Question:  Dear Greg,

            I believe you are performing a great service and helping many who might be leery of asking these questions face to face, or just need another opinion.

            I am struggling with infant baptism and I have come to the belief that while not necessary, it is a commanded outward expression of our faith.  Can you point me to any scripture that speaks of the fate of a child that dies prior to knowing and accepting Christ?

            Thank you,

            Steve

Answer:  Dear Steve,

            Thanks for your encouragement and comments.  Regarding infant baptism and the fate of children who are not baptized:

            There are no passages that speak specifically about children being lost forever, in some horrific way, if they are not baptized.  It is important to remember that salvation is by God’s grace, not by our works.  So, hypothetically: parents were on their way to church to have their baby baptized.  All die in a car crash.  The parents were baptized, the baby was not.  Will the baby go to hell while the parents enjoy eternal life in God’s kingdom of heaven?

            Salvation is by grace.  Period.  Grace alone, faith alone, Christ alone.  What does that mean exactly?  I find that I am more and more amazed by what I understand as God’s “amazing grace” all the time.  Some find it troubling that Christ saved the thief on the cross.  After all, there was no catechism, no disciple classes, no 20 years’ attendance at church and no baptism—infant or believers’ (adult).  But the thief was saved.  Was the thief the only one who was ever or will ever be saved that way (outside of the normal hoops that we have come to see as necessary before God grants salvation)?

            I don’t know a definitive, biblically-based answer to your question—and those attempts that dogmatically seem to present an answer trouble me.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht