Do Babies Go To Heaven Upon Death?

The relatively recent practice on Facebook of giving us reminders of things we had posted on this day in past years is good.  It gives us a chance to look back and see if there is reason to change our thinking based upon further studies of God's Word.

Recently, I was reminded of a question posted to my page by my Christian brother, Jonathan Benjamin, on January 19, 2012.  In that post, Jon asked me, "Hey brother Bill, I wanted to ask you if you believe in original sin?"   And, that question led me to write my Facebook Note titled "'Original Sin' Or 'Sin Nature' - Is There A Difference?"   Below is an excerpt from that Note:

"Original Sin" Or "Sin Nature" - Is There A Difference?
Bill Gray, January 20, 2012
https://www.facebook.com/notes/306589322720561/

Bathsheba had conceived a child which died in infancy.  Yet, in this passage David is sure that this child, innocent of the sins of his parents, would be in heaven - for David, who had repented of his sin before God, says of the child, "Can I bring him back again?  I will go to him, but he will not return to me."   David knew his child was with God - and that, one day, he would join that child in the presence of God.

And, in Luke 18:16, Jesus tells His disciples, and us, "But Jesus called for them, saying, 'Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.' "

From these passages, and knowing that God's love and justice are perfect - we know that He will bring all children who die early, before the age of understanding, into His arms.

Later that same day Jonathan replied: 

That's a very well detailed explanation of your position.  I want to thank you.  Also, I wanted to ask you about the portion on babies and young children.  It is commonly believed in the mainstream evangelical church that God would never send a child or a baby to hell.  They'll point to several passages like David lamenting over his baby or Jesus stating, "Don't deny those that come to me such as these."

But as I examined those verses I can't find exegetical reason to believe they state children go to heaven automatically.  Doesn't it go against certain solidified doctrines such as: Jesus is the only way to the father.  Any other way is trying to climb over the fence?  When a child gets to heaven and God asks, "Why should I let you in?" - from what I understand, if it's any reason other than Christ, they aren't getting in.  Does God have a soft spot in his heart for babies and young children?  I'm sure he does, but that doesn't mean it nullifies His Word, does it?  Thanks for responding!

First, I would question whether God would ask a child who has not yet reached an age where he/she is capable of understanding and believing in Jesus Christ, "Why should I let you in?"    But, that is just a personal position and not specifically Biblical.

True, the Bible does not tell us absolutely that unborn babies, infants, and children who have not reached the age of understanding, i.e., the age of accountability, will go to heaven.  But, I do believe there is enough evidence to believe that He does have a special dispensation for such.

Let's look at what several Christian leaders, teachers, and scholars have to say on this issue:

Do Babies And Others Incapable Of Professing Faith In Christ Automatically Go To Heaven?
John F. MacArthur, Grace to You
http://www.gty.org/resources/questions/QA101/do-babies-and-others-incapable-of-professing-faith-in-christ-automatically-go-to-heaven

 People often wonder about the eternal destiny of the unborn, babies, and those unable to intellectually understand the gospel.  That question is a difficult one.  Unfortunately, the Bible offers us no explicit answer.  However, based on several passages, as well as an understanding of God's character and His dealings with men, we can develop a good idea of how He works in such situations.  .  .  .

Second Samuel 12:23 is one of the passages often quoted to imply that babies go to heaven.  Though the verse doesn't explicitly say that, David clearly does expect to one day be reunited with his departed child.  Since we know David is a believer whose destiny was heaven, we can infer that his hope of reunion means he expected his child to be in heaven.  Thus, 2 Samuel 12:23 suggests strong evidence for a heavenly destiny of the unborn and children who die young.

If this were all we had to support our position, it would be admittedly less than stalwart.  However, there are other evidences that point us to the same conclusion.  First, the Bible clearly teaches that God cares deeply for children.  Passages like Matthew 18:1-6 (Jesus' discourse on humility like a child) and 19:13-15 (Jesus blesses little children) affirm the Lord's love for them.  Those verses don't state that children go to heaven, but they do show God's heart toward children.  He created and cares for children, and beyond that, He always accomplishes His perfect will in every circumstance.

However, another point may be helpful in answering this question.  While infants and children have neither sensed their personal sin and need for salvation nor placed their faith in Christ, Scripture teaches that condemnation is based on the clear rejection of God's revelation - whether general or specific - not simple ignorance of it (Luke 10:16; John 12:48; 1 Thess. 4:8).

Can we definitely say that the unborn and young children have comprehended the truth displayed by God's general revelation that renders them "without excuse" (Rom. 1:18-20)?  They will be judged according to the light they received.  Scripture is clear that children and the unborn have original sin - including both the propensity to sin as well as the inherent guilt of original sin.  But could it be that somehow Christ's atonement did pay for the guilt for these helpless ones throughout all time? 

