Articles, Bible Questions and Discipleship Guides

The fate of infants and small children who die is a deeply emotional and theologically significant topic for many Christians. Parents who have lost a child often seek comfort and understanding from Scripture regarding their child's eternal destiny. This article aims to provide a comprehensive biblical perspective on this issue, answering key questions and offering hope grounded in the truth of God's Word.

One of the most heartrending “short stories” is attributed to Ernest Hemmingway. Although it’s very unlikely he was the author of this simple, six-word “story,” it’s undoubtedly one of the saddest messages anyone could read, much less experience: For sale: Baby shoes, never worn.

We’re told in Scripture that King David experienced the reality of this sad tale. Bathsheba had delivered their baby, conceived in their infamous act of adultery. When that baby died soon after birth, David surprisingly ceased his fasting and weeping; he worshipped God and resumed his normal schedule. His servants wondered why David would fast when his son was sick yet eat a meal soon after his son’s death. David explained:

“While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept . . . But now he is dead. . . . Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” (2 Samuel 12:22-23)

David clearly declared that he and his baby would be reunited. But was David merely hoping for this, or does God’s Word support a future reunion between parents and deceased children?

While one verse doesn’t give us a full answer, the Bible does affirm David’s hope.

Life Begins at Fertilization.

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. . . . My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven . . . Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. (Psalm 139:13-16)

David reveals that God, the Creator, is at work in every mother’s womb, embroidering each child by His creative design. This informs us that life begins at the moment of fertilization, which means death that occurs after conception is the death of a living, immortal person.

Here’s another staggering truth: When infants die, God’s purposes for their lives on earth have been fulfilled! In the mystery of His sovereign plan, whether it’s a matter of moments, or a few weeks or months, God’s destiny for their lives was fulfilled perfectly. Even if they die in the womb, God had His purpose for their lives, short as they may have been.

Are Babies Born Sinners?

This is an age-old question. Are babies born with sin natures? Or do they become sinners later in life? The answer is yes; babies are actually born as sinners. There’s an important biblical truth that dates all the way back to the Garden of Eden. Every person born after Adam’s sin was born with a sin nature. We do not become sinners when we commit our first sin. We commit our first sin because we were born with a sin nature. So in that sense, yes, babies are born sinners. Before they commit any sin, they have a sin nature. Let me pose two more questions that will help clarify this important issue.

When does a baby become a sinner?

Some people may suggest that babies and young children are not sinners, but I imagine it would be hard to find any parent who agrees. Parents understand that it doesn’t take long for a baby to being acting sinfully. They cry out of selfishness, they learn to say “no” to their parents, they hoard their toys and refuse to share. Others might claim that babies are born without a sin nature in the womb, and remain sinless until they commit a sin after birth; but again, this is not what we find in the Bible. The answer is found in Psalm 51, where David writes: “I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” Babies in their mother’s wombs are developing sin natures as they develop physically, and they commit sinful actions after birth.

What Does the Bible Say About the Fate of Infants or Small Children Who Die?

While the Bible does not provide a detailed account of the fate of infants who die, it offers principles that give us reason for hope. One key passage is 2 Samuel 12:23 (ESV), where David, after the death of his infant son, expresses confidence that he will see his child again: "But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me." David's words suggest a reunion with his child in the afterlife, providing comfort and assurance.

The Bible implies that God's grace extends to those who are unable to make a conscious decision to trust in Jesus, including infants and small children. Jesus' words in Matthew 19:14 (ESV) reveal His heart for children: "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." This passage indicates that children hold a special place in God's kingdom, suggesting their inclusion in heaven.

When a baby or small child dies, their soul is entrusted to God's care. The Bible consistently portrays God as loving and just, and His dealings with the innocent are in accordance with His character. Deuteronomy 32:4 (ESV) describes God as "a God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he." We can trust that He will deal with infants and small children in a manner that reflects His justice and mercy.

Babies Go To Heaven by God’s Grace.

