Today on a facebook group I read this comment:
“Without baptism, no one can enter heaven even a baby,
because of ORIGINAL SIN.”
God Sends Babies To Hell? Really?
It is hard to fathom such a belief about God’s character when we look at the love of God and the Word of God used with proper context. Just think about what God has done for us. Allowing and sending one person of the Trinity of God as Jesus The Christ. The God that loved us sinners so much that He lowered Himself below a rank of an angel and became Flesh (Jesus The only begotten Son of God) and shed His blood on the cross, paying the penalty for not only the sins of those He foreknew would accept the free gift of Salvation without works required (Ephesians 2:8-9), but that Jesus actually paid for the sins OF THE UNREDEEMED as well:
“And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins OF THE WHOLE WORLD.” (1 John 2:2 KJV)
Yes, those with ability to understand good and evil and the plan of Salvation by belief in Christ and His once for all Salvation (Hebrews 10:10) must BELIEVE to be saved (John 3:18). God gives us all free will to choose to accept the free gift of Salvation through Christ or to reject the gift. However, to say that babies, toddlers and the mentally handicapped without an ability to choose, and who does not discern good from evil (Deuteronomy 1:39), must believe or be condemned? I do not see that stated in Scripture. Instead, what I do see is how much Jesus loves these little ones!
“And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
But when Jesus saw it, he was much DISPLEASED, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of SUCH IS the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.” (Matthew 10:13-16 KJV)
Did Jesus then share the Gospel of Salvation to these little ones? No. He blessed them. They cannot understand yet. They are innocent at this age and deemed without sin to God at that age. We all must come as they do to gain Heaven because our sins are only forgiven by the Grace of God – not our efforts nor works nor religious rituals. God’s heart for us is,
“… he is able also to save them TO THE UTTERMOST that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25 KJV)
Those who cannot understand Salvation, such as infants, babies and the mentally handicapped cannot make the choice of accepting or rejecting the Gospel of Jesus Christ and of no fault of their own. Jesus paid for their sins and they are Heaven bound.
“But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” (Psalm 85:15 KJV)