Yes, and therefore it is a credible assumption that a child who dies at an age too young to have made a conscious, willful rejection of Jesus Christ will be taken to be with the Lord.

From the GotQuestions web site:
 

What about babies and young children who never attain the ability to make this individual choice?  The age of accountability is the concept that those who die before reaching the age of accountability are automatically saved by God’s grace and mercy.  The age of accountability is the belief that God saves all those who die never having possessed the ability to make a decision for or against Christ.  .  .  .  

A child has passed the age of accountability once he or she is capable of making a faith decision for or against Christ.  Charles Spurgeon’s opinion was that “a child of five can as truly be saved and regenerated as an adult.”

Bill Gray Note:  When my Friend, Pastor Sam Lacanienta, interviewed our five year old granddaughter, Elyssa, and decided she had the knowledge and understanding to receive Christ and to be baptized, I will admit that, as a relatively new Christian then myself, I wondered about his decision. 

However, when I now look at the young Christian woman, Elyssa, in her final year of getting her Teaching Credentials at a leading Christian college and engaged to a wonderful Christian man - I see that Pastor Sam knew a lot more than I did back then.  He was right - and Elyssa is living proof.

With the above in mind, also consider this: Christ’s death is presented as sufficient for all of mankind.  First John 2:2 says Jesus is “the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”   This verse is clear that Jesus’ death was sufficient for all sins, not just the sins of those who specifically have come to Him in faith. 

The fact that Christ’s death was sufficient for all sin would allow the possibility of God’s applying that payment to those who were never capable of believing.   (Where do I find the age of accountability in the Bible? What happens to babies and young children when they die?  http://www.gotquestions.org/age-of-accountability.html)

And, from the CARM (Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry) web site:

What happens to babies or infants who die?  Do they go to Heaven or Hell?
https://carm.org/what-happens-to-babies-or-infants-who-die

While the Bible does not explicitly say where young children go when they die in infancy, it seems to imply that they go to Heaven.

First, there is no verse in Scripture which states that those unbelievers will go to Hell because they were not old enough to believe.  Since God is just, it would appear that He would allow these infants to go to Heaven.

Second, perhaps the only passage in Scripture which explicitly speaks about where babies go who die in infancy is 2 Samuel 12.   In the context of this passage, David committed adultery with Bathsheba.  The prophet, Nathan, boldly confronts David about his adultery and tells him that the child that Bathsheba has conceived will die.  As a result of the confrontation, David confesses his sin, puts on sackcloth and ashes, fasts, and mourns the fact that he will lose his child.

When David receives news that the child has died, he quits mourning and fasting and changes his clothing.  The prophet, Nathan, comes to David and asks him why he quit mourning the loss of his son.

David replies, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, 'Who knows, the LORD may be gracious to me, that the child may live.' But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me"  (2 Sam. 12:22-23).  The text seems to imply that the child went to Heaven since David says, "I will go to him, but he will not return to me," and elsewhere Scripture indicates that David went to Heaven (Psalm. 16:10-11, Heb. 11:32-33).

Third, Scripture may allude to an age of accountability in Isaiah 7:15 which speaks of a child who "will eat curds and honey at the time he knows enough to refuse evil and choose good."  If a child dies before this "time" - it would seem that he or she would go to Heaven.

It is difficult to be dogmatic about this issue, but we can rest in the fact that God is holy, righteous, and just.  Therefore, whatever God chooses to do with infants will be best for them.1

1. References: Norman Geisler, "Infants, Salvation of," in The Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics, Grand Rapids: Baker, 1999, pp. 363-65.

In his book "Bible Doctrine" (Zondervan 1999 pages 216-217) Dr. Wayne Grudem tells us:

3. Are infants guilty before they commit actual sins?  Some maintain that Scripture teaches an "age of accountability" before which young children are not held responsible for sin and are not counted guilty before God.  However, the passages noted above about "inherited sin" indicate that even before birth children have a guilty standing before God and a sinful nature that not only gives them a tendency to sin but also causes God to view them as "sinners" in his sight.  "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me"  (Psalm. 51:5).  .  .

4. How can infants who die be saved?  But what do we say about infants who die before they are old enough to understand and believe the gospel?  Can they be saved?

Here we must say that if such infants are saved, it cannot be on their own merits, or on the basis of their own righteousness or innocence, but it must be entirely on the basis of Christ’s redemptive work and regeneration by the work of the Holy Spirit within them.  .  .  However it certainly is possible for God to bring regeneration (that is, new spiritual life) to an infant even before he or she is born.  

It is clear, therefore, that God is able to save infants in an unusual way, apart from their hearing and understanding the gospel, by bringing regeneration to them very early, sometimes even before birth.  This regeneration is probably also followed at once by a nascent, intuitive awareness of God and trust in Him at an extremely early age, but this is something we simply cannot understand.

