Question:

Will babies and children who are too young to make a decision for Christ be saved?  What will happen to older people who have had no opportunity to know Christ?  Will they be saved?

Answer:

These questions have been in the minds of many people over the centuries.  The popular teaching is that everyone will go to heaven, but the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy, I believe, give clear information on this question. 

In Ezekiel 18, there are statements made that we must take into account in searching for truth in this matter.  The first part of this chapter establishes the fact that all life (souls) belongs to God.  He is the giver of life, and He is the withholder of life.  It all belongs to Him to do with as He pleases.  In verses 5–9, God lays down the qualifications for acceptance with Him.  Then, in verses 10–13, there is established the difference between a father who is just and his offspring who is unjust.  The offspring cannot ride on the father’s good deeds; he will be judged for his own sin.  “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.  The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son.”  Verse 20.  This establishes the fact that every person is responsible for his own sin.  It is sin that brings forth death.

In Romans 2:2, we read: “But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.”  Verses 6 and 7 tell us: “Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life.”  Verses 11–16 go on to tell how God will judge the people who do not have knowledge of God through the Law of God.  They will be judged according to what they know.  God will not excuse some just because they did not know and were bad.  “For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law.”  Verse 12.  He will judge accordingly.  Good or bad, they will be judged according to what they have done.

The story of the Passover reveals to us the plan of God regarding little children.  In Selected Messages, Book 3, 314, we read: “The word of God came to the Israelites in bondage to gather their children into their houses and to mark the doorposts of their houses with blood from a lamb, slain.  This prefigured the slaying of the Son of God and the efficacy of His blood, which was shed for the salvation of the sinner.  It was a sign that the household accepted Christ as the promised Redeemer.  It was shielded from the destroyer’s power.  The parents evidenced their faith in implicitly obeying the directions given them, and the faith of the parents covered themselves and their children.  They showed their faith in Jesus, the great Sacrifice, whose blood was prefigured in the slain lamb.  The destroying angel passed over every house that had this mark upon it.  This is a symbol to show that the faith of the parents extends to their children and covers them from the destroying angel.”

Regarding the children of unbelieving parents, we read, “Whether all the children of unbelieving parents will be saved we cannot tell, because God has not made known His purpose in regard to this matter, and we had better leave it where God has left it and dwell upon subjects made plain in His Word.”  Ibid., 315. 

I hope this has helped to give some understanding to this age-old question.

Pastor Mike Baugher is Associate Speaker for Steps to Life.  If you have a question you would like Pastor Mike to answer, e-mail it to: landmarks@stepstolife.org, or mail it to: LandMarks, Steps to Life, P. O. Box 782828, Wichita, KS 67278.