What Happens to Babies When They Die?

FAQ: What about children, babies and aborted fetuses? Where do they go when they die?

The Bible teaches that God provides grace for those who are under the "age of accountability." From God's perspective, this is the age when someone is old enough to understand the concept of mankind's sin and God's free gift to escape that sin. Nobody knows the exact "age of accountability." Based on various scriptures in the Bible, it could be as young as six and as old as 19. In addition, that "magic" age could vary from person to person, based on his intellect, maturity and experience. However, we do know that God is perfectly loving and perfectly just. Therefore, whatever the age of accountability, under whatever circumstances for a particular child, we can trust that God makes perfect decisions based on His overriding attribute of unconditional love for each and every child.

By God's grace, we know that babies and aborted fetuses go to be with God for eternity in heaven. Psalm 139 says that we are unique persons, even before birth in our mother's womb. This means that an aborted baby is a child of God who, by God's mercy and love, goes to heaven when he or she dies. When King David lost his baby son, it's obvious that he knew his baby was in heaven with God. People asked him, "Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!" David responded, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, 'Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.' But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me" (2 Samuel 12:21-23).

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