What is the eternal state of infants who die? The question is of the utmost importance. High infant mortality rates still plague much of the world. In developed nations we know of crib deaths and of course the horror of abortion, 47 million of the latter in America over the last forty years. What do we say about the Christian hope to parents and others who are involved in these situations and how do we minister to them? Can we say anything at all with certainty? Beyond the pastoral concerns, related doctrinal discussions in the church impinge upon our thinking. Within the Reformed community baptismal regeneration, resistible grace, and salvation by works are being advocated. Finally, the church has not been historically consistent or unified concerning what becomes of infants dying in infancy and those who are mentally incompetent. How do we sort out the many contending positions? We need a biblical answer.
This article by Robert Davis was a lecture delivered at the Reformed Congregational Fellowship in 2006. The starting point for the subject is found in the
Savoy Declaration (1658) which is very similar to the
Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), chapter X:III: "Elect infants dying in infancy, are regenerated and saved by Christ, who worketh when, and where, and how he pleaseth: so also are all other elect persons who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word."
Without question, the salvation of infants, particularly those infants who die in infancy, is a very emotional topic and one which unfortunately where the emotive side of us dictates what many hold to be true rather than an intellectual embracing of what the objective evidence of Holy Scripture teaches. Dr. Davis set out to study and present the biblical teaching objectively along with some of the various positions held historically in the Church.
This is definitely a worthwhile read!!
You can find the article here:
Infant SalvationIn His service and grace,
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