We must, however, affirm very clearly that this is not the usual way for God to save people.  Salvation usually occurs when someone hears and understands the gospel and then places trust in Christ.  .  .

To this point, I agree with Dr. Grudem.  However, in the continuation of his teaching on infant death, I find it hard to stay with him.  For here, he falls back to the Reform/Calvinist teaching of Predestination, i.e., Elect and Reprobate.  The way I read this following excerpt from page 217 of Bible Doctrine, he is saying that only the children of the Elect chosen before the creation are saved.  That implies that the children of the Reprobate go to hell.

How many infants does God save in this way?  Scripture does not tell us, so we simply cannot know.  Where Scripture is silent, it is unwise for us to make definitive pronouncements.  However, we should recognize that it is God’s frequent pattern throughout Scripture to save the children of those who believe in him.  .  .  God’s ordinary pattern, the ‘normal’ or expected way in which he acts, is to bring the [infant] children of believers to Himself. 

With regard to believers’ children who die very young, we have no reason to think that it would be otherwise (see 2 Sam. 12:23 and Psalm. 23:6).  .  .  This should be of assurance to all believers who have lost children in their infancy, that they will one day see them again in the glory of the heavenly kingdom.

Regarding the children of unbelievers who die at a very early age, Scripture is silent.  We simply must leave that matter in the hands of God and trust him to be both just and merciful.  If they are saved, it will not be on the basis of any merit of their own or any innocence that we might presume that they have.  If they are saved, it will be on the basis of Christ’s redeeming work.  Salvation is always because of God’s mercy, not because of our merits (see Rom. 9:14-18).  Scripture does not allow us to say more than that.

As I have written many times before, I find it impossible to believe the Bible teaches that billions of people, i.e., the Reprobate, are condemned to hell with absolutely no opportunity to choose eternal life in Christ.  That is virtually impossible for me to believe regarding the God I worship - a God of perfect Love and perfect Justice.  

The Bible tells us that, until we breathe that last breath - even the most heinous of sinners can still choose to follow Christ into eternal life.  Jesus teaches of this in Matthew 20:1-16, the parable of workers hired at different times, i.e., those saved late, even just before their last breath, have the same eternal life in Christ.

However, when it comes to the unborn, infants, and young children -  how can we accept that God would have divided those infants into Elects and Reprobates knowing they would never reach an age of understanding?  How can we accept the teaching that my God would choose to condemn billions of these young babies to the misery of eternal hell.  

Think about it.  God is absolutely sovereign, God is absolutely omniscient, God is absolutely omnipotent.  So, why would God allow the unborn, infants, and young children to be born - knowing that He has already condemned them to suffer miserably in hell for eternity?   Is that really the God you worship?

From the Back To The Bible (Dr. Warren Wiersbe) web site:

What About the Age of Accountability?
Some people say that there is an age when children become accountable for their actions. But the Bible does not mention an "age of accountability." Children are culpable for sin when they draw their first breath, but are they accountable at that moment as well? I don't think so. We must make a distinction between culpability (liability for their sin nature) and accountability (liability for their sinful actions). Isaiah said, "For before the Child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land that you dread will be forsaken by both her kings" (Isa. 7:16). It's evident that little children do not have the ability to make moral decisions and to take responsibility for their sins. Still, they are sinners and need a Savior. Perhaps the "age of accountability" should be called "the age of moral awareness." Children come to a point where they become morally aware; that is, they understand what's right and what's wrong.
So what happens if your child dies before he is aware of what is morally right or wrong? He is still guilty of his sins and must pay the penalty for his sins. That's where the blood of Jesus Christ comes in. Young children have not rejected the blood of Jesus as the heathen have. It is there for them, covering their sins, washing them clean, even though they have not had the ability to exercise faith in Jesus, which is required for the salvation of men and women who understand the consequences of their sin. A child's lack of understanding doesn't deter the power of Jesus' blood. Only rejecting the blood deters its power, and babies haven't done that.
- See more at: https://www.backtothebible.org/is-my-child-in-heaven#sthash.lpToUUww.dpuf

What About the Age of Accountability?  Some people say that there is an age when children become accountable for their actions.  But the Bible does not mention an "age of accountability."  Children are culpable for sin when they draw their first breath, but are they accountable at that moment as well?  I don't think so.  We must make a distinction between culpability (liability for their sin nature) and accountability (liability for their sinful actions). 

Isaiah said, "For before the Child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land that you dread will be forsaken by both her kings" (Isa. 7:16).  It's evident that little children do not have the ability to make moral decisions and to take responsibility for their sins.  Still, they are sinners and need a Savior.  Perhaps the "age of accountability" should be called "the age of moral awareness."  Children come to a point where they become morally aware; that is, they understand what's right and what's wrong.

