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NASB | Matthew 18:3 and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 18:3 and said, "I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless you repent [that is, change your inner self--your old way of thinking, live changed lives] and become like children [trusting, humble, and forgiving], you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. |
Bible Question: Everyone is born into sin because of the original sin of first man. Therefore, do babies go to HELL when they die? |
Bible Answer: Greetings Bell68! You ask, "Everyone is born into sin because of the original sin of first man. Therefore, do babies go to HELL when they die?" There are two questions/issues here: 1) concept of original sin, 2) do babies that die prematurely go to hell? The concept of original sin stems from the sin of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3, which affected the entire human race in such a way that every human being born since that sin has been born into a 'state of sin.' Scriptural support for this point of view is found in Romans 5:12,19; 1 Cor. 15:21,22; Psalm 51:5 and Ephesians 2:3. So, with this understanding, are babies and small children condemned to hell when they die? No. Even though all of us are lost (Luke 19:10), perishing (John 3:16), condemned (John 3:18), and under God's wrath (John 3:36) until we place our faith in Christ, the basis for judgment of the lost at the Great White Throne judgment in Revelation 20:11-15 is on the basis of "according to what they had done." The basis of the judgment of the wicked is clearly upon the deeds done while on earth. Therefore, since infants cannot possibly be responsible for their deeds, then they would fall under the "riches of God's grace" which shows "wisdom and understanding" (Ephesians 1:7,8). With such verses as Matthew 18:3,5 and especially 2 Samuel 12:22,23 when David fully expected to be reunited with his dying infant son, then we have more than enough of a Biblical basis to believe that Scripture teaches that babies and young children go to heaven at the moment of death. Blessings to you, Makarios |