Gene had asked me the same question a number of times in Bible class: "Pastor, what happens to babies who die before they can be baptized?" By the look on his face and the emotion in his voice, it was evident that this sadness had touched his family.

No direct answer from Scripture

Whenever he asked the question, I offered the answer we must give: "Scripture does not answer this question directly."

But what Scripture does say is this:

• All children are by nature sinful and in need of salvation.
• We are told of no other way that God works saving faith in people other than through the means of grace, the gospel in Word and sacraments. We should never deprive children of Baptism, "the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit." (Titus 3:5).
• We know of one extraordinary case in which the Holy Spirit worked in a child before its birth, the case of John the Baptist. (Luke 1:41-44.)
• We are told again and again that God is a compassionate God, whose judgments are fair. "The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. . . . He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him" (Psalm 103:8,10,11).

So God directs us not to minimize the importance of Baptism and the means of grace. He teaches us that we can look to his great mercy, and hope that although he has limited us to Baptism as a means of working faith in children, he has not limited himself.

Another way of looking at it

I could tell that these answers neither quieted Gene's troubled mind nor comforted his grieving heart. I finally said, "Gene, if you come across something in the Bible that offers more insight and comfort, let me know."

Sometime later, Gene was waiting to talk to me after Bible class. By the look on his face I could tell that he was eager to share something with me. "Pastor, I found a passage I believe gives a good answer to the question about babies who die before baptism. It's found in Ephesians 3:20: 'Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us . . .' "

I asked, "Gene, how does that answer the question?"

His answer was amazing. "Pastor, could a parent imagine that God could take his child to heaven if it dies before baptism?" I said, "Yes."

He continued, "Could a parent ask God to take his child to heaven if it dies before baptism?" I said, "Of course."

Then he smiled at me and said, "Paul says that God can do immeasurably more than that!"