Do Infants Go to Heaven When They Die?

Nobby · Last edited by Nobby on Fri Jul 08, 2005 6:20 pm; edited 1 time in total

Do Infants Automatically Go to Heaven upon death?

I have heard that infants immediately go to God upon death.
I would like to hear peoples opinions regarding this matter.
Maybe some scripture on the subject. Very Happy

God Bless!

shepreach · Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2004 7:09 pm Post subject:

i don't think they go to hell. i'm not sure about going to God immediately following death. i know they will go to Him eventually.

i think that if christians who die have to sleep till Jesus comes, then infants do too. not because of sin but because they're human.

if christians go immediately to God, then infants do too.

Nobby · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 2:29 pm Post subject:

Hi shepreach, I believe IMO that the spirit goes back to God when we die, otherwise who comes back with Him in the clouds? Very Happy

God bless you Sheila, Smile

shepreach · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 8:49 pm Post subject:

you could be right. i haven't really studied the subject so i'm not really sure. Scripture has passages that seem to point to both sleep and going to God directly. i do believe there will be a bodily resurrection at some point. there would have to be wouldn't there-- or the dead couldn't rise first and then those who remain be caught up? bless you, too.

Jeannie · Tadpole Joined: 02 Apr 2005 Posts: 17

Hi Im Jeannie, I'm new here, nice to chat with you!
Now as for your question about babies and heaven, well what a debate you walked into. I did an extensive study on this issue (which let me tell you it is an issue that the bible is really not toooo clear on. Not to mention the fact that if you do look at this subject in a spiritual, knowledgeable way, you can hurt men and women who have lost children..... (which thank the Lord I did not)
Through my studies on this subject we can look at the fact that David lost his child. There is a scripture in the bible, (which I dont have on me at the moment since I just found this place but I will get back to you) that tells how David will see his child again in death. Here can assume that babies go to heaven. BUT when we look at Gods word as a whole, we can also assume otherwise. For instance, we are ALL born with sin (including babies) GOD cannot have anything to do with sin. Now that alone should tell us something right there. BUT again is it fair for us to assume that all babies go to hell? No i dont think so. Because the bible isnt clear on this subject, it does say something else. I think its in Romans and it is very clear......God will choose whom he will choose who are we to talk back to God or question him. (again i will prove my quotes with scriptures later) Romans is a GREAT book for people who want to know about WHO GOD CHOOSES AND WHO HE DONT CHOOSE. Sometimes its not even a question of why, because the bible kind of says basically its none of our business why HE chooses who HE chooses and why HE dont. I will get back with you soon though because this is a great question
Nice talking with you.........Jeannie

Nobby

Hi Jeannie, welcome to the board. Very Happy

I enjoyed your well thought out post.

shepreach · Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2005 8:30 pm Post subject:

Jeannie · Tadpole Joined: 02 Apr 2005 Posts: 17

shepreach
Its okay to disagree thats why its a debate.....(insert smilie) Unfortunately i disagree with you also.... we are all born with sin thats why Christ came to die for sins of the world.....our sins.....because we nothing but to sin....that is our nature. We will sin no matter what. Thats why God had to send His Son Jesus Christ. I do agree that there is an age of reason but its not someone elses fault until then....who would we blame......If I was five years old and killed a person would I then blame my parents....my siblings....God? No of course not.....
Think about this.......whats the one thing you NEVER have to teach a child.....? The answer is....How to be bad. It comes natural. Because we are allllllll born WITH sin. We have a sin nature in us that came from Adam and Eve.
When Adam and Eve were in the garden (in the beginning) they had no sin. After the whole serpent issue.....they had sin and were kicked out of Eden. From that moment on............sin sin sin sin......their children were born with the sin nature and so are our children....BOY OH BOY THANK GOD FOR JESUS CHRIST>>>>>>Nice chattin with ya

shepreach · Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2005 9:34 pm Post subject:

jeannie,
we're saying the same thing. we're just using different words. you call it sin nature. i call it a tendency. it means the same thing--all humans are prone to commit sins and that's why Christ came, and died, and rose from the dead, so that we would have a way out of the mess Adam and Eve got us into. way back when i was growing up, preachers taught that you couldn't be saved until you reached the age of accountability. iow until you could think for yourself and know what you did was wrong. they said this happened sometime around the age of 12. that sure does leave a lot of people in limbo don't ya think?

RevJP · Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2005 4:36 am Post subject:

Hey ladies, I think the focus on sinning, or tendancies to sin, is misplaced somewhat. Our 'sin nature' is not about the tendancy to commit sin, it is about the corruption of our being. After the fall all creation was corrupted, sin became a stain on our souls - this is not a tendancy to act, or do, or behave, in any certain way, it is a state of being.

That being said, I look at children, and wonder if those born into this corrupted nature would go to heaven without accepting Jesus... One reformed minister told me that the bible is unclear on the topic because if the truth were spelled out it would drive mothers mad.... obviously he felt that all those without Christ had no salvation (ie; go to hell), babies and all.

I wonder at Jesus and His affinity for children, he told us to 'allow the children to come to me'. Actually He said to 'help the children come to me', but either way He demonstrated a particular loved for the young, as demonstrated in many of His messages telling us to be like children, innocent, expectant, lacking cynicism, pride, and machinations.

