When an infant child dies does its soul go to be with God in heaven or does something else happen?
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Do infants dying in infancy go to heaven or not?
- Thread starter Xeno.of.athens
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The Catholic definition of the soul, as outlined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, is the spiritual principle of human beings. The soul is the subject of human consciousness and freedom, forming a unity with the body to create a unique human nature. Each soul is individual and everlasting, immediately created by God, and does not perish with the body but will be reunited with it at the final resurrection.
From a scriptural perspective, the Bible often uses the term "soul" to refer to human life or the entire human person. Genesis 2:7 states:
"Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being."
This passage illustrates that the soul is the life-giving principle within humans, directly imparted by God.The Catholic definition of heaven is the eternal dwelling place of God and the blessed, where those who die in God's grace experience the beatific vision—seeing God face to face in perfect happiness. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1023) states that those who are purified and in friendship with God live forever with Christ, sharing in His divine presence.
Scripturally, heaven is described as:
- The Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:3)
- The House of the Father (John 14:2)
- The Heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 12)
- Paradise (Luke 23:43)
- A place of eternal joy and life (Matthew 25:21)
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Richard T
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I offer two choices that I know of to answer this question. First, from a Charismatic teacher of the word.
John 1:9 (YLT)
9 He was the true Light, which doth enlighten every man, coming to the world;
Based on this every person is lit coming into the world. Lit does not mean saved, but it does not mean damned either. The question then is what happens to make the light go out?
Romans 1:19-21 (KJV)
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
From Romans we learn that God is made known to everyone. However, when they reject Him it is at this point that they are condemned to hell unless they repent of their rejection of Jesus. The lit becomes the darkened heart. There is not a hard and fast age this occurs. It likely depends on the maturity level and the time when God shows them Himself. So probably much later than an infant to understand that. There are too some adults who never reach the age of accountability because of an intellectual disability. So these folks that die before never having reached a "darkened heart" seem destined to heaven. Part of that assumption too is based on a "just" God. Sure they are born under Adam's sin but they never rebelled against God either and God is merciful to take them in.
An alternative to this would be to say that children of believers go to heaven, while unbeliever's children do not. This is based on
1 Corinthians 7:14 (KJV)
14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
John 1:9 (YLT)
9 He was the true Light, which doth enlighten every man, coming to the world;
Based on this every person is lit coming into the world. Lit does not mean saved, but it does not mean damned either. The question then is what happens to make the light go out?
Romans 1:19-21 (KJV)
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
From Romans we learn that God is made known to everyone. However, when they reject Him it is at this point that they are condemned to hell unless they repent of their rejection of Jesus. The lit becomes the darkened heart. There is not a hard and fast age this occurs. It likely depends on the maturity level and the time when God shows them Himself. So probably much later than an infant to understand that. There are too some adults who never reach the age of accountability because of an intellectual disability. So these folks that die before never having reached a "darkened heart" seem destined to heaven. Part of that assumption too is based on a "just" God. Sure they are born under Adam's sin but they never rebelled against God either and God is merciful to take them in.
An alternative to this would be to say that children of believers go to heaven, while unbeliever's children do not. This is based on
1 Corinthians 7:14 (KJV)
14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
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The obvious answer is yes since Jesus Christ of Nazareth made it clear.
But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.
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Ivan Hlavanda
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Even infants need a Saviour.
Maybe the all go to Heaven, maybe not, Scripture does not say. Unless it has not been revealed yet
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trophy33
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Not sure how a principle or "the subject of freedom" can go to heaven or what would that even mean. And soul is not only human.
What about soul being the unique connection of spirit and body, which gives the spirit a specific form and abilities?
A spirit in the body of a cell will have only basic perception, a spirit in the body of an animal will have higher perception, self-awareness and relationship skills and a spirit in the body of a human will be the most advanced, because his body is the most advanced.
Or, in the Leibniz categorization:
Simple monads: Have unconscious perception without memory.
Sentient monads: Present in living organisms, capable of feeling pleasure and pain but lack reasoning.
Rational monads: Possess self-consciousness, reason, and the ability to reflect on their perceptions (apperception).
The supreme monad: God, the ultimate and simplest monad, omniscient and omnipotent, who perceives all other monads with complete clarity.
Where would you place an infant? And would you say that an infant soul will stay infant also in heaven?