So what happens if your child dies before he is aware of what is morally right or wrong?  He is still guilty of his sins and must pay the penalty for his sins.  That's where the blood of Jesus Christ comes in.  Young children have not rejected the blood of Jesus as the heathen have. 

It is there for them, covering their sins, washing them clean, even though they have not had the ability to exercise faith in Jesus, which is required for the salvation of men and women who understand the consequences of their sin.  A child's lack of understanding doesn't deter the power of Jesus' blood.  Only rejecting the blood deters its power, and babies haven't done that.   (Is my child in heaven?   https://www.backtothebible.org/is-my-child-in-heaven)

Jonathan, I will offer this one last excerpt from Come Reason Ministries, for the man, Nick, seems to ask the same question you asked me earlier:

Do Babies Go To Heaven When They Die?

http://www.comereason.org/do-babies-go-to-heaven.asp

I just discovered your website, and as a believer, teacher, and advisor for the philosophy club at my school, I found your site valuable.  .  .  

1. Man has a sin nature.
2. Without salvation from his sin nature (see #1), he will go to Hell.
3. Upon salvation from his sin nature, he will go to heaven (after death or the rapture)
4. Man's life begins at conception. (We use this to argue abortion)
5. Therefore, at man's conception, he has a sin nature.
6. Therefore, aborted or miscarried babies do not go to heaven.

I don't like this conclusion; I don't think anyone does!  However, I can find no Biblical argument to the contrary.  Many try to formulate an "age of accountability" which I cannot find Biblical support for.  Some say, the Grace of God covers their yet unrepented sin nature, yet I can find no Biblical support for this. 

Any argument that seems to save these unborn children from Hell, also seems to argue a second way for salvation, or a compromise of some Biblical truth.  Can you help?  I asked the wisest person I know, and wisely, he said, "I don't know.  I guess I'll know when I get to heaven."   Thanks,  Nick

+++++++++++++++++

Hi Nick, There is probably no more plaguing difficulty to the doctrine of original sin, what is referred to as a "sin nature" - than the one you outline in your letter.  How can God, who is all-loving, condemn babies to hell?  We bristle at the conclusion - it doesn't seem to be in keeping with what we'd expect.

Naturally, because this is a controversial topic, there are different schools of thought depending on how you understand the concept of original sin. Different churches understand the doctrine differently.  So before we go further, I'd like to look at the main passages from where this doctrine stems.

The Basis for Belief in Original Sin:

• Romans 5:12, 19 - "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned .  .  . For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous."

Here Paul states that the sin of one man (Adam) has caused us all to be sinners.  Paul here links death and sin together and argues that we share in Adam's death because we share in Adam's sin.

•  Psalm 51:5, "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me."

Here we see the Psalmist noting that even at his birth he was considered sinful.  This idea is reinforced by the command in Leviticus 12:7 for a sin offering after having a baby.

St. Augustine brought the doctrine of original sin to prominence in his writings against the Pelagians and their heresies.  The Pelagians held that "every human being is by nature as pure as Adam was before he sinned."    Augustine argued against the Pelagians to show original sin existed in every person.   His argument can be summarized as follows:

1. Death is a consequent of Adam's sin (see Gen 3:19, 1 Cor. 15:21)
2. All men are Adam's progeny, inheriting Adam's conditions.
3. All men are mortal, prone to die.
4. Therefore, all men share in the consequent of Adam's sin.
5. Therefore, all men have inherited Adam's sin.

The Meaning of Original Sin:

So the doctrine of original sin seems well established, but we haven't really said what original sin is exactly, or what it means to us.  Some denominations maintain that original sin is merely a proclivity towards doing sinful things, not necessarily being in sin.  While I agree that we do have a proclivity towards sin (what Wayne Grudem terms "inherited corruption" ) I also see the Scriptures teaching that sin is an individual, spiritual condition. 

Romans 5 goes on to explain this in verses 18-19.  There Paul writes, "So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.  For as through one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One many will be made righteous."

In this way we are directly imputed (attributed) with Adam's sin.  Adam was the representative for all mankind and his sin is imputed to us directly as if we had done it ourselves.  However, as Dr. Grudem points out, "if we think that it's unfair for us to be represented by Adam, then we should also think it is unfair for us to be represented by Christ and have his righteousness imputed to us by God."  And this is the key point in my answer as to your question.

Before I go farther, I must say that one of the reasons this question is so difficult is that we are not explicitly told that the pre-born, infants, those with serious mental impairments who cannot understand the Gospel, will be held accountable because they did not accept it.  Again, this strikes us as unfair and not what we'd expect from a just God. 

The Bible does give us an account of David's infant son dying (2 Samuel 12:23).  There, David makes the claim that he will join his son after death - and David was a strong believer who did rest in God for his salvation (Psalm 62:7).  Also, we read in the Gospel of Luke that John the Baptist was "filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb" (Luke 1:15).  From these passages we can at least deduce that it is possible to be saved as a pre-born infant. 

