I have had some requests from viewers that we would consider a place where they can ask questions. This will be the home for all your questions for the time being.
I please ask that you be patient while we carefully and prayerfully consider your requests.
Thank you,
Abigail.
Hi. I'm curious what your belief is regarding the death of infants. Do they go to Heaven or Hell? I have read mixed responses about this over the Internet so I'm curious what your answer will be.
God bless,
xm
Hello, we are hoping to have a question and answer section on the main web page shortly.
Concerning your thoughtful question,
I'm curious what your belief is regarding the death of infants. Do they go to Heaven or Hell?
The Bible does not explicitly say something along the lines of "infants go to Heaven", neither does it say "infants go to Hell", and so we should always be careful in assessing our stance on things the Bible does not explicitly talk about.
With that in mind, there is compelling Biblical evidence and reason that infants go to Heaven. Let us deduce what we know from the Bible:
1. Everyone is born with a sinful nature.
* King David recognised this when he said,
"Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me." (Psalm 51:5)
* The Apostle Paul said that we are of the flesh, sold into bondage to sin (Romans 7:14), and that the flesh is sinful (Romans 8:3)
2. We are all born as children in Adam, the first man. As his offspring we share in Adam's sin. When he sinned God cursed creation and subjected all life to futility (Romans 8:20-25) and we too will die and remain dead forever unless we are resurrected by Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:22; Romans 5:15).
The common questions people ask then may go like this, "What about Children who have not yet had the opportunity to comprehend right and wrong, to sin, and neither to repent from such sin? If they die, will they be judged in the second death, meaning Hell ?"
3. The Bible does seem to describe an age of accountability, as well as a sensible cause and effect relationship between accountability and penalty.
* Isaiah talks about the time of infancy as when one does not "know enough to refuse evil and choose good" (Isaiah 7:16).
* Paul explains the principle that it is once someone has the ability to comprehend this law of what is right that the sinful nature takes advantage and brings about spiritual death,
4. Jesus makes significant comment about infants,
Much can be said here about the beauty of child-like faith for an adult believer; however we must not overlook also Christ's compassionate care for Children demonstrated here ("permit the children to come to Me"); that Jesus says "the kingdom of God belongs to such as these"; and that the context Jesus finishes with is actually about entering the kingdom.
5. In every other example in the New Testament it is the children of God, those who are in Christ, who are said to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and yet we read in Luke 1:15 that the Bible says of John the Baptist, "he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb". Luke was writing with his focus here on the John the Baptist story rather than specifically trying to tell us if infants are in Christ or not. None the less his comment has strong ramifications.
6. Finally, if we take our understanding from Biblical example, there is no example more directly related to this issue than the death of King David's baby boy in the book of Samuel (2 Samuel 12). David has slept with his close friend's wife, and then out of fear of being caught orders his army to kill his own friend in battle. God sends Nathan the prophet to David and he repents (Psalm 51), but Nathan tells David that his illegitimate child will die. Read what happens,
David says that when he dies he will go to the child, and the Bible says that David was a man who trusted in God's salvation (eg. Psalm 62:7).
Conclusion
The final example with David, and all the examples above except perhaps the words of Jesus, do not come out so explicitly and say "all infants go to heaven", (and thus we are best not to speak dogmatically about each verse to the extent of going beyond what is written there), nonetheless they are consistent with the whole rationale of scripture, with our own understanding of compassion and justice that comes from our God-given conscience, and with the very wonderful nature of He who died upon a cross to save sinners, the likes of us.
May His grace be with you always.
hehe that's an interesting question :)
Jesus said to his disciples in luke 18:16-17: “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.”
So do u like to know more? here is the answer :) Do not forget, u should become like little children to go to kingdom of heaven!
I would like know if scripture explains the appropriate type of burial we should have, for example a cemetery plot burial or cremation. Does it make a difference? Any answer would be appreciated, thanks in advance.
Concerning burial,
Ancient customs: There are several examples of burial in the Bible from which it seems the Hebrews did not normally cremate. A body may have been washed (e.g. Acts 9:37) and then wrapped in a cloth or closely bounded with bands (Matthew 27:59; John 11:44), and then placed in a grave or tomb (Genesis 25:9-10; Genesis 25:9-10). The bodies might also be applied with perfumes if they could be afforded (John 19:39-40; John 12:3-7). They did not generally use coffins or embalming, though Joseph and Jacob were exceptions - with their high status in Egypt (Genesis 50:26; Genesis 50:2-3). Cremation might have been used in the case of extended decay (such as with Saul 1 Samuel 31) or for hygiene purposes in the case of death due to infectious disease.
A Christian today: In the New Covenant we are not bound by the Old Covenant laws of the Israelites such as circumcision, festival observances and dietary requirements etc. Not only this, but the exact method of burial was not a covenant law. Some Christians throughout the ages have seen burial to have more significance symbolically; - in this tradition the planting of a body in the ground is representative of the hope of the resurrection - like planting a seed in the ground (thinking inspired by John 12:24; 1 Corinthians 15:35-42).
* We cannot be too dogmatic on what are variations of traditions and not explicit doctrines of scripture, so long as Biblically unsound traditions such as idolatry are not involved. Cremation only speeds the process of turning a body into dust, as even the bodies of those buried whole thousands of years ago are by now dust. As should be obvious, God's power in our resurrection is not limited in any way by our method of burial. Burial is a matter of one's own conscience, which may make a difference to some people (such as the symbolic meaning involved), there are even financial realities too, but in the end the more significant concern is whether we have truly died in Christ.
As Jesus to Martha in John 11:25-26:
I have had friends come up to me with questions about abusive spouses and if divorce is acceptable in that situation. I know divorce is considered to be adultery, with the exception of unfaithfulness, in Matthew 5:32
"And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery."
Would abuse also apply here?
What is the significance of the ark as your website's image?
"What makes a creationist a creationist"?
streetpreacher
Thank you so much Justin, for your effort, while easing my mind in respects to the burial issue.
Hey Lina and Justin, I'm happy to see you guys sharing God's word, the site looks great simple and user friendly. I'm sure there is going to be some challenging questions brought your way. Sometimes the message begins in the hands and hearts of individuals who want to share God’s Word with others out of obedience.
God bless you guys and may the truth be with this forum :)
If Jesus died on the cross with all of our sins on Him, and God turned away from Jesus, then wouldn't Jesus go to Hell because He died full of sin? I know He goes to Heaven - obviously. I just want to know why?
x Athena.Grace
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