Chapter 107

 

Infants and the Kingdom of God

 

ÒAnd they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when [his] disciples saw [it], they rebuked them. But Jesus called them [unto him], and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.Ó (Luke 18:15-17)

 

This short passage of Holy Scripture sets before us one of our MasterÕs most important lessons. Here our Savior teaches us that all who enter into the Kingdom of God, all who are saved by the grace of God must come to Christ in simple faith, as little children.

 

            Yet, very few passages in the New Testament have been so perversely twisted to teach false doctrine as these three verses. For that reason, I must, at least briefly, address two of the perverse things men most commonly use these verses to teach.

 

Infant Baptism

 

Papists and those who continue to practice the Romish ritual commonly refer to these verses as a defense of sprinkling water on babies, that which is commonly referred to as Òinfant baptism.Ó

 

            If there were any place in the Bible where we might expect to find some mention or example of Òinfant sprinklingÓ, this would be the place; but that is not the case. This practice of what is called Òinfant baptismÓ is totally without foundation in Holy Scripture. There is not so much as one word in the Bible that teaches, or even implies it. And there is not a single example of it in the entire Bible. It is a practice of purely Roman Catholic origin. It is vainly hoped, by those who practice infant sprinkling, that the baby sprinkled with a little water is thereby regenerated, or at least given one foot up toward God. The practice is, of course, totally contrary to the plainest declaration of Holy Scripture, both with regard to salvation and baptism.

 

            It is a complete contradiction of the Gospel of GodÕs free and sovereign grace in Christ. Salvation does not come by water, be it much or little, but by grace. It is not the result of some manÕs priestly pretense, but of GodÕs sovereign operation.

 

            Infant sprinkling is also totally contrary to the teaching of Holy Scripture about baptism. Baptism is immersion, picturing the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, and our death, burial, and resurrection with him (Romans 6:3-6). It is called ÒbelieverÕs baptismÓ, because only believers are to be baptized. Baptism is the believerÕs public, symbolic confession of faith in Christ.

 

            These verses are also used by many to defend the practice of talking little children into making a Òdecision for JesusÓ and calling it salvation. I do not think, or suggest, that the Bible teaches what men call an Òage of accountability.Ó That is not the issue. The issue is faith in Christ. Neither men and women, nor children, who are born of God, need to be manipulated into professing faith in Christ. Indeed, if someone talked you into a profession of faith, you know that it was no more than that. You may hold onto it until you go to hell; but what you have is not salvation, but just a religious profession. When God the Holy Spirit saves sinners, giving them faith in Christ, they are made willing disciples of the Son of God.

 

Exposition

 

Having said that, I will say no more, though much more needs to be said, said boldly, and said often about such perverse religious practices. Let me give you a brief exposition of these three verses. Then I will give you the MasterÕs message in them.

 

             ÒAnd they brought unto him also infants.Ó — The word translated ÒinfantsÓ is used with regard to unborn children, little babies, and young children (Luke 1:41, 44; 2:12, 16; 18:15; Acts 7:19; 2 Timothy 3:15; 1 Peter 2:2). On this occasion, people brought these infants to the Savior, just as others brought adults to him who were sick, that they might be healed by His touch, as we see in the next words.

 

            ÒThat he would touch them.Ó — They brought these children to the Master that he might, as was his custom, heal them of their diseases by touching them.

 

            ÒBut when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.Ó — The disciples rebuked those who brought these sick children to the Master. We are not told why the disciplesÕ rebuked them. They may very well have had what they thought were good reasons for doing so. In fact, that appears to have been the case, because the Lord Jesus did not in any way scold them for their action. But this much is certain. — They did not bring the children to the Savior to be baptized by him. John Gill explainedÉ

 

ÒFrom this rebuke and prohibition of the disciples, it looks plainly as if it had never been the practice of the Jews, nor of John the Baptist, nor of Christ and His disciples, to baptize infants. Had this been then in use, they would scarcely have forbidden and rebuked those that brought them, since they might have thought they brought them to be baptized. But knowing of no such usage that ever obtained in that nation, neither among those that did, or did not believe in Christ, they forbad them.Ó

 

            ÒBut Jesus called them unto him.Ó — The Lord Jesus called for these children who were brought to come to Him. That fact is sufficient to tell us that these ÒinfantsÓ were not infants in the way we commonly speak of infants. They were obviously young children, probably less than twelve years old, but not new-born babies, or nursing babies. They were at least old enough to be capable of coming to the Master on their own.

 

            When He called the children to himself, stretching out His arms to receive them, the Master said, to his disciples, Òsuffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not.Ó Our Lord Jesus was such a gracious, humble, accommodating man that He readily seized the opportunity to tenderly embrace young children, take them on His lap, and minister to them. He was so gracious, gentle, and kind that young children were perfectly comfortable in approaching Him.

 

            ÒFor of such is the kingdom of God.Ó — It is as if our Lord said, ÒDonÕt drive these children away from Me. Let them come, and I will teach you something. These children are a good picture of what I require all My children to be: trusting and dependent, harmless and inoffensive, free from bitterness and malice, meek, modest, and humble, without pride, arrogance, and ambition, having no desire for greatness, just children.Ó

 

            ÒVerily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of GodÓ — That is receive Christ as his King, believing His doctrine, bowing to His authority, obeying His will. — ÒAs a little childÓ — In simple faith, meekly, humbly, trusting Him as Lord and Savior — ÒShall in no wise enter therein.Ó — In a word, our Savior here tells us that there is no true faith except that faith that is exemplified in childlike qualities. What a profound, needful, vital message this is! May God give us grace to receive it. ÒVerily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein

 

Four Lessons

 

There are four things in our LordÕs message that must not go unnoticed.

 

            First, we must understand that when the Lord Jesus comes in saving power and grace into the lives of chosen sinners, He comes as a king to set up His Kingdom. He does not come begging for admission. He comes into the hearts of chosen sinners in sovereign, omnipotent mercy. He binds Satan, spoils him of his goods, casts him out, and takes possession of his house.

 

            Second, if we are to come into this Kingdom, we must be brought to Christ the King, and brought into the Kingdom as little children. Our Master says, ÒOf such is the kingdom of heavenÓ (v. 17). Mark those words. There are children in every kingdom, and there are children in our LordÕs kingdom. John Newton once said, ÒThe majority of persons who are now in the kingdom of God are children.Ó I would not argue the point. When I think of all the multitudes of babies who have died in infancy, who are now swarming in the streets of glory, I rejoice in GodÕs great wisdom and goodness. Though adults, generation after generation, die in rebellion and unbelief, countless multitudes of infant children have entered into the kingdom of heaven, saved by the grace of God, through the death of Christ, and forever sing the high praises of their great Redeemer and Friend before the eternal throne of His glory. — ÒOf such is the kingdom of heaven

 

            I have no hesitancy in asserting that infants dying in infancy (That includes the infants slaughtered in abortion, burned upon heathen altars, the infants of Papists, Mohammedans, and Buddhists.) enter the Kingdom God. I am fully convinced that all of our race who die in infancy are the objects of GodÕs eternal love, redeemed by the blood of Christ, and born again by God the Holy Spirit. Let others object, if they please. For my part, I am delighted with this. Everything I read in the Book of God convinces me of it. All who leave this world as babies are saved.

 

            A few years ago, I received a lengthy, sad letter from a dear friend of mