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What is
the spiritual condition of the unborn, infants, and
young children? Some believe that because the unborn
have never sinned they will be granted salvation and
that infants and very young children who die are granted
salvation, because they could not possibly understand
what sin is. Others suggest that before a certain age,
children are not held accountable for sin. The major
problem with these beliefs and assumptions is that no
one can find scriptural conformation to support them.
Some point to Matthew 18:3-6 and Mark 10:13-16, which
say that one must become as a little child to enter the
Kingdom of God. Therefore, infants and young children
are granted salvation by virtue of their youth. Notice
what Jesus really said:
"And he said, Truly I say to you, Unless you convert,
and become as the little children, in no way can you
enter into the Kingdom of God. Therefore, whosoever will
humble himself as this little child, this one is the
greater in the Kingdom of Heaven" (Matthew 18:3-4,
Para.).
Jesus did not say that little children will enter the
Kingdom of God nor did he imply they are granted
salvation. In this example, Jesus noted two things that
are necessary in order to enter the Kingdom of God.
First, a person must be converted. Second, a person must
become child-like in humility. It is very clear that
Jesus was merely using young children as an example of
the attitudes and attributes a person should have if
they expect to enter the Kingdom of God.
The Age of Accountability: The age a person must be
before they are spiritually accountable is impossible
for humans to establish with certainty, because this is
God the Father's decision and it is predicated on
belief, understanding, and repentance. All three of
these are mental conditions and are prerequisites to
conversion and baptism. All three are dependent on each
other. For a person to have belief, there must be some
understanding of what is to be believed.
Jesus says repent and believe the Gospel:
"Now that after John was put in prison, Jesus came into
Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God. And
saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is
at hand: repent you, and believe the gospel" (Mark
1:14-15 Para.).
To repent, a person must have an understanding of what
to repent (literally, re-think) and what the gospel
(good news) of the Kingdom is. Notice Acts 16:31-33 and
Acts 8:27-38. In both scriptures the people spoken of
understood the circumstances surrounding Jesus and what
he preached. Therefore, they were able to make their
decisions based on the facts presented.
A major prerequisite for baptism is repentance:
"Then Peter said to them, Repent, and be baptized every
one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission
of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the holy
spirit" (Acts 2:38 KJV).
But, repent of what? Be sorry for what? Desire to change
what? In order to repent, a person must first understand
something about the plan of God.
It is quite evident that a person cannot have the kind
of belief, understanding, and repentance necessary for
baptism unless he or she is old enough to have developed
the mental capacity to make intelligent decisions based
on the information presented. It is also evident that
infants and young children have not developed the life
experience and emotional stability to make and stand
behind decisions of the magnitude that must be made
before and after baptism. All of the scriptural examples
show only adults (including young adults) being
baptized. There are no examples of infants or young
children being converted.
The setting of a minimum age requirement for conversion
is an impossibility because of the differences in the
speed with which each individual grows into mental and
emotional maturity. The ability to make decisions
concerning conversion depends entirely on a person's
maturity level, understanding of the gospel, and desire
to follow God's way of life. (See Luke 3:8)
Common sense dictates that the unborn, the infant, and
young children have not had the time or the life
experience necessary to understand the requirements of
salvation. They are certainly not able to understand the
awesome implications or responsibilities of making a
covenant with God. Therefore, the spiritual condition of
the unborn, the infant, and young children is the same
as any unconverted person who has never had the
opportunity for salvation.
God will only grant immortality and eternal life after a
person goes through the process of conversion. The
unborn, the infant, and young children who die before
the return of Christ will be resurrected in the
resurrection of "The Rest of the Dead". Those who remain
alive at his coming will live into the first thousand
years of Christ's reign and have their opportunity for
salvation at that time.
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