There seems to be some discussion among the “brethren” regarding the eternal destiny of infants.
I, for one, disagree with the theory that God sends babies to hell, as we shall see.
The argument as I have heard it goes like this:
- all have sinned
- sinners end up in hell fire
- we are sinners from birth
- sin must be judged
- so all sinners go to hell
It is a very logical argument but even logic must give way to the scriptures. Many in answering this thesis would use the “age of accountability” argument and in some arenas that would suffice. However the real question here is not of AGE but of UNDERSTANDING.
To use an acknowledged humanistic illustration, we as Americans do not and would not support capital punishment of a person that does not UNDERSTAND his wrong no matter what his age. But let us hasten to the scriptures and answer the question, “Does God impute sin where there is no understanding of sin or of God?”
God sends the children of the children of Israel into the land because they did not have enough understanding to reject God. — Deu 1:39 Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.
There is a time in life when a person does not receive the FULL measure of the consequences of wrong doing. It is in childhood, where understanding is being developed. Isa 7:16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.
Unborn children and yes aborted children are not capable of doing right or wrong and are there fore not culpable. Rom 9:11 For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, … Now, here is the real crux of the matter: If the dead will be judged in Rev 20:11-15 according to “their works,” how can those who have no knowledge of good or evil (infants, young children) and those who have not yet done any “good or evil” (the unborn) be held accountable for their lack of understanding?
Understanding the w-o-r-d-s of the law was necessary in the giving and teaching of the law. Neh 8:2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.
God does not require children to understand doctrine and doctrine is necessary for redemption. Isa 28:9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. 10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
We could go on and on but that would belabor the point. We will close therefore with this: James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Gen 18:25 … Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? Yes, HE will!!