Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - June/86

Contributor - John Strik

Title - Strikly Speaking

Topic - Children's Salvation

Rev. Strik are unbelievers' child who die in infancy saved?

My dear reader, first let me share with you what I feel are wrong teachings.

There is what may be called the prevailing view in the Roman Catholic Church that "all unbaptized children are lost". Their teaching is that these children are in a place called "Limbus infantium" where they neither enjoy the glories of heaven nor the anguish of hell.

This teaching is wrong on two counts: a) the Bible nowhere ascribes such importance to the omission of baptism; b) the Bible nowhere teaches the existence of "Limbus Infantium

Then there are those who hold that all babies are "innocent". According to this view "original sin", if it can be spoken of at all, is not punishable apart from actual transgression. Since little children, are not capable of actual transgression, but are innocent, they are of the opinion, that therefore all are saved if they die in infancy.

I believe that this teaching is also wrong because the Bible is very clear that infants, too, are guilty in Adam. Moreover, they aye not innocent (see Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12)

As we look at the Bible we discover that scripture nowhere teaches that all unbelievers' who die in infancy are saved. However, having said this, we say that scripture positively says the opposite. All we know for certain is that the heart of God is concerned not only with the children of believers but also with those of unbelievers "who cannot discern between their right hand and their left" (Jonah 4:11).

The Reformed position, I believe, is clearly stated by two outstanding reformed theologians. H. Bavinnck says,

"The children of the covenant,. baptized or unbaptized, enter heaven with respect to the destiny of others so revealed to us that the best we can do is to refrain from any positive judgmental. Similarly, L. Berkhof, in full agreement with the Canons of Dordt regarding the salvation of children of godly parents whom it pleases God to call but of this life in their infancy, states with respect to "the others": "There is no Scriptural evidence on which we can base the hope that . . Gentile children that have not yet come to years of discretion will be saved."

Thus, as you can see, the Bible is not clear about the salvation of unbelievers' children but it is very clear about the salvation of believers' children. since God therefore, has given to believers and their children the promises found in Genesis 17.'7 and Acts 2:38, 39 and also in I Corinthians 7:14, may I suggest that we all make evangelism our top priority in life.

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