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There is an observation made by an ancient philosopher: Aristides of the early Christians around 125 AD:
And when a child has been born to one of them, they give thanks to God; and if moreover it happen to die in childhood, they give thanks to God the more, as for one who has passed through the world without sins.
Aristides later became a Christian and his observation seems to be that children were mostly innocent and easily saved.
His observation is from chapter 15 of a letter he wrote to Hadrian which gave a positive view of the Christians. It is actually only about 10-12 printed pages long.
www.earlychristianwritings.com
And when a child has been born to one of them, they give thanks to God; and if moreover it happen to die in childhood, they give thanks to God the more, as for one who has passed through the world without sins.
Aristides later became a Christian and his observation seems to be that children were mostly innocent and easily saved.
His observation is from chapter 15 of a letter he wrote to Hadrian which gave a positive view of the Christians. It is actually only about 10-12 printed pages long.
The Apology of Aristides the Philosopher
The Apology of St. Aristides of Athens (translation by M. R. James). On Early Christian Writings.www.earlychristianwritings.com
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Clare73
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"Sanctified" and "holy" do not mean righteous," they mean "set apart". . .in this case, from the world and with the people of God, enjoying their earthly blessings.
RIghteous and holy are "set apart" from sin.
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Clare73
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All those of Adam are by nature objects of wrath (Eph 2:3), with the sin of Adam being imputed to them (Ro 5:17, 12-17), and which is the pattern (Ro 5:14) for the righteousness of Christ being imputed to those of Christ (Ro 5:18-19, 3:21-22, 4:22-25, 2 Co 5:21).
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To him that knows to do right and does it not -- to him it is sin. James 4:17 -- infants to do have the will to sin. But they do have a Savor according to 1 John 2:2 -- so it looks like they are just fine in that case.
They do not have the capacity to resist, or to choose. God gave them life - God preserves them for eternal life.
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Hoping2
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It is written in Ezek 18:20..."The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him."
Babies cannot commit sin.
And nobody else's sins can be imputed unto them.
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- Nov 21, 2008
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yes -- and they have one.
1 John 2:2 "He is the Atoning sacrifice for OUR sins and not for OUR sins only - but for the sins of the whole world"
Infants have a savior - -and they are not held accountable for sins they did not and cannot commit.
What they do have is a sinful nature -and the Savior provides all the Gospel salvation needed to solve that problem for the one who dies infancy.
Infants cannot be convicted of anything. they do not knowingly oppose anything of God. They don't have any knowledge of God at all.
In Romans 2 "those who sin under the Law will be judged by the Law, those who sin
12 For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law;
James 4:17 makes it clear - infants cannot be charged with knowing something and failing to do what they know they are supposed to do.
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ByGraceandLoveDivine
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Yes. There will be many children in heaven. "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Cbn had a story many years ago where a Christian woman was suffering for a child she had aborted when she was young. In the dream she was showed a vision of heaven. Her child.was there with many other children.
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Dan Perez
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And in the book of John 3: 13 says that NO MAN hath ACENDED up to heaven , BUT He that came down from Heaven
, even the Son of Man which is in heaven .
And I say the souls never or anyone when they die , go to Heaven and here is why NOT !!
# 1 In Luke 16:23 we see this !
# 2 The rich man BODY when to a Grave !
# 3 His spirit when to Christ , that GAVE IT , as written in ECC 12:7 !
# 4 His soul went to HELL
# THESE were all under the LAW of MOSES
So where do those SAVED by GRACE , go today ?
# 1 Their Body goes to a GRAVE !!
# 2 S0 where does that believers , SOUL and SPIRIT than GO .
Read 1 Cor 5:1- 5 and all will see where they GO .
And I believe ONLY those SAVED by Rom 10:9 and 10 and in the BODY of Christ and many will disagree !!
And another verse in Eph 1:4 , We were CHOSEN / ELECTED , BEFORE / PRO , the foundation of the WORLD ,
dan p
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ByGraceandLoveDivine
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42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise Luke 23:42-43
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise Luke 23:42-43
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Zceptre
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Yes. I don't have a Biblical answer for this off hand, but I can say I've heard so many NDE stories with babies being seen in Heaven I've way beyond lost count. There is a seemingly endless list of them.
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