God And The Bible

Who Goes To Heaven?

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Only those who trust in Jesus go to heaven. Can a baby or small child trust in Jesus?

Do Babies Go To Heaven?

The straight quick answer is, yes... babies go to heaven. But the question is, how do we know this?

Scripture and God's Character

The most common scripture used to support the understanding that babies go to heaven is 2 Samuel 12:23. David is talking abut a son who has just died: "But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.” This does not directly say babies go to heaven, but because David was a believer who had a very good understanding of God. So this is a strong indication that babies go to heaven.

Other scripture helps us understand why people go to hell:

“The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.” - Luke 10:16

What we see here is a willful rejection of God's revelation, and an ability to understand personal sin and the need for salvation. We also see that they have not placed their trust in Jesus Christ. So an atheist does not see God when they look at creation. Does that mean they don't know about God and this are not rejecting God... they simply don't know? Keep Romans 1 in mind:

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools." - Romans 1:18-22

Why are people without excuse? Because God is known, to some extent, through His creation. We can know enough, just by looking at creation, to know there is a God ad we are accountable to that God. Can babies and little children do this? No. Here are two other verses:

"He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day." - John 12:48

"So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you." - 1 Thessalonians 4:8

We know God exists and we know about "His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature" from creation. And we are held accountable if we reject this. The conclusion is that babies and children, who are not yet capable of understanding what they are seeing, are not held accountable. Another way of saying it is that, until a person is able to distinguish right from wrong, our loving and merciful God does not hold them accountable for their sin.


More Information

Do babies and others incapable of professing faith in Christ automatically go to heaven? (MacArthur Q&A)

Do the souls of aborted babies go to heaven? (GotQuestions.org Article)

Do Babies Go to Hell When They Die? (Apologetics Press Article)

THE GOSPEL
OF JESUS CHRIST

good news of the cross


The gospel is not social justice nor serving others. The gospel is love in action... Jesus Christ giving Himself so that you can be saved from the wrath of God.

Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.
- 1 Corinthians 15:1-8