How God Can Save an Infant:

In your argument you make an explicit statement that salvation is "provided by God, through Jesus, to the repentant believing sinner."  This statement is true. However, it also must be noted that the Old Testament saints were saved although they did not have a complete knowledge of the salvation act (see 1 Peter 1:10-11).  So it is possible to be saved by God through Christ even if you don't understand all the facts of the Gospel.

Wayne Grudem supports this view as well.  He writes "God is able to save infants in an unusual way, apart from their hearing and understanding the Gospel, by bringing regeneration to them very early, sometimes even before birth.  This regeneration is probably also followed at once by a nascent, intuitive awareness of God and trust in him at an extremely early age, but this is something we simply cannot understand." 

Grudem continues, "How many infants does God save in this way?  Scripture does not tell us, so we simply cannot know.  Where Scripture is silent, it is unwise for us to make definitive pronouncements.  However, we should recognize that it is God's frequent pattern throughout Scripture to save the children of those who believe in Him."

Bill Gray Note:  Once again, we see Wayne Grudem leaning toward God saving only the children of the Elect.   Would God condemn billions of unborn and infant children to the misery of eternal hell without a chance for eternal life?  Not my God.

The salvation of those who cannot cognitively understand their sinful condition or God's cure is a mystery.  It is not clearly revealed to us.  But we have shown above that it is possible and has happened with at least David's son.  Beyond that, we must trust the fact that God is not willing that any should perish, but all come to repentance.  .  .

I hope that this has shed a little light on a difficult issue.  I pray that God will continue to bless you as you seek to not only know Him, but teach His truth to others.

 
Let me close by offering this four minute video which I think is well done and speak to the issue of heaven or hell for babies:

Do Babies Go to Hell?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvQPsThF6zI

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill 

Are There Things Which God Cannot Do?

ARE THERE THINGS WHICH GOD CANNOT DO?  Yes.  God cannot sin; God cannot lie, God cannot change; and God cannot go against one of His own attributes to satisfy another.  What do I mean by that?  Two attributes of God are Love and Justice.  Can God deny His Love attribute to satisfy His Justice attribute - or can God deny His Justice attribute to satisfy His Love attribute?  No, He cannot.

And, that is what Calvinist and Reform churches are suggesting when they teach Calvinist Predestination.  What is Calvinist Predestination?  It is that, before the Creation, God divided all people who would ever be born into two groups:  the Elect and the Reprobate.   The Elect are those who are destined for eternal life in God's presence - joy, peace, and eternal happiness.  The Reprobate are those less fortunate who are destined for eternal hell, away from God's presence - pain, suffering, and eternal misery.

The obvious question arises - why would God create those who are Reprobate, just to cast them into eternal hell?  Keep in mind that hell was created for Satan/Lucifer and his fallen angels (Matthew 25:41).  It was not meant for humans who are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26).  Would God create people to be Reprobate just to fill the hell He set aside for Satan?  Would He, before the Creation, condemn billions of souls to hell for no other reason than He is sovereign?

How does that fit with either God's attribute of Love or God's attribute of Justice?  That is not God's perfect Love, nor is it God's perfect Justice.

Yet, the most common answer that those following the Calvinist and/or Reform theologies will give is, "God's sovereignty is supreme.  In His sovereignty, He can do anything!"

No, that is not true.  God cannot deny any of His attributes.  God cannot deny His perfect Love, in favor of His perfect Justice.  What kind of Justice would it be if He condemned billions of people to hell without any chance of being saved?  If anyone today condemned millions of people to death without a just trial - would we not call that person another Hitler, another Mao or Stalin, another monster?   And, our God is not a monster.

It seems to me that, in the case of Calvinist Predestination, "sovereignty" is a catch-all answer for any questions which cannot be answered directly from the Bible.

Consider this:

Why Did God Create Hell?
https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/hell.cfm

Hell was created as a place of judgment for Satan and those (fallen angels) who followed him in their rebellion against God.  The Bible says that the devil and (all) his angels will eventually be consigned to hell:

"And the devil who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and false prophet are.  And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever" (Revelation 20:10).

Human beings, who are created in God's image, were not meant to spend eternity away from the presence of God.  The place God created for them is heaven.  Jesus spoke of this place that God has prepared for those who trust Him:

"In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:2,3).

Hell was not created for humanity.  But it is the destination for those (humans) who reject God's salvation in Jesus Christ.

 
And, this:

Why Would a God of Love Send People to Hell?
https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/hell.cfm

Some people wonder how hell can be reconciled with a God of love.  Why, they ask, would a God of love allow people to go to hell?

