Do Children Go to Heaven?

[jharkins]

Do children without the capability to understand go to heaven? If not, what happens to them?

My biggest fear is Jesus will come back before my 1 year old son is able to understand salvation.

 

[JVAC]

Do children without the capability to understand go to heaven? If not, what happens to them?

My biggest fear is Jesus will come back before my 1 year old son is able to understand salvation.

If the child is faithfully baptized, I can see how the child would be accepted in God's good graces. Otherwise, I don't know. We are all sinners and concieved in sin, yet God's mercy is wide, and I don't know it's limits.

-James

 

[praying]

I think children go to heaven.

 

[Blank123]

I belive that all children who die or who are around when the church is raptured who haven't reached the age of understanding, regardless of whether or not they've been baptised, go to heaven.

 

[JVAC]

I belive that all children who die or who are around when the church is raptured who haven't reached the age of understanding, regardless of whether or not they've been baptised, go to heaven.

What is the age of understanding?? St. John the Forerunner knew and had faith in Christ before he was born. I don't see 'age of accountability' scripturally sound, or anywhere in Tradition. A baby or child is a sinner and cannot be saved unless there is faith, and faith is awakened with Baptism (sacraments) and the Gospel.

-James

 

[Blank123]

What is the age of understanding?? St. John the Forerunner knew and had faith in Christ before he was born. I don't see 'age of accountability' scripturally sound, or anywhere in Tradition. A baby or child is a sinner and cannot be saved unless there is faith, and faith is awakened with Baptism (sacraments) and the Gospel.

-James

The age of understanding comes when a person hears the gospel and can decide whether or not he/she wants to accept the free gist of salvation. The Bible does not say that John had been saved before he was born. you he was not presented with the opprotunity beofre his birth to accept or deny the cross. Scripture does not say that baptism awakens faith:
17So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Rom 10:17

 

[praying]

I belive that all children who die or who are around when the church is raptured who haven't reached the age of understanding, regardless of whether or not they've been baptised, go to heaven.

I 'm with you.

 

[daveleau]

Joh 9:41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.


Here, Jesus is talking to the Pharisees who he calls thieves and robbers. The idea given here is that since they know the Law and do not follow, theya re damned. The same goes that if you are incapable of knowing, you will be spared. Children are incapable of knowing. The whole Bible is a book of love. It would not be consistent with any teaching that children should be condemned.

God bless you,
Dave

 

[Ainesis]

Do children without the capability to understand go to heaven? If not, what happens to them?

My biggest fear is Jesus will come back before my 1 year old son is able to understand salvation.

Great question!

I don't know. I would like to think that all children too young to come to the gospel themselves (due to lack of understanding) are saved. But I can't think of a Scripture to back that up.

Some Scriptures seem to imply that the children of people of faith are saved by virtued of being covered by the parents. However, I cannot think about a Scripture for the children of people who are unsaved.

Again, my hope would be that they are saved. I think children have a special place in God's heart.

That probably doesn't help at all huh?

 

[herev]

did Jesus not say that we should suffer them not? Jesus is the emodiment of love, grace, mercy, wisdom, and kindness. A 1 year old child, for all we know, is more in touch with God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the rest of the heavenly realm than we ever are as adults. Our God IS justice. Our God IS love. Our God IS mercy. There is no justice to be found in believing that a 1 year old would NOT go to heaven. How dare anyone feed more into the fears of this woman. JHarkins, pray to God and commit the child to Him, then trust in his infinite power that he does not need the approval or even the understanding of any human to save the powerless, innocent children--then enjoy your child's life. God Bless!

 

[Serapha]

Do children without the capability to understand go to heaven? If not, what happens to them?

My biggest fear is Jesus will come back before my 1 year old son is able to understand salvation.

Hi there!



Welcome to the forums....


and you can sleep in peace at night... your child is "safe"...

