Are Children Who Die Before The Age Of Accountability Saved?

What does the Bible say about this issue? Is there a state at which children have to confess Jesus to be saved?
What did Paul mean in Rom 7:9? What about Rom 5:13?
 
This whole topic has often puzzled me for a varieity of reasons. I'm not aware of any specific scripture which implicitly or explicitly teaches the "Age of Accountability." The Psalmist says we are sinners the moment we are conceived (Ps. 51:5; 58:3). I would think that that includes guilt and susceptability of penalty for our sin. To be sure, infants are specifically named among the Amalikites that Saul was ordered to kill because of their sin in not welcoming Israel during the Wilderness Wanderings (I Sam. 15:3). Yet, on the other hand we have passages, such as Luke 1:15, where John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit while still in the womb. Would that not imply that he was born again before he was born? Of course, that is not the normal sequence, but it is certainly within God's power and authority. God specifically tells Jeremiah that he was called and ordained a preacher before he was born which meant that God knew he would be a godly man before his life began and that he would survive infancy. So, God is certainly capable of saving even infants before they are born, but obviously He doesn't save them all.
Yet, another piece of the puzzle must be considered. In I Kings 14 King Jeroboam comes to the throne of Israel and he is such a wicked scoundrel that God places a curse upon him. This curse is that because of his sin: not he nor any member of his family, will be allowed to be buried (v11). Yet, in this family, there is an infant who is born and dies in infancy. This infant is exempted from the curse, and the reason is: "...because in him something good was found towad the LORD God of Israel..." (v13). Is that true of all infants who die in infancy? But exactly what that good was; it is not identified so we don't know if it includes something found in all infants or just this specific infant. Regardless, I think this passage seems to say that infants are saved, though I'd be the first to admit it is pretty thin. Calvin came to that same conclusion and wrote that he believed all infants who died in infancy are of the elect. This strikes close to home for me because eleven years ago we lost a beautiful little grandson who was 34 days old.
But there is also a dark side to this issue. If there is such a thing as the Age of Accountability, wouldn't that say that all infants are born "saved" and some of them will "grow out" of salvation if they are allowed to grow older. If that is true, than the Age of Accountility would make abortionists the greatest evangelists of all times.
So, needless to say, I'm interested in reading the other views that come along.
 
I also grew up having been taught the "Age of Accountability" concept, but have never been able to dial in what scriptures support it.

There is also the passage in 2 Samuel 12:15-23 that seems to support the idea that at least David's infant son would go to heaven. David is fasting and lamenting the loss of his son, but once he realizes his son has finally died, he immediately cheers up and starts eating. When his servants ask him how he can do this so easily, David replies "Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me."
 
If that is true, than the Age of Accountility would make abortionists the greatest evangelists of all times.

That one made me think : ) .......the statement is flat-out wrong but how to counter it?
Imo, the act itself determines whether it is good or evil…. and not the consequences….
That is, similar to disproving “end justifies the means”
 
That one made me think : ) .......the statement is flat-out wrong but how to counter it?
Imo, the act itself determines whether it is good or evil…. and not the consequences….
That is, similar to disproving “end justifies the means”
I agree, the statement is, indeed, flat out wrong and the ends don't justify the means! Amen! Yet, if the Age of Accountability is a valid one, wouldn't it be logical to then say abortionists send babies to heaven who might not otherwise get there? How do we counter it? Excellent question.
 
What do you think Jesus said in Matthew 19:14? Does it support or refute the age of accountability?
 
This is something which is has been the subject of controversy for centuries.
What do you think Jesus said in Matthew 19:14? Does it support or refute the age of accountability?

I think that's an EXCELLENT question. I don't think that verse supports age of accountability just as 1 Timothy 2:3-4 doesn't support the notion that all people will receive salvation.
 
This is something which is has been the subject of controversy for centuries.
I think that's an EXCELLENT question. I don't think that verse supports age of accountability just as 1 Timothy 2:3-4 doesn't support the notion that all people will receive salvation.

Yes I know that, and God wanting something and DOING something are of course NOT the same thing. Peter also wrote in 2 Peter 3:9 pretty much the same thing, but again His willingness does NOT translate into reality. What Jesus said was a statement of fact, "...to such belongs..."
 
Yes I know that, and God wanting something and DOING something are of course NOT the same thing. Peter also wrote in 2 Peter 3:9 pretty much the same thing, but again His willingness does NOT translate into reality. What Jesus said was a statement of fact, "...to such belongs..."

Good eye. This is a subject I haven't even really thought much about. I should do more research on it.
 
This is something which is has been the subject of controversy for centuries.


I think that's an EXCELLENT question. I don't think that verse supports age of accountability just as 1 Timothy 2:3-4 doesn't support the notion that all people will receive salvation.

If 1 Timothy 2:3-4 doesn't support that all people will get salvation,what is the meaning of the verse than?
 
If 1 Timothy 2:3-4 doesn't support that all people will get salvation,what is the meaning of the verse than?

The meaning is that God's WILL is for all to come to Him, but God doesn't enforce His will on others. Because we all have free will, many might not receive salvation if they follow their own will.
 
You asked a really good question. I think we all from time to time ask why we all even need our free will when His graceis the biggest gift, even if it's not from our own will.

From the beginning of the world, creation, God designed us to be able to receive instructions and decide whether to obey or not, even though He expected us to obey. It basically what separates us from the animals He also created. They follow their instincts, we have the ability to NOT follow our instincts. That is not to say that sin or disobedience is an instinct in us, it just means we KNOW the difference between right and wrong, and now good and evil, and have the ability to decide, when presented with a choice, what we will do. We can never say, "the devil made me do it", as Eve implied.
 
Are Children Who Die Before The Age Of Accountability Saved?

Your OP verses are good, thanks. But they only prove that babies, kids and mentally handicapped go to heaven not that they are saved. To be saved you need to accept Jesus from free will. They have not done that. So the issue is their free will. Do they have it? If we believe God is 100% impartial on all mankind, then there must be a time / space that God gives them to exercise it.

Consider those living in the millennium under the reign of Jesus and the saints. They are in a type of heaven / paradise but yet towards the end, the devil is released to tempt mankind for the last time Rev 20:7. Why would God do this to them and not to all beneath the age of understanding?

Hence I believe / assume that God will likely cause them to return to the earth during the millennium. Unless they remain as children in heaven :confused:...
 
Your OP verses are good, thanks. But they only prove that babies, kids and mentally handicapped go to heaven not that they are saved. To be saved you need to accept Jesus from free will. They have not done that. So the issue is their free will. Do they have it? If we believe God is 100% impartial on all mankind, then there must be a time / space that God gives them to exercise it.

Consider those living in the millennium under the reign of Jesus and the saints. They are in a type of heaven / paradise but yet towards the end, the devil is released to tempt mankind for the last time Rev 20:7. Why would God do this to them and not to all beneath the age of understanding?

Hence I believe / assume that God will likely cause them to return to the earth during the millennium. Unless they remain as children in heaven :confused:...


I would say the point is IF they don't sin then there is nothing to be saved from.

I believe that those tempted AFTER the 1000 year reign are the children born IN that period ONLY. As the children referenced in this thread are NOT considered IN CHRIST, I don't believe they will be part of the first resurrection, but that their names, ARE written in the Book of Life and therefore will receive eternal life after the second resurrection.
They MAY be in Paradise, but NO one is in heaven but God and Jesus.
 
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