The Bible teaches that we are saved by grace. No one is in heaven apart from the grace and mercy of God. However, the Bible also says people will be condemned by their works. You cannot be saved by works, but future judgment is described as a judgment of works (Revelation 20:12).

Nowhere in the Bible is anyone threatened with hell simply for having been conceived. People are condemned to hell because of their willful acts of sin and rebellion (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:5). They are without excuse because they suppressed the reality of a Creator and the truth of God’s law implanted in their consciences (Romans 1:18; 2:12-16).

In Romans 1, Paul declares that humans are without excuse for their sin because they suppress the truth about God and deny the authority of His law. But babies and young children are not able to comprehend God’s law, or actively suppress the truth. They may become aware that their parents do not like what they are doing, but they don’t immediately understand that their actions also violate God’s law, or even that their parents have been given authority by God.

How Are Embryos Dealt With in Terms of Salvation?

The Bible suggests that God's grace covers those who are unable to respond to the gospel due to age or mental capacity. The doctrine of "age of accountability" implies that children who die before reaching an age where they can understand and respond to the gospel are saved by God's grace. Because life begins at fertilization, the implications for babies and small children would also apply to unborn children. We can trust in God's character and His promises. God is described as compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love and faithfulness (Psalm 86:15, ESV). His nature assures us that He will act justly and mercifully toward those who cannot understand or respond to the gospel, including embryos, babies, and small children.

What is the Age of Accountability?

There is no exact age when a child does become aware of these things, but at whatever moment when they realize the truth of God and the reality of His law, they become eternally responsible for their sinful actions, and must place their faith in the saving work of Jesus. Until then, they will not be held in judgment by God.

Preborn children and infants cannot suppress these truths and willfully reject them. Until children are older, they cannot assess the law of God written in their consciences. They cannot recognize how the glories of nature reveal a Creator to whom they are accountable.

The Bible never gives an age of accountability at which a person is capable of defying and/or denying divinely revealed truths. It varies according to the maturity of each child as he or she grows intellectually. Until someone is capable of willfully violating what God has written on the conscience and denying the reality of the Creator, that person will not be condemned. This applies to all the aborted, miscarried, and mentally handicapped children and adults in human history.

What’s Happening With Your Child in Heaven?

If you’ve endured the grief of losing a baby, find comfort in knowing that your child is experiencing heaven right now. The One who loves your child the most has taken that precious one into His Father’s house. Your baby didn’t wear the shoes you picked out, but the feet that would have worn them are walking on streets of gold. Your child is with Christ and was instantly made perfect and transformed into the image of Jesus Christ upon his or her death (Philippians 1:6).

David said, “My son can’t come back to me, but I will go to him.” Christian, just as your departed baby is now wholly perfected and enjoying the presence of Christ, know that you will one day be there too, reunited and praising the Lord together in worship . . . worship that will never end!

Will Parents Who Trust in Jesus Be Reunited With Their Deceased Child in Heaven?

Yes, parents who trust in Jesus can be confident that they will be reunited with their deceased child in heaven. The Bible speaks of a future resurrection and a gathering of God's people. 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 (ESV) encourages believers with the hope of reunion: "Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words."

How Can Grieving Parents Find Comfort and Hope Regarding the Fate of Their Deceased Child?

Grieving parents can find comfort in the assurance of God's love and the promise of reunion in heaven. Jesus' invitation to children and the compassionate nature of God provide a foundation for hope. Trusting in God's character and His promises allows parents to look forward to a future reunion with their child in heaven. Parents can have assurance that they will see their deceased child again in heaven based on the promises of God and the teachings of Scripture. The Bible offers hope and comfort, assuring believers of a future reunion with their loved ones who have gone before them.

How Can We Help And Encourage Parents Who Have Miscarried or Lost A Child?