Jeannie · Tadpole Joined: 02 Apr 2005 Posts: 17

sheprah
I also heard what you heard many many years ago when I went to a Pentacostal church. I am not putting anyone down but THEY WERE WRONG and not only about things of that nature. Of course I wouldnt have known that if I hadn't picked up my Bible and read it for myself. (Which even at that point I was told that I wasnt rightly dividing the word of God correctly.) I thought maybe he was right so I bought a New American study bible and tried to get a better understanding from what I thought I was reading. Well, guess what, I was right with my thoughts. Again I went to my Pastor and said whats up with this, you said, .......and this bible says........he then told me that the bible that I was using was the wrong bible and not to read it. That was when I knew something was really wrong. From that moment on, I started searching and searching like a mad woman and reading the bible and getting theology books and matching them up with the bible and reputable christian authors.....I even read Arthur Pink....who is a calvanist....Hard reading but very informative. That year I switched churches. I now go to a non-denominational church and I love it. The Pastor does not tell us what he thinks he reads verse by verse and shows how the Greek language says this and the Hebrew says this....and basically he lets scripture be scripture and doesnt impose HIS interpretation. (Which is 99 percent of the time the same as my interpretation.) So beside wearing your eyes out with this long drawn out story of my life...........when it comes to your limbo question YES YES YES it does leave a lot of people in limbo if we were to believe what our Pastors taught us years ago. I dont believe God wants us to be confused or our children in limbo.....I think HE puts it quite simply when he says
In Romans 3:11-----
There is NONE righteous, not even one
There is NONE who understands
There is NONE who seeks for God
ALL have turned aside, together they have become useless
There is NONE who has done good
There is not even one etc etc
I emphasezed NONE to prove a point of course......
God does NOT say NONE except for children under 12.
This of course is just one of the great statements that God makes to us about us. What say you!

Jeannie · Tadpole Joined: 02 Apr 2005 Posts: 17

Revjp
If I understood you right, I think I have to agree with your friend the reformed Pastor. (To a point) I dont think ALL babies go to hell but without hurting anyone I do believe some might.......here is my reason.
I do 100 percent believe in GODS Predestination His Forknowledge and I do believe the bible is very clear on this. In believeing this I feel some babies (If not all) were already predestined for heaven even before their birth.
Romans 8:28-----
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are CALLED according to HIS purpose.
For those whom He FOREKNEW, He also PREDESTINED to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brehhren
and these whom He PREDESTINED, He also CALLED, and these whom He CALLED He also justified, and these whom He justified He also glorified. etc. etc.
For example Paul.
Paul was in his own little world hateing and hurting the Jews. (Dont forget Paul knew his Tora. so he did know what God said in the beginning.) Paul was a very smart man....Anyway here he is riding down the road on his horse minding his own business and BAMO! God not only knocked him off his horse but also blinded him. Now, who chose who here. I dont think Paul was going to argue with God thank you. Anyway we know the rest of the story...my point is the bible does state that Paul was chosen before he was born. (I cant find the scripture) While he was still in the womb. He didnt know about it until years later.....but knowing that he was chosen for Gods work while he was still in the womb makes me believe that WE (and our children) are also chosen for salvation while we are still in the womb. In which case, if we happen to die before we verbally except Christ, we would still go to heaven. I think sometimes we also have to use common sense even if our ways are NOT Gods ways. We can also look at the book of John when John said that Christ died for the sins of the world. This scripture could also be talking about babies or mentally disabled people that cant verbally say they accept Christ. Only God knows the heart........and as far as Im concerned.......some will go to Hell and some will go to heaven.......especially Christian family babies...obviously if the child survived it would be raised as christian and taught about Christ and MOST LIKELY accepted Christ. Sorry for talking your eyes off.
Jeannie

mcguirerc · Newbie Alert Joined: 22 Jun 2005 Posts: 1

Hi all

Im new to this forum........ and just thought Id chime in with my two cents......

I think babies going straight to Heaven is a mortal mind trying to have peace in a situation that is not understandable by the human mind...

God gave everyone free will........... and I dont think he would take that away from anyone.......... not even a baby.......

THere are tons of places in the bible where GOd commands all to be killed........ even babies.......... and we see at the great throne judgemnt that great AND SMALL will stand before him.........

also I think this scripture refers to those who leave this earth before they heard the word........ or reached the age of accountablilty

in daniel it says at the time Michael stands up....... there will be great trouble like none ever before. at that time all whose name is written in the book of life will be delivered............... and multitudes in the dust will awake............ some to everlasting life and others to everlasting damnation.........

These multitudes therefor cannot be the dead in CHrist.......... as all of them would go on to eteranl life.........

SO who are these multitudes>>>

I beleive these are the dead that never heard the word of GOd ..... or babies that never got to choose..........

THe next scripture says. there will be those all in light...... that will lead some of these to rightousness.........

I think they get 1000 years to hear the word of God without the influence of Satan. and use their free will.......

If you say all babies go to Heaven........ that means.. even those who wouldve turned into devil worshipors will be in Heaven

If you say all go to Hell......... then again...... there will be those who wouldve received salvation.....

IF you say God sends them up or down based on His knowledge of what their life wouldve been......... then that takes away their free will.......

SO I think it will be that they will get to choose.

but thats just MO and much studying is needed of course...

peace to you all

Nobby · Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2005 6:27 pm Post subject:

Hi mcguirerc, very good post! Yes I truely believe all babies go to heaven. Very Happy

Welcome to the board, glad to have you.

Jeannie · Tadpole Joined: 02 Apr 2005 Posts: 17

Another discussion that I am very firm on.....FREE WILL. I dont think a person has free will until they are saved. Here is my reasoning..... If a person is a slave, he is not free at all. Before we become saved we are all slaves to sin..... There is no choice here (or free will) because we dont know any better.....NOW once we become saved, we are no longer a slave to sin, we are free, so we now have a choice (a free will) to sin or not to sin. We are free from the consequences of sin (meaning going to hell) (not every day consequences)
A lot of people disagree with this, because they have an issue with them having their own free free will or not having their own free will...... That is understandable......Its a great study....a little confusing but great!
God bless