Infant Salvation

Personally, I believe that infants who die will be in heaven. Maybe that's more from a pastoral viewpoint (shepherding those who have lost children), but I think it's what David had in mind when his baby died (2 Samuel 12).

But having 2 children and now 1 grandson (4 months), new born infants understand they want to be changed when wet and fed when hungry. So I don't think they understand the Gospel.

I have talked about Jesus to my grandson. But does he understand? Even as brillliant as he is :tongue3: , I don't think he understands the Gospel.

 

Not being a Calvinist, I couldn't speak to that.

I agree that it specifically says nothing about this. There's nothing too hard for the Lord. If He can save me, He can certainly save anyone.

Babies certainly have faith. They have faith that their parents will care for them. I'm just thinking out loud here. Maybe they understand that God will care for them. Does that mean saving faith? It certainly doesn't for adults.

But who knows? God certainly does and, like Ann said, He is Good, just and merciful. I'll commit it to His care.

 

In Church of England, baptism covers original sin, hence the infant must be baptized as soon as possible, usually 9th day after birth. The child then makes a decision to believe on Christ for redemption at Confirmation.

Reformed (Calvinist) Churches practice infant baptism as a promise by parents and godparents to raise that child in Christ. It is acovenant promise and not redemption. The modernist movement has changed that thinking to baptismal regeneration.

It remains a questionable field, but many have adopted the spurious "age of accountability" to cover children who die before they can confess Jesus as Saviour.

Personally, I feel that God does provide for children...don't ask for scripture because there are none.

This is another of those fields with as many viewpoints as there are people. We cannot hang the many viewpoints on any theological system of thought.

Cheers,

Jim

 

I believe the Bible addresses it, and wouldn't discount 2 Samuel 12:23 as revelation of Gods grace toward infants, nor would I fail to see it as "comfort of the Scriptures."

"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." Romans 15:4

- Peace

 

also Dort 1:17

"godly parents ought not to doubt the election and salvation of their children whom it pleases God to call out of this life in their infancy."