Christianity question....If we are born into sin, what happens to babies that die at an early age?

Question

This isn’t a mocking question like most religious questions are on this site...I consider myself fairly knowledgeable in the religion I was raised in...but never really understood how this was interpreted in the holy bible.

Answer 1

Spiritualists interpret 'sin" as living without God. So, of course, babies are born into this sin. Like all of us, children also have eternal life. God loves all of his mortal creations regardless of age. He is unconditional love. We all go to heaven eventually.

Answer 2

All fine and good, but the defense of babies' innocence here does not match with Old Testament treatment of the subject. God was able to choose a remnant called Israel, and they had their babies circumcised. All others, born into unbelieving families, started off in their sins, and ended in their sins, no matter what age.

And I believe that is why we baptize babies today. They are born into a covenant, raised in a Christian home, because they are God's people. The rest of the world is off on its own tangent, not believing, not teaching their children, and believing heaven awaits the little ones if they die. How so, if they do not bow to the Lord and will never encourage their kids to bow to the Lord? Those that believe the little ones are not accountable, have no concept of the extent of sin.

I don't doubt that God can accept the unbaptized into His kingdom like the thief on the cross, or not accept the baptized, as with Esau's circumcision. But the covenant is still in place, a mark on God's own. There's a reason for it, and that answers your question to my satisfaction anyway.

Answer 3

They are saved by grace, the curse of Adam is atoned through the blood of Christ. Also adults who die in true ignorance fall under the same category. In the Old Testament they made animal sacrifices for those who sinned ignorantly. In the New Testament it says God "winked" at those who sinned in ignorance but now commands all to repent. Once Jesus offered himself up as the last and infinate sacrifice there was no longer any need for animal sacrifices. Like in Old Testament times, the blood of the sacrifice (Jesus) atones for those who sin ignorantly.

There are some religions that say babies must be baptized. This denies the mercy and justice of God and is a solemn mockery to God. After all how many babies would have died before being baptized and been sent to hell if they believe that way? How could a just and loving God send an innocent infant to hell who could not have possibly known God's laws and broke them? Sin is when a person is given a law and then breaks it... those who never had the law are innocent.

Answer 4

The Bible does not fully explain what you are asking. But we can generalize according to what the Bible does tell us. I believe that a child does not commit sin until he is fully aware the difference between right and wrong. The Bible does tell us that we are not held accountable for any light that we did not receive. That goes for our young ones too. When we get to heaven there will be thousands of babies who had died and we will be the ones to raise them and nurture them in the Lord.

Answer 5

There comes an age of accountability. I would suspect different for everyone. An age when a person KNOWS the difference between right and wrong.
I do not believe God, (He is eternally fair) would condemn a soul that is innocent.
A clue is given in Jonah where God asks His prophet a question about whether or not to spare a city where there are persons that cannot discern between their right and left hands. Jonah 4:11.

Answer 6

Our God is just. He only judges those who are capable of knowing or rejecting Him, which is why there is no Biblical basis for baptizing babies. A baptized baby can still grow up to be an atheist. One must learn about Christ first before they can become a Christian. I believe that God will show mercy and compassion toward babies who die before they reach the age of reason.
All who are currently dead are neither in Heaven or Hell; the Bible says that the dead are "asleep" until Christ comes, at which time the righteous (saved) of all ages will be resurrected to eternal life, and the damned will wait in the grave another 1,000 years until Christ returns yet again to judge them, when they will be resurrected to damnation. Then fire will rain down from Heaven and consume them, completely destroying them. They will not be tortured forever, nor will they ever live again.
The babies who have died are currently in a state of dreamless "sleep" and will probably be resurrected to life at Christ's Return and reunited with their families (those who are saved, at least).

Answer 7

You have to ask yourself what "born into sin" means. It means we are automatically prone to sin, it's in our very nature. But babies, though prone, aren't sinning. They are learning. There is a huge difference between the baby who leans over and takes a toy from another baby and the teen or adult who shoplifts.

God is so good, patient and kind. He knows the heart of a child, and it's not malicious.

Answer 8

This is a popular topic today.

Children reach an "age of accountability", when they can understand Who God is, and what it means to be saved. Once a person is old enough and intelligent enough to clearly understand the plan of Salvation, then it's time for them to make a decision - serve God or not.

Accountability also applies to the mentally handicapped, regardless of age, if they are not able to understand who God is and what they need to do to be saved.

People who cannot understand are not held accountable for not knowing God.

Answer 9

Children are born innocent. A child cannot sin until they come to the age of accountability. Until that time...they may transgress but they are not responsible ...therefore they go straight to the arms of the Father.

Answer 10

We are born into and by sin but as a baby we have no sin in the body so a baby is pure in Gods sight.