to see it. Much like the doctrine of the Trinity. There is no one verse that uses the word, but the doctrine is there. And some will still deny it.
freeatlast
New Member
Many things are possible in silence, but I would be careful in forming doctrine because of or in the mist of silence. It is like people that teach that we all have guardian angles. First the bible never even hints to such. Second if we do they are doing a terrible job. So just because something seems good and proper by man's standards, one would be well advised to not hold to a belief that God has not clearly confirmed.
This post is paramount to "Nuh, uh". The Israelites under 20 were not responsible for the sin of their parents and allowed to enter the promised land, so right there your "only one verse" theory has been blown out of the water.
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