Response:

You are right. The only place in the Bible that teaches that babies go to Heaven is David's comments concerning his dead child in II Samuel 12:23. David says, "I shall go to him". I believe this is significant. We know that we are conceived in sin (Psalm 51:5. In fact, it was David who said this in his confession of the sin which took his son. Apparently it did not shake his belief that he would see his son again.). Were it not for David's statement, it would be very easy to argue that all infants who die go to Hell because they are sinners. However, because David makes this statement, and it goes unchallenged by God, I am forced to believe that he was correct, and that his baby did not go to Hell, but rather to Heaven. This, of course, would be not due to anything but the great grace of God. I rejoice in this, because, as you may know, we lost a son five years ago. God is good.

Down through the years, there have always been groups, and individual churches, that believed that babies went to Hell. As I said, you could build a strong theological argument for that, were it not for David's statements.

Have a great day.

By Dr Mark Montgomery Ambassador Baptist Church 1926 Babcock Blvd Pittsburgh, PA 15209 (412)477-3210