Dear John & Doves;
       Concerning Ted Porter's questions and comments regarding children going (or not going) to heaven: I suspect the reason no one (other than Paul Wilson and Ted) responded to John Russell's request is because this issue scares everyone to death.  Why?
Because it all boils down to what we fundamentally believe about God.

       As for babies and children under the age of accountability,
I believe they are saved, not because they are innocent, for each has inherited a sinful nature, but because they are members of the race for which Jesus died, and have not forfeited their salvation by willful sin and unbelief.  As without personal acts of their own, babies inherited corruption from Adam; so without personal acts of their own, salvation is provided in Christ.  There is application to them of the Life of Christ, as there was application to them of the death of Adam!
       This was seen on an old tombstone of an infant:
          "Bold infidelity, turn pale and die,
            Beneath this stone an infant's ashes lie.
            Say, is it lost or saved?
            If death's by sin, it sinned, for it lies here?
            If heaven's by works, in heaven it can't appear.
            O reason, how depraved!
            Revere the sacred page - the knot's untied;
            IT DIED, FOR ADAM SINNED;
            IT LIVES, FOR JESUS DIED."
 
       Now let's look at Ted's statement that "Not all babies are saved."    Ted seems to be using Exodus 20, where God is giving the Ten Commandments, to suggest that not all babies are saved  because He says, "I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me."   But where does that show that babies are "not saved?"

       We read in Numbers 14:18 (among other scriptures) that tell us what God is like > "The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third & fourth generation."

       Then we read in Job 5:4 about the "foolish (unrighteous?) man"> "His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, neither is there any way to deliver them."

       Does this mean that God "blames" the children?  Does it mean He will "get even" with the parents by making their children suffer?  Does it mean He intends to inflict pain & chatisement upon those who did not commit the sin themselves?   Does it mean these children are "not saved" if they should die (or won't be raptured when it happens?)
Absolutely not!

       When foolish, unrighteous men forsake God and worship idols and other gods....what happens to their children?  They usually follow AS THEY GROW UP.... their values, religion, morals, their "God" or "gods"  (or lack thereof) are already in place in their lives.

       The context of Exodus 20:4-5 is that God is a jealous God and does not want men to have any other gods before them.  The children of those who do not worship the One, True, Living God are also (usually) not going to worship Him.  God will "visit" - or "bring wrath" upon those generations that follow in their father's footsteps...."those who hate me" God says.   Job 5:4 says these children are "not safe."  If they are not learning about God, if they are not learning to know Him and follow Him, and they will grow up with the wrath of God upon them - He will "not let them go unpunished".  In other words, IT IS THE INIQUITY OF THE FATHERS THAT MAKES THEIR CHILDREN UNSAFE AND CAUSES THE WRATH OF GOD TO ABIDE ON THEM----IF THE CHILDREN CONTINUE IN THAT WAY.......and I say, "if the children continue in that way" because we KNOW that God is indeed longsuffering, merciful, and forgiving.  But again, it says NOTHING about those who are under the age of accountability should they die.

       Again, it's MAN - foolish, unrighteous, wicked man - who is responsible for the destiny of his unsaved children.  God is not "punishing the innocent."  It is simply that God will not allow the continued transgressions to go unpunished as these generations come of age.   BUT AGAIN - NOWHERE does it say that babies and children under the age of accountability are NOT saved.

       As far as the children "being clean" because of a saved parent - sanctified means they have been set apart - they have the precious opportunity to GET saved as they continue to grow under the nurture of that saved parent....the same opportunity an unsaved spouse has.  But ultimately, one must make a personal decision of their own WHEN they become "accountable" to God for their choice....(and HE knows when that is.)

       As far as David's statement that he would see his child again some day.....(just as other parents of children who have died hope for).......I believe it is in God's Word to comfort and bring hope.   If it were not so, why would God let it stand as a testimony of David's expectation?

       Isaiah 36:5 says, "Now on whom dost thou trust?"   When I came to Christ, my children were still small.  The first thing I did was hand them over -heart, soul, and spirit, to the Lord.  I told Him I was not only trusting Him to save me, but to "save my house."  One by one they received Him as personal Savior.  But I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, if they would have died before they were old enough to make their decision to trust Him, He would have "suffered (allowed) them to come unto Him....for of such is the kingom of heaven.
       If that sounds like blind, childlike faith....so be it.  He said we must all become like little children....which can be summed up in two little words > FAITH & TRUST.
                                     Shalom,  Sherry Vance