The answer to this question is that God is a God of holiness and justice, as well as a God of love.  These moral attributes are complementary, not contradictory.  When the laws of God are disobeyed there must be a judgment.  God's laws demand that sin must be paid for.  God can still love someone, but He cannot allow sin to go unpunished.  This is the reason that Jesus Christ came to earth, to die for the sins of the world.

"Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28).

The emphasis should not be placed upon hell, but by (or on) the fact that God came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ to show His love for mankind:

"For when we were without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.  But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:6-8).

God has shown His love by sending His Son to die for our sins - to take our punishment - so that we could go to heaven.  The judgment of hell is for those who refuse to accept God's love and forgiveness.

 
The key phrase in the excerpt above is:  ".  .  .Would a God of love allow people to go to hell?"  

Yes, God will allow people, using their individual God-given gift of "free will" - to choose to deny Him and condemn themselves to hell.  But, He prefers that all people use that gift to choose to follow Christ into eternal life (2 Peter 3:9).

And, finally, this:

Will God Send People to Hell?
https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/hell.cfm 

The Bible speaks about a place of final judgment for those who do not believe in the salvation provided by Jesus Christ.  This place is known as hell.  It is not a geographical place, but a state of existence.  Jesus spoke of it as a place of eternal punishment.

"And these shall go away into everlasting punishment..."  (Matthew 25:46).

 
On this last point I differ with the Blue Letter Bible writer, Don Stewart.  I believe the Bible teaches that heaven and hell are actual places where believers and non-believers will live eternally.  Where are they?  The Bible does not tell us that.  However, it does give us strong clues.  In Luke 16:19-31 Jesus Christ tells us of a physical place called Hades.  

Hades was divided into two separate sections or compartments, Hades Paradise (Bosom of Abraham) and Hades Torment, with an impassable barrier between them.  These were the temporary dwelling places for all who died before the birth, death, and resurrection of Christ.  Upon death, believers went into Hades Paradise (Luke 16:22) - and non-believers went into Hades Torment (Luke 16:23, 28).

Jesus promised the repentant thief on the cross, ".  .  . today you will be with Me in Paradise"  (Luke 23:43).  Why Paradise and not heaven?  Because Christ had not yet died, been buried, and resurrected again to make salvation and eternal life available to all who will receive His "paid in full" gift of salvation.  

He died to take away the sins of the world (John 3:16) - and He resurrected to assure that all people will resurrect into immortal bodies to be like Him (1 John 3:2).  The difference being that believers will resurrect into immortal bodies destined for eternal life in Christ (Matthew 26:34) - while non-believers will resurrect into immortal bodies destined for eternal punishment (Matthew 26:46).

Jesus tells us in John 14:6, ".  .  . I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me."  Before He came, died, and was resurrected as our Sacrificial Lamb, no one went into heaven upon death.  All went into Hades, either Paradise or Torment.  

Yet, when Christ rose from the dead, He led those in Hades/Paradise into heaven.  Since that moment, Hades/Paradise is closed and all believers who die now go directly into Heaven/Paradise.

Ephesians 4:8-10, "Therefore He says:  'When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.'  Now this, 'He ascended' what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?  He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things."

1 Peter 3:18-20, "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us  to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water."

 
Many will say that 1 Peter 3:18-20 tells us that Christ went into Hades to preach to those non-believers who died in Noah's Flood, thus giving them a second chance to repent and be saved.  That cannot be, for the Bible clearly tells us, "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27).

While the idea of a second chance for salvation is appealing, the Bible is clear that death is the end of all chances.   Hebrews 9:27 tells us that we die, and then face judgment.  So, as long as a person is alive, he has a second, third, fourth, fifth, etc. chance to accept Christ and be saved (John 3:16; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 16:31). 

Once a person dies, there are no more chances.  The idea of purgatory, a place where people go after death to pay for their sins, has no biblical basis, but is rather a tradition of the Roman Catholic Church.  ("Will there be a second chance for salvation after death?"  http://www.gotquestions.org/second-chance-salvation.html )

 
Since 1 Peter 3:18-20 cannot be speaking of Christ offering a second chance for salvation to those lost in the Flood - nor to those souls who are already in Hades/Torment - who then did He address during those three days He was Hades?  The obvious answer is that He was celebrating with those Old Testament saints who had been waiting for Him to come and finally lead them into their eternal heavenly home, as suggested in Ephesians 4:8.

In the following excerpt, Pastor Chuck Smith gives further thought on 1 Peter 3 and on Ephesians 4:8:

Chuck Smith - C2000 Series on 1 Peter 3-5 (C2000 Series)
http://www.blbclassic.org/commentaries/comm_view.cfm?AuthorID=1&contentID=17404&commInfo=25&topic=1%20Peter&ar=1Pe_3_19

Jesus preached to the souls in prison.  Now the prophecy concerning Jesus, in Isaiah 61, says, "The spirit of the Lord is upon me; because the LORD has anointed me to preach the good tidings to the meek; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those that are bound" (Isaiah 61:1).

