2 Text Matt. 19:14 (KJV) –“But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 19:14 (NIV) –“Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

3 INTRODUCTION Our church is in mourning with Jason and Jennifer Crawford. –Amber Michelle Crawford stayed only briefly in this life before going to be with the Lord. –To be so tiny, she touched the hearts of many. –We all join our prayers together for the entire Crawford family.

4 I am going to discuss the fate of babies when they die this morning. –I am doing this to ensure that we all know that Amber is with the Lord in a place of painless peace and safety forever. –Our church has also suffered a great loss.

5 There is now one less child in our church, but one more child in God’s presence. –We were all looking forward to Amber being in our midst. –We didn’t get a chance to know her in this life, but we will get acquainted with her when we too arrive in heaven.

6 After the death of my mother, Mama Lane told me, “It just ain’t right for children to die before their parents.” –Regardless of the age of the child, the grief caused by a child’s death is beyond comprehension. –Especially, it seems to me, if they die as infants or at a young age.

7 I found myself amazed and dumbfounded when I discovered that there are actually Christians who teach that all babies and children who have not been saved go to hell. –I wholeheartedly disagree with this position. –It is inconceivable to me.

8 I believe that all babies, and all children who have not reached an age of accountability, go to be with the Lord immediately when they die. –I will give you my reasons for believing this in this lesson. –Do all babies and children under the age of accountability go to heaven when they die? YES!

9 The Bible’s Attitude About Children To begin with, let us see how the Bible views children. Psa. 127:3, 5 says: –“Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.” –Shortly before His crucifixion, children were brought to Jesus.

10 –Evidently, it was hoped that He might bless them. His disciples protested to which the Lord responded in Matt. 19:14: –“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

11 Jesus, when asked in Matt. 18:3- 6 (NIV) by his disciples who would be the greatest in the Kingdom, had this to say: –“And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven....

12 – 5 "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. 6 But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”

13 Have you ever noticed how easily children believe in and follow Jesus? –It appears as if children have an in-born desire to know and love God. –In Eccl. 3:11b it seems that God has placed within the heart of each person born a capacity to know Him.

14 –This verse says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men;...” I believe that children begin to be held accountable for their own salvation when they reach the “age of accountability.” –My personal belief is that this age varies from child to child. –At some point, a child begins to gain an understanding of right and wrong.

15 –With some this may be at a younger age, but the Jewish tradition, from which Jesus came, generally holds this age to be about 12 years old. – Once this age is reached, whenever it may individually be, we must make a conscious decision to follow Jesus.

16 But I can’t conceive why any Christian would question the innocence of a little baby? –Who would doubt its purity? –If this is true of man, with all of his short comings and sinfulness, how much more true of the God of mercy and compassion?

17 No right-thinking person can conceive that an infant, or a child under the age of accountability, would be condemned to hell. –It is a ludicrous position to take! We have ample witness in the Bible regarding how much God loves children.

18 The Bible teaches us that Jesus died to take away the sins of the world (Heb. 9:28). –His sacrifice was more than sufficient to remove the penalty for all sin -- past, present, and future. –Salvation is available to all who will accept Jesus’ salvation offer.

19 Jesus’ redemption was more than enough to satisfy God’s holiness with regard to our sinfulness. –The most vile person who has ever lived could go to heaven by repenting and accepting Jesus. Ultimately, we won’t be judged for our sinfulness, but for our rejection of the free gift of salvation; for not accepting Jesus.

20 God has chosen to limit salvation to those who willfully accept His forgiveness. –Hell, therefore, is reserved specifically for those who reject and do not accept Jesus as Savior. To reject something, you have to first be able to understand what you are rejecting.

21 Children who cannot understand right from wrong, or comprehend the need and plan of salvation have not reached the age of accountability. –Right now, millions and millions of infants, born and unborn, are fully conscious beings enjoying the joys of Heaven and being in the presence of Jesus.