090. Are those who die in infancy lost forever?

Are those who die in infancy lost forever?

There is not a line of Scripture to indicate that they are. Jesus says: “Suffer the little children, and forbid them not to come unto Me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14, R.V.). It is true that infants are born into this world members of a fallen race under condemnation of God, that Adam’s sin is imputed to all his descendants, but the sins of the whole race were atoned for by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross (1 Timothy 2:6; John 1:29; 1 John 2:2). This includes the children. When a child reaches the age of accountability and sins himself there must needs be a definite personal acceptance of Christ before he can be saved, but of course this does not apply to those who die in infancy. To them Christ’s one act of righteousness (His atoning death on the cross) brings the free gift of justification of life (Romans 5:18, R.V.; 1 Corinthians 15:22). The time will come when these children will see Christ, and believe in Him and thus be saved in the fullest sense. But they will never perish for Adam’s sin. Jesus Christ bore the penalty of Adam’s sin for them. No one is lost merely because of Adam’s sin. There is absolutely no ground in Scripture for the doctrine of the damnation of unbaptized infants.