What is he talking about?  The prison was death by which men were bound.  They were held captive (not being in the presence of God).  Jesus came to open that prison for those that are bound, or to open up Hades (Paradise) for those people who were bound there, who died before Jesus (came and) died for our sins.  So when He died, He descended into hell (Hades/Paradise).  And He preached to those souls that were in prison.  And when He ascended out of hell, He brought with Him those who had been captive.

 
Moving on in our discussion of Calvinist Predestination, another question which I have yet to have a Calvinist/Reform Friend answer is, "If Calvinist Predestination is true, how do you know that YOU were selected by God, before the Creation, to be among the Elect?" 

Many will say, "Well, I just feel it." - OR - "I just know it."   No, that is putting salvation in your hands and basing it upon your feelings - not upon the Word of God.

There are only two ways that a person can know that he/she has salvation, eternal life in Christ, and KNOW it beyond all doubt. 

The first way would be through a "special revelation" from God, i.e., that God actually spoke, orally, to you telling you that YOU HAVE eternal life.  Has God spoken in this manner to you, telling you that YOU ARE among the Elect?  If so, you will be the first that I have met who has received such a "special revelation." 

OR, the way to know for sure, which is more Biblical and more logical - is that, through the God-given gift of "free will" - YOU have made a personal decision to believe and follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  In other words, that you have been born again as defined by Christ in John 3:3-5 and promised through the divine provision made possible by His death and resurrection (John 3:16).

A Scripture passage which is most frequently used to justify Calvinist Predestination is:

Romans 8:29-31, "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.  Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.  What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us?"

 
For some reason, they seem to skip over the initial phrase  "For whom He foreknew" and go directly to "He also predestined."       

When asked about the divine attributes of God, most believers will tell us:  God is Omniscient (all knowing); God is Omnipotent (all powerful); God is Omnipresent (all places present).

One aspect of God's Omniscience is His foreknowledge, by which He "foreknew" before the Creation who would become Christian believers and who would deny and refuse the gift of eternal life purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ.

Which Words in the Bible Express the Omniscience of God?
https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/don_stewart/don_stewart_360.cfm

There are a number of words in Scripture that express God's omniscience, that He knows everything.  From them we gain insight into the knowledge of God.

Foreknowledge - He Knows What Will Happen

One key word is foreknowledge.  This means that God knows everything that will happen before it occurs.

"For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.  And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified" (Romans 8:29-30).

In the Book of Acts it states.

"This man (Jesus Christ) was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, or of those not having the law (that is, Gentiles) put him to death by nailing him to the cross" (Acts 2:23).

Peter wrote.

"Who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance" (1 Peter 1:2).

Another Scripture passage which folks in the Calvinist or Reform theology churches will use to justify their interpretation of Predestination is:

Ephesians 1:3-6, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved."

 
There is no question that God chose all believers before the Creation.  That is not in question.  What is in question is - WHO did He choose?  And, why were those people chosen to be the Elect - while others were allowed to be the Reprobate?

One of the key ingredients of Pastor Chuck Smith's success as a Pastor/Bible teachers was his innate ability to speak in plain old, get down with you, language.  I don't think I ever heard him trying to sound like a great scholar.  His heart was just in sharing the Word of God, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in plain man-on-the-street language. 

Below, Pastor Chuck explains Biblical Predestination and Election in simple easy to understand terms.  I pray that it will help us all better understand why the Bible tells us in 2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."

The Bible makes that promise more specific in John 3:14-16, "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God so loved the world (the world, not just a prechosen Elect) that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

And, the Bible summarizes that teaching in John 3:36, "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

Let's take a look at how Pastor Chuck explains Predestination, Foreknowledge, and Election:

C2000 Series (Commentary) on Ephesians 1
Pastor Chuck Smith
https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/smith_chuck/c2000_Eph/Eph_001.cfm

God didn't choose me after I decided to clean up my act and live for Him.  God didn't say, "Oh, all right, I will choose him."  God chose me before the foundations of the world.  Now, that gives you the key into God's choices.  Having chosen me before the foundation of the world indicates that He chose me according to His foreknowledge. 

Because God knows all things, He will never learn anything new.  If He can learn anything new, then He doesn't know all things.  James said, "Known unto Him are all things from the beginning."   So it is according to His foreknowledge, because He knew in advance.  He chose me on the basis of His foreknowledge. .  .  .

The fact that God foreknows those that are going to be saved and chooses them does not preclude any man from coming, because the scripture says, "Whosoever will, may come and drink of the water of life freely" (Revelation 22:17).  And not one person has ever come to God and been turned away by God.  God (doesn't) says, "Well, let Me see.  I'm sorry, your name is not on the list.  Too bad.  You seem like a very nice fellow.  I would like to save you, but there was a slip up in the records some place.  I guess you just can't make it."

