Since we are still on this topic of babies, family, abortion, etc…. I decided to introduce another issue that is somewhat relevant to the topics aforementioned in the most recent posts written by Lionel. Do babies or children before the claimed age of accountability(in which no one knows the age) go to Heaven when they die? Let me also say that I have never lost a child and I am the father of Tyris Lamont Jr.(21 months old) I am not making light of this situation but in the same token do not want to give a false hope that cannot not be affirmed by scripture. My heart goes out to those who have lost babies by miscarriage, stillborns, or early deaths. I realize this becomes an issue when we try to figure out a way to get babies to heaven after premature death while staying true to scripture-never to compromise to sooth our frail consciences.
My position on this: I believe with the knowledge I possess concerning the attributes of God and Him being loving and kind and everything else; I say that God would allow unborn babies to go to Heaven. With that said, let me also say I and many others have a very hard time making this argument from scripture. Many people make arguments mainly from the Old Testament to secure their position and cannot be brought to fruition amongst the New Testament revealed revelation. I would like to examine briefly some of the arguments of people who say that without a doubt they can assure the eternal security of the unborn.
Some of the Typical Arguments
2 Samuel 12:23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
Matt 26:24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
If we are to stand before God how can we be judged or receive our crowns if we never had the opportunity to sin against an infinitely Holy God.
To further examine these as listed
1) We recall the story of David and his heinous sin with Bathsheba and his treacherous murder of her husband. If you recall David and Bathsheba had their first child and the baby died. David makes a statement that makes it seem as if he assumed he would one day be with this child after his death. My question is can we assume that this passage means distinctly that David was 100% sure that his child was in Heaven? We have to stretch very far to draw that conclusion from this narrative event.
2) This may not be as popular but I have heard on a couple of occasions that this somehow means that if he was not born or killed by Herod of someone that he would be in a better place. Not worth further investigation.
3) Once again I would like to believe that God is merciful and would save the unborn babies but can that be found in scripture? There is only one sacrifice sufficient for our sin and He is Christ. The Bible makes absolutely no exceptions regarding this issue. Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: & Romans 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one [judgment came] upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one [the free gift came] upon all men unto justification of life.
David said in Psalm 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Along with Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Now, is the all here inclusive of all humanity excluding babies? Do babies become sinners at a particular age or are they in Adam as well? Some brothers at my fellowship had this discussion on Sunday during our Lord’s Supper and one said, “If we can be assured that unborn babies go to heaven then the Abortionist should be seen as the most merciful people to walk the Earth!” Let us look at another passage that I am sure that you knew since I am a reformed brother I would bring up….
Romans 9:11For [the children] being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) 12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. 14 What shall we say then? [Is there] unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16 So then [it is] not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
From this passage do we understand this to be normative or exclusive to just Esau and Jacob. I think most would say normative and we know this to be coined as Election. Some might say but…Jacob and Esau were born and lived long lives. By this some would assume that if they had died in the womb that this truth will no longer apply. From scripture we cleary see that God elects some and others are not elected to be in the family of God and God still remains perfectly just.
To clarify for those who think I am trying to put all unborn babies in Hell-I am not!! I am simply saying that no one can emphatically make a claim that they know with 100% certainty that all babies go to Heaven. We can lay hold to God’s righteous loving character and many other attributes but based on this revelation-The Bible. We see there is only one acceptable propitiation which is Christ, all others apart from Christ are in Adam.
I did not exhaust all of the arguments that on this issue because I would love to hear some insight from a Biblical perspective regarding this topic.
God Bless in Christ, Tyris Sr.
A lot f debate has already begun on this topic and a couple others on babies. I would encourage you to dialogue here... http://blackandreformedministries.com/
