by Greg Hurd

Question:  If infants aren’t baptized to be saved through the faith of their parents then what happens to an infant or young child if they die?

            In order to answer this question we must first have a baseline of what is true about baptism.  As Christians or Catholics we must establish the role of the Bible in our decision making concerning our faith.  As the NEC is the baseline and rule of law for the electrician the Bible must be the baseline and rule of  law for all believers.  To deviate from the Scriptures is to promote the murkiness of opinion which has led to countless heresies and false beliefs.  The Bible has stood the test of time, the canon, authority and inerrancy of Scripture can be validated by many sources, *Wayne Grudem  has written extensively on the factual evidence for the claims of Scripture. We can also see where literature has stood the test of time.  There are numerous original drafts of our nations Declaration of Independence and Constitution.  Copies of these originals are so numerous that an alteration in any way would not go unnoticed.  So too I believe Christians have been diligent and still are to maintain the unaltered Word of God.  Institutions become corrupt as we have seen in our own government and yet the original documents remain intact, this too happens to our churches.  I cite 1 Peter 1:24-25 “The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” and the words of Jesus in John 17:17  “Sanctify them by your truth, your word is truth.”

            Baptism is an important part of our faith as Peter states in Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said,”Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”   Then in John chapter 3 Jesus says this to Nicodemus “Most assuredly I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”…  “ Most assuredly, I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”  Later Jesus speaks what are possibly the most well known words in all of Christianity in John 3:16 “ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  So the command is given to be baptized in water, but this follows faith in Christ. Many other verses address faith in Jesus for salvation and repentance or turning from dead works to faith in Christ.  The book of Hebrews tells us that “ The righteous shall live by faith” (Hebrews 10:38).  Water baptism is a part of our faith story and is an acting upon our faith, but is not in itself faith. In baptism we are identifying with Jesus in his death and resurrection, which we must precede with faith.  The question, can parents have faith for their child?  Then I have to ask the question, can we have faith for anyone? Parents who have developed Alzheimer’s who never believed prior to their condition, or a person that is in a coma?  I believe we can pray for those people, but in Scripture I find no evidence for a person being saved without themselves having faith.  I suggest that some strange teachings have evolved from the idea that we can substitute our own faith for someone who has none.  If this were the case then why did Jesus charge his people with the command to go into all the earth and preach the gospel that men might believe on the name of the Lord Jesus and be saved?

According to *Evertt Ferguson, infant baptism was popularized in the fourth century AD. It is believed to have been initially instituted under the “emergency baptism” conditions in which a recipient had a terminal illness or was on their death bed and had now called for baptism.  In certain instances a child may have been very ill and received this type of baptism.  Having done so others followed suit soon baptism was being administered to healthy infants at which time the church added this to their doctrines. 

            A masterful bible scholar, *John MacArthur has addressed this issue of children dying without knowing Jesus.  He talks about children who have not reached the age of accountability in which they are not able to know good from evil.  His assertions are backed up with a verse in Deuteronomy 1:39 “Moreover your little ones and your children, who you say will be victims, who today have no knowledge of good and evil, they shall go in there; to them I shall give it and they shall possess it.”  and Isaiah 7:16-17 “ Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good.  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.”  These passages suggest that God is aware that infants don’t have the capacity to repent or even know that they need to repent and turn to Christ for salvation.  

            God’s Word has established that there is no easy walk of faith. All can come, but all must come the same way, through Christ alone.   Jesus tells us to take up our cross daily and follow Him (Matt.16:24). He says that the road is narrow and difficult (Matt. 7:14).  We are told to be diligent in raising our children in righteousness (Prov.22:6). Ephesians 2:8-9 state that we are saved by grace alone through faith and not by any works that we can do.  The problem with infant baptism is it attempts to save the child through works rather than faith in Christ. These acts are an obedience for those who have believed in Christ Jesus as their Lord and savior, meaning they are in relationship with Him. We are to be His disciples and religious exercises or practices are not a means to save, but an evidence of the faith that we already have in Jesus.

            In Conclusion, my answer to the question would be that parents cannot have saving faith for their child.  Infant baptism is action without commitment. Baptism is a part of relationship with Christ. It does not take the place of the relationship itself.  All believers should be baptized as an act of obedience to their Lord, however baptism without faith has no power to save.

“ And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”  (1John 5:11-12). 

*Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology.    

*Everett Ferguson, Baptism In The Early Church.  

*John MacArthur, sermon, The Salvation of Babies Who Die.