Predestination, divine election never precludes any man.  You say, "But I don't think I like that God can make those choices.  Because, what if He didn't choose me?"   How do you know He didn't choose you? 

"Well, I am not a Christian."  Why aren't you a Christian?  "I don't want to be."  Well then, maybe He didn't choose you (because of that) and it's sort of sad.  But you can find out whether or not He (has) chosen you - by just accepting (and receiving) Jesus Christ.

And you will discover He chose you before the foundation of the world.  You see, if there is any question in it, you can answer that question tonight.  You can just say (pray), "Lord, come into my life.  I am going to be a Christian.  I am going to follow Jesus Christ." 

And you will discover the minute that you do, that God (has) chosen you from the foundation of the world.  He says, "I've been waiting for this.  Great to have you on board; come on in."  And then He'll tell you, "I chose you, (and) here you are.  I knew exactly the time, and the whole situation.  Here it is, you were chosen before the foundation of the world."

"Yea, but what if I don't want to come?"  Well then, again I say, that's tough, but you can't blame God.  God has opened the door for you.  And God has given you the opportunity.  And God has called you to come.  But, though God has called you, still He has left the door open - so that it becomes your choice.  God already knows the choice you are going to make.  But you are the one who makes that choice.   God in all of His wisdom knows the choices each person is going to make.  But He doesn't make the choice for you.  He only knows in advance that which you are going to choose.

 
In closing, can God condemn YOU to hell?  No.  That is a choice YOU have to make for yourself.  However, as Pastor Chuck tells us - God "foreknew" before the Creation the choice you will make.  And, that choice is what determines if you are among the Elect - or if you are among the Reprobate.

My Friend, you have until you breathe your last breath in this mortal body to choose to follow Christ.  After that last breath - your eternal destiny is set in concrete.  Based upon your choice, you will spend eternity in heaven with God - OR - in hell without God.   Please choose wisely, for eternity is a very, very long (never ending) time.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

On Being Southern Born And Bred!

ONCE AGAIN, I CANNOT SAY IT BETTER than the graphic below! - For we Southerners it must be the process of osmosis, for I do not recall anyone ever overtly teaching me to say "Yes, ma'am" or "No, sir."  I do not recall anyone teaching me to stand for a lady, to open the door for a lady, or that ladies go first.  

Yet, I do not recall a time in my life when I did not do those things.  Maybe it was just growing up seeing others doing it, but, I like to imagine it is just part of being Southern, an inherent Southern trait.  Do you think that God, before the Creation, just decided to make Southerners genteel and especially polite?  Now that is one form of Predestination I can embrace.

When I grew up in Alabama, we knew the meaning of being a good neighbor.  I cannot tell you how many times I saw my parents, ready to walk out the door to go somewhere - when a friend, neighbor, or relative suddenly showed up to visit.  What did they do?  Why, they took off their coats and invited the visitors to come in and visit with them.  No appointment needed, if y'all come we welcome you.

When I was newly married while in the Air Force in Denver, my wife and I were planning to visit her mom.  She told me, "Let me call to see if we can visit them."  Shocked, I asked, "You have to make an appointment to visit your own mother?"  Now, as an more mature adult, I realize that it is common courtesy to call first.  But, at that time I was truly shocked.  Back home in Alabama of the 1950s, if I had called a relative or friend to set up a visit - they would have asked, "Is something wrong?"

I can recall the culture shock when I first began to realize that all the world was not Southern born and bred.   In the winter of 1955, I was in Air Force Tech School at Lowry AFB in Denver.  One day while on a packed bus, a lady entered the bus.  When I saw her, I stood to give her my seat.  However, before she could sit a man jumped into the seat I had vacated.  It made me angry, but not wanting to start a ruckus, I said nothing - just thought to myself, "He must be a DamnYankee!"  Down South that is one word.

In the mid 1960s, living in Southern California, another "This ain't the South" incident occurred.  After a Saturday evening date, I drove my date's baby-sitter home.  The following Monday my girl-friend's coworker told her, "My daughter thought your date was weird.  He opened the car door for her and would not drive away until she was inside the house."   Poor girl, imagine the guys she must have later dated.

In the latter 1960s, my ex-wife got a chuckle out of telling me of a time when she and our three girls were riding in the car with her date.  When they reached their destination, he got of the car and stood on the sidewalk waiting for them to get out of the car.   One of my young girls commented to their mom, "He's not like daddy, is he, mom?  Daddy would have opened the door for us." 

I was happy to see that some of my Southern had rubbed off on them, even though they were from Denver.  But, I never could get them to like the taste of buttermilk.   I guess you have to be born to that taste.

The next time you hear someone say, "Y'all come back now, ya heah?" - you will know you have met a Southerner.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill