Children and the Kingdom of God

Jesus commanded His disciples to let the little children come to Him, and He prayed for and blessed them (Mark 10:13-16). This even included little babies (Luke 18:15). He said that the kingdom of God belonged to such as these (Mark 10:14). God looks kindly on children. … their angels always stand in God’s presence (Matthew 18:10). But it is not written here whether all children have angels in heaven or only some children; namely, those who “believe” in Jesus (Matthew 18:2-6; Mark 9:42).

In the Old Testament, God told the Jews to CIRCUMCISE all male infants in order to bring them into the family of God. This had to take place at eight days of age, and was a sign of the COVENANT between God and the Jews (Genesis 17:1013). God even declared that if a male infant was not circumcised, that infant would be cut off from his people, because he had broken God’s covenant (Genesis 17:14). There is no mention of female infants, nor of what happened to them in regard to the covenant.

The New Testament makes it clear that we are free from the Old Testament LAW. To be in God’s family, physical circumcision is not necessary. We are made children of God through faith, not through the Jewish law. You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:26).

Little children and even newborn babies¹ are able to have some kind of FAITH by God’s power and grace, and are able to be in God’s kingdom (Psalm 22:9-10; Luke 18:15-16). But is this true of all children, or only some? And how can this be true? Throughout church history scholars have given many different answers to these questions.

Many Christians believe that water BAPTISM replaced circumcision as the means by which children are brought into the family of God. They think that water baptism is the “circumcision of Christ” (Colossians 2:11-13), by which our sinful nature, through faith, is cut off and thrown away and we come into God’s family. Jesus commanded that the children be allowed to come to Him (Mark 10:14), and promised that whoever believes and is baptized will be saved (see Mark 16:16; General Article: Water Baptism). Some of these Christians think that infants can believe in Jesus. Others think that the parents can believe for the baby and that God accepts the faith of the parents (1 Corinthians 7:14). Then, when the child is old enough, he must accept or reject Jesus for himself.

Many other Christians believe a second view. According to this view, God does not choose all people to receive salvation, but only some (see John 15:16,19; Romans 9:18; General Article: Salvation—God’s Choice or Man’s Choice?). God chooses some babies to be saved and does not choose others. Those that God chooses will go to heaven if they die; the others will not.

Still other Christians hold a third view. These Christians believe that God offers salvation to all (young and old), but that not all will accept it. Many will resist God. This is true for children also, they say. These Christians believe that babies are able to believe with their spirit or heart even if their minds are unformed (Psalm 22:9-10; Matthew 18:5-6; Luke 1:15). But they do not think that all babies will believe. Just like adults, some resist God. Only those babies who actually believe will go to heaven if they die.

Still other Christians hold a fourth belief; namely, that by God’s grace and power all babies (or at least all babies of Christian parents) automatically believe in Jesus and are already in the kingdom of God (Mark 10:14-15; 1 Corinthians 7:14). Therefore, they believe that all babies who die (or at least all babies of Christian parents) go to heaven.

Finally, some Christians believe that although babies have a sinful nature, they do not commit actual sin. They say that babies are in a “state of innocence.” Because of this opinion, these Christians believe that all babies who die go to heaven automatically.

Whatever we believe about this matter, our responsibility as parents is clear. Baptism is important for every person, of course. Whether we baptize or dedicate our children, we must place them in God’s hands, and trust Him for their salvation. We must teach them about God and His word (Deuteronomy 4:9-10; 6:6-7; Psalm 78:5-6), and we must discipline them in a loving way (Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21). The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call (Acts 2:39).

¹ The word translated babies in Luke 18:15 means “newborns.”