To support families who have endured the pain of a miscarriage, we can provide empathetic understanding and spiritual encouragement. Recognizing the profound sense of loss they are experiencing, it's important to offer not just our condolences but also affirmations of their feelings and the significance of their loss. We can draw upon spiritual teachings that emphasize the value of each life, including the lives that are lost before birth. Reminding grieving parents that they are cared for by a community of friends and a compassionate God can be comforting. Encouraging them to seek a deeper understanding of these teachings can also help foster trust and peace during such difficult times. In offering our presence—listening and being physically present—we demonstrate a commitment to walking alongside them in their grief.

What Happens to Infants or Young Children Whose Parents Are Unbelievers?

The spiritual condition of the parents is not a factor in God's grace towards infants and young children who die. He extends His mercy, and brings those children to heaven, despite what the parents believe about Him. 

Will Infants and Children Remain in Their Infant or Child Form in Heaven for Eternity?

The Bible does not provide specific details about the age or form we will take in heaven. There are many things we can’t fully know until we get there. However, it does promise that we will have glorified bodies (1 Corinthians 15:42-44, ESV) and that heaven will be a place of perfect joy and fulfillment. We can trust that God will provide the best for us and our loved ones in the afterlife. Heaven will be littered with strollers and high chairs. There won’t be angels assigned to the heavenly preschool or as workers in heaven’s nursery.

Any limitations or immaturities a child may have on earth will be gone instantly upon arrival in heaven. The same is true for the elderly. I won't have problems with my joints and my knees and all the other limitations that age has given me. In heaven, we receive new, glorified, immortal bodies. But we will still recognize each other in Matthew 17, the rich man and Lazarus recognize each other. At the Mount of Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah were recognizable. The disciples recognized Jesus after his resurrection.

When a baby dies, God performs miracles as he reconstitutes that child's body. He immortalizes it and glorifies it. But at the same time, it is recognizable. Here are some reasons why this is true:

The Nature of Heavenly Existence: In heaven, the limitations and sufferings of earthly life, such as pain, sickness, and death, are no more (Revelation 21:4). This transformation suggests a state of existence that's beyond our current understanding and physical limitations. In 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, Paul describes the resurrection body as being sown in dishonor and raised in glory, sown in weakness and raised in power, sown a natural body and raised a spiritual body. This indicates a significant transformation from our earthly existence.

Perfection and Maturity in Christ: The belief that infants and the elderly will be vibrant and mature in heaven is grounded in the idea that heaven is a place of perfection. Ephesians 4:13 speaks of reaching "to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." In heaven, that early goal will be realized. Everyone in heaven, regardless of their earthly age at death, will be brought to this fullness in Christ, which includes spiritual maturity and perfection.

Heavenly Activities: Praise and Worship: A final aspect to consider is the nature of what we do in heaven. Heaven is described as a place of praise and worship of God. The Bible describes a banquet table of fellowship and celebration. The activities of heaven require a level of maturity that infants do not possess in their earthly form. The belief that babies reach maturity in heaven also aligns with the idea that they will actively participate in these essential heavenly activities. In a state of perfected maturity, all inhabitants of heaven, regardless of their age at death, would be fully capable of understanding, appreciating, and engaging in the worship and glorification of God.

This participation in heavenly worship not only speaks to the maturity and understanding they would possess but also to the joy and fulfillment they would experience. Worship in heaven is an expression of direct, unobstructed communion with God, something that a mature, glorified state would facilitate. Thus, the belief that deceased infants grow to maturity in heaven addresses a logical necessity for participation in heavenly worship and reflects a beautiful aspect of God's redemptive plan, where every soul experiences the fullness of joy in His presence.

Conclusion

The Bible offers a hopeful perspective on the fate of infants and small children who die. God's character, His love for children, and the promises of Scripture provide assurance that these young ones are welcomed into heaven. Parents can find comfort and hope in the belief that they will be reunited with their deceased child in the presence of the Lord. Trusting in God's goodness and His promises allows us to navigate the pain of loss with the hope of eternal reunion.