Question

If a baby dies before the age of understanding, where does his/her spirit go? Also, does infant baptism do anything for the baby?

Answer

King David in the Old Testament made a statement after the death of his newborn infant,

"But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me."  [2 Samuel 12:23]

Now, most Bible Scholars would agree that this one verse "indicates" that babies go non-stop to heaven after death, for David (A man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22), was a believer and was going to heaven after death, and had full confidence that he would see the child there.  The Roman Catholic Church falsely teaches that unbaptized babies go to a place called "Limbo" (neither heaven nor hell), but that concept and name does not exist in the Bible.  But since baptism does not save anyone, then a little baby being baptized is no different than one who is not.  All babies are conceived with "original sin" and are thus condemned to hell, however, this one verse seems to indicate that God, in His mercy, and by the blood of Christ (his death on Calvary) has provided salvation for babies (those under the age of accountability).

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "Tony Capoccia's Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
Box 314
Columbus, New Jersey, USA, 08022
Websites: www.biblebb.com and www.gospelgems.com
Email: tony@biblebb.com
Online since 1986