Will Unborn Babies Go to Heaven?

Will Unborn Babies Go to Heaven? 
Brenda Spurlock & Flip give an answer.

Conni wrote:

Rev. Benham, We need help with some Biblical questions that have arisen in our church. The discussion came up in our Sunday School class about what the Bible has to say about the unborn / little children who die. Most seem to believe that all children who die before the "age of accountability" automatically go to heaven. Are there verses in Scripture that give basis to this "age of accountability"? If so, why fight for the unborn child? If they are going to heaven when they die anyway, why fight to save them? Where does I Cor. 7:14 fit in? Thanks for any Biblical answers and references you can give! God Bless your ministry for Him!!

Conni
Wausaukee, WI

Brenda Spurlock responded:

Dear Conni,

Thanks for some very interesting and challenging questions. "Will unborn babies killed by abortion go to heaven?"

At first glance 1 Cor. 7:14 seems to touch on our subject. In reality, it doesn't. In their letter to Paul, the church at Corinth had questioned him about whether God considered the marriage of a believer to an unbeliever as legitimate. Paul assures them such a marriage is legitimate and the resulting children are "holy," that is, they are legitimate, clean and set apart, in some sense, by God. This verse does not deal with the subject of their salvation.

While "age of accountability" is not a Biblical term, Isaiah 7:16 speaks of a time before the child "knows enough to refuse evil and choose good..." Until that time God holds parents accountable. The Bible clearly indicates that it is the parent's duty to train up their child in the way he should go so he won't depart from it when he is grown, (Proverbs 22:6). They are to nurture their children "in the discipline and instruction of the Lord," (Ephesians 6:4). Parents are to teach God's words to their children, "talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up," (Deuteronomy 11:19).

Will unborn babies killed by abortion go straight to heaven? The Bible doesn't say. What gives us peace about the matter is the knowledge that we serve a holy, loving, just God. "Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?" (Genesis 18:25). We serve a God Who values children (Psalm 127:3-5), (Matt. 18:10). Further, Christ used a child as an example of who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 18:1-4). He said it is not the will of our heavenly Father that one of these little ones shall perish (Matt. 18:14). Jesus said "the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these" (Matt. 19:14).

Using the logic of your S.S. class members, why enact laws to deter or punish murderers of children who are two, three, or four years old? For that matter, since we know they'll go to heaven when they die, why even bother with laws protecting the lives of children, teens or adults who are born-again believers? On this subject, Flip says, "If heaven were the only thing that mattered to God and to people then, by all means, martyr everyone who gives his or her heart to Christ. Thing is, God is looking for us to bring Him glory on earth. He is looking for us to die to self every day that we might live for Him everyday. In that way the world might see our good works and give praise to our Father in heaven."

Flip says, "The devil is the one who comes to rob, kill, and destroy. He wants all of God's children dead so that they can do no damage to the gates of hell (his home). Why should we Christians be in agreement with him. I did not give my heart to Christ so that I might attain heaven, as wonderful and undeserved a gift as that is. I gave my heart to Christ that I might in some way bring glory to His Truth and represent the King of kings on this earth. This is the way that God receives glory (John 17:4). I want to do as much damage to the lies of satan that are ravaging this earth as I possibly can. This becomes a pretty daunting task if I have already been killed by him."

Conni, our Creator has claimed for Himself the right to give life and to take life (Deuteronomy 32:39). He hates "hands that shed innocent blood" (Proverbs 6:16-17). We are warned, "If you are slack in the day of distress, your strength is limited. Deliver those who are being taken away to death, and those who are staggering to slaughter, O hold them back. If you say, 'See, we did not know this,' does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work?" (Proverbs 24:10-12).

I hope this helps in future discussions regarding abortion.

    Kind regards,
    Brenda Spurlock