Question:
We are exploring the fate of infants who die before they can consciously commit their lives to God. This age group lacks the ability to accept Christ. We wonder what happens to them, especially in light of their parents’ faith. Psalm 51:5 adds another perspective to this discussion. What does the law say? How readest thou?
Answer:
Such matters as who will be saved should remain the focus of the Righteous Judge, while we should focus on whether we are in Christ and safe to save. Nevertheless, here are our thoughts:
“Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Psalms 51:5)
A misunderstanding of that text has led to many false doctrines, such as original guilt (inherited condemnation) and total depravity. David is not teaching original guilt, but confessing the reality of a fallen nature from birth. Is that not the state of all men (Romans 5:12)? Christ also truly took our humanity being ” made of the seed of David according to the flesh” (Romans 1:3). “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same” (Hebrews 2:14). “For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren” (Hebrews 2:16-17). We should be careful to note, however, that while Christ came in the likeness of sinful flesh (Romans 8:3), He did not have a sinful mind or will. He was “in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).
Sin is the transgression of the law (1 John 3:4), and Scripture also recognizes a fallen nature, but guilt attaches to transgression against light (Luke 12:47–48; James 4:17), not to birth. Infants, though born in sin and formed in iniquity—fallen in nature and prone to sin, have done neither good nor evil (Deuteronomy 1:39; Isaiah 7:16; Romans 9:11). Are they transgressors of the law merely by being born; are they guilty of breaking the moral law by birth? If you answer that in the affirmative, then guilt is imputed at birth; that logic pushes toward infant-saving rites (infant baptism, etc.)—something Scripture never teaches.
Here are a few inspired thoughts regarding infants and children who are seen as saved:
“As we were traveling along, we met a company who also were gazing at the glories of the place. I noticed red as a border on their garments; their crowns were brilliant; their robes were pure white. As we greeted them, I asked Jesus who they were. He said they were martyrs that had been slain for Him. With them was an innumerable company of little ones; they also had a hem of red on their garments. Mount Zion was just before us, and on the mount was a glorious temple, and about it were seven other mountains, on which grew roses and lilies. And I saw the little ones climb, or, if they chose, use their little wings and fly, to the top of the mountains and pluck the never-fading flowers. There were all kinds of trees around the temple to beautify the place: the box, the pine, the fir, the oil, the myrtle, the pomegranate, and the fig tree bowed down with the weight of its timely figs—these made the place all over glorious. And as we were about to enter the holy temple, Jesus raised His lovely voice and said, ‘Only the 144,000 enter this place,’ and we shouted, ‘Alleluia.'” (EW 18)
“I know that some questioned whether the little children of even believing parents should be saved, because they have had no test of character and all must be tested and their character determined by trial. The question is asked, “How can little children have this test and trial?” I answer that the faith of the believing parents covers the children, as when God sent His judgments upon the first-born of the Egyptians.
“The word of God came to the Israelites in bondage to gather their children into their houses and to mark the doorposts of their houses with blood from a lamb, slain. This prefigured the slaying of the Son of God and the efficacy of His blood, which was shed for the salvation of the sinner. It was a sign that the household accepted Christ as the promised Redeemer. It was shielded from the destroyer’s power. The parents evidenced their faith in implicitly obeying the directions given them, and the faith of the parents covered themselves and their children. They showed their faith in Jesus, the great Sacrifice, whose blood was prefigured in the slain lamb. The destroying angel passed over every house that had this mark upon it. This is a symbol to show that the faith of the parents extends to their children and covers them from the destroying angel.” (3SM 313-314)
“As the little infants come forth immortal from their dusty beds, they immediately wing their way to their mothers’ arms. They meet again nevermore to part. But many of the little ones have no mother there. We listen in vain for the rapturous song of triumph from the mother. The angels receive the motherless infants and conduct them to the tree of life.
“Jesus places the golden ring of light, the crown upon their little heads.” (2SM 260)
That last quote indicates that God’s saving care extends even to infants whose mothers are not present among the redeemed, showing their destiny is not mechanically bound to a parent’s salvation.
