Do Infants who die go to heaven?

I. Repentance

Comparison between different people who were confronted by God

Cain Gen 4:9-13

Saul 1 Sam 15:24-25

David Ps 51

No mention again of lessening the consequences

Does ask for restoration of full fellowship

Asks for forgiveness

Asks for sanctification

Acknowledges that we sin because we are sinners

Defining repentance

“Against the Lord” c.f. Ps 51:4 What about all the other people? Bathsheba? Uriah? Joab?

II. When God answers no

Why did David think there was a chance? Jer 18:7-10; Jonah 4:2-3

Jeremiah 18:7–10 NKJV

The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it.

Jonah 4:2–3 NKJV

So he prayed to the Lord, and said, “Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm. Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!”

David’s fasting and then odd ceasing of mourning is his confidence in the sovereignty of God. God can save the child at any moment, if he wishes.

God does sometimes give a clear no.

III. How is it right for the baby to die?

God has made it clear that children are not to be put to death for the sins of the parents Ezek 18:20

Ezekiel 18:20 NKJV

The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

It is not normally the fault of the parents in this case John 9:1-3. So when counseling parents on the death of their child, I would almost never conclude that there was anything wrong. But the fact that it is not usually anyone’s fault is not the same as saying it never could be.

John 9:1–3 NKJV

Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.

Sin always has consequences, yes consequences to one’s children. That’s the nature of sin in general. The only difference here is the level of specificity. Ex 34:6

Exodus 34:6 NKJV

And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,

IV. The Case for infant’s eternal safety

First, some hints

David’s statement does not help us determine what happens to infants who die. The doctrine of heaven and hell hadn’t been revealed yet, so David doesn’t know where people go when they die. He knows that death is not the end (1 Sam 28) , and that God is just and merciful. He doesn’t know where he is going, let alone the child.

However, there is a note of hope and togetherness. David’s statement reminds one of the expression that occurs some seven times in the Pentateuch, that someone was “gathered to his people.” (c.f. Gen 25:8). This conception is of everyone being together in death (Job 3:11, 13-14). So it really doesn’t tell us where infants go when they die. But it would be a bit dissonant with the mood, if David went to heaven and his child went to hell. He wouldn’t be “together,” though this interpretation does fit the context.

Genesis 25:8 NKJV

Then Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people.

Job 3:11 NKJV

“Why did I not die at birth? Why did I not perish when I came from the womb?

Job 3:13–14 NKJV

For now I would have lain still and been quiet, I would have been asleep; Then I would have been at rest With kings and counselors of the earth, Who built ruins for themselves,

Second hint - Jesus’ words about little children Mark 10:13-16. Again, this doesn’t teach us that little children are perfectly guiltless. It does imply that we must accept salvation with no hidden agenda, no provisos, which children do automatically as they lack the sophistication to do that. Again, doesn’t prove it, but it definitely predisposes us to look harder.

Mark 10:13–16 NKJV

Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.

Now the proof.

Before a certain age, humans have yet to commit moral actions Romans 9:10-12; and have yet to understand the difference between right and wrong Isa 7:14-16.

Romans 9:10–12 NKJV

And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.”

Isaiah 7:14–16 NKJV

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the Child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land that you dread will be forsaken by both her kings.

However, humans sin because they are sinners, they do not become sinners when they sin. Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12

Psalm 51:5 NKJV

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.

Romans 5:12 NKJV

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—

This original, or first, sin is a problem, as infants are born into a fallen race and equally bear the guilt.

Now, when Adam and Eve sinned, it was more than just that two individuals sinned, although that was true. Every member of the human race - both of them - committed the exact same sin. Therefore the human race sinned. When Eve ate the fruit, only half the human race sinned, so while that made her a sinner, the human race as a whole wasn’t yet. But when Adam ate, all members of the human race had sinned. This means that the human race was guilty and merited God’s judgment. This is why those after Adam still died, even though they didn’t eat the fruit. They were part of the human race, which was under the sentence of death.

But this means that when an infant is born, it is born into a fallen race, and therefore has the cloud of death over it, even though it hasn’t done anything yet. It’s still human.

But Paul goes on to say that Jesus’ free gift of salvation is much more effective than Adam’s sin. Romans 5:18. If Adam’s sin is universal and independent of choice, then Jesus’ atonement is likewise. Now, each of us here have our own individual sins to deal with, so the atonement for Adam’s sin is, for us, a bit of a moot point. We have to deal with our own guilt first, before the guilt of the human race means much. But Jesus’ atonement dealt with the guilt that is due the human race. That means that no one ever goes to hell just because of Adam’s sin. Anyone who is punished, is punished for their own sins, not Adam’s.

Romans 5:18 NKJV

Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.

Infants, however, do not have individual sins, as they have yet to become moral agents, able to choose between right and wrong. Since Adam’s guilt is the only one that falls on them, and Jesus already paid for that, they will not be condemned, as there is nothing on their record to condemn them.

For us, however, we do have individual sins. All of us do because we are all born wrong. To receive salvation for individual sins we must individually repent and believe.