He is an "innocent"... someone who is unaware of his sins... and even if he were to be become aware of his disobedience (sin), he would not have a concept of the result of his sin (eternal separation from God or spiritual death)

One cannot know the plan of salvation without knowing what sin is, the result of that sin, and the way to be reconciled to God.



If Christ were to return right now... your son would be taken in the air.


~serapha~

 

[RyanLJohnson1]

Yes, do not worry about your child!

I like to compare children to Adam and Eve (although children are conceived with sin and Adam and Eve weren't).

Adam and Eve were both very very close to God until they made a decision to either listen to God or to not listen to him. That is why I compare children to Adam and Eve, because, in my eyes, children are not at the point of making the decision to listen to God or to not listen to him.

Also, I just wanted to throw this in:

Remember when Christ was on the cross, and he said, "Forgive them, for they know not what they do?" I think it's like that with children. You may disagree, but that's just my angle on it

Remember to pray for your child that when the time comes for him to listen to God or to not listen, that he will make the right choice

Love in Christ,
Ryan

 

[frumanchu]

I'm sorry, but I see nowhere in Scripture where one is saved by ignorance. Children are conceived in sin and are guilty, fallen human beings. Sin is sin. We are not sinners because we sin...we sin because we are sinners.

I have three children under the age of six. Anyone who has children this age who doesn't believe they are sinners in need of a Savior is either blind or biased.

ALL human beings are guilty before God and condemnable.

That being said, I personally believe children go to heaven, NOT because they are in any way 'innocent,' but because God's just as capable of effectually saving infants as He is adults. Regardless of what I believe, it is a safe assumption that whatever does happen to children is ultimately just.

 

[Bulldog]

I see this "age of accountability" idea promotes so much.

Any BIclical evidence for it?

 

[praying]

it is a safe assumption that whatever does happen to children is ultimately just.

That is a true statement because God is righteous and fair.

 

[praying]

Remember when Christ was on the cross, and he said, "Forgive them, for they know not what they do?" I think it's like that with children. You may disagree, but that's just my angle on it

Remember to pray for your child that when the time comes for him to listen to God or to not listen, that he will make the right choice

Love in Christ,
Ryan

Remeber also

Psalm 8:2
From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise


Mark 10

The Little Children and Jesus

13People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."


Luke 10
21At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. "

 

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings All,

I believe the answer to this question lies in "who is written in the Lamb's Book of Life from the foundation of the earth".

Though a child is "conceived in sin", does not mean that it is a sinful creature. We have the Word of God that says:

Deuteronomy 24:16 The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.

This not only pertains to the present "physical condition", but also deals with our "eternal spirit".

An aborted fetus, a baby, a child even, has no concept of sin, (even the mentally infirm) they have no concept of the law and thereby are not judged by it.

After studying "The Lamb's Book of Life", I am convinced that everyone that is going to be saved, was written in the Book at the foundation of the world. It is "sin" that determines whether or not a person's name is "erased" from the book. The rejection of Christ, blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, taking the Mark of the Beast is all sin that would cause God to remove a name from the Book.

Please study the following words or references to them:

Lamb's Book of Life
The Book
Foundation (of the world)

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

 

[Duggie]

Hi


It's an interesting question but something that I was thinking about was what happens to those people who are born with some form of learning disability?

If they do not have the mental capacity to understand sin or salvation then what happens when they die. I used to work with young adults with such difficulties and some of them would not have been able to grasp the reality of faith and being born again etc...

I believe God to be very merciful, His mercy endures forever. I guess if you can't comprehend the message due to no fault of your own then surely God will show mercy.

 

[lovegod_will]

i believe it says in the bible(in sure its in revelation, but try not to quote me on that) that all those who have not heard of Jesus or have had the oppurtunity to recieve him will be jugded upon thier lives, hence why there was a big debate back in the 1800's weather or not to send missionaries to deepest darkest africa.

 

[jharkins]

Thank you HEREV!!! I guess the answer to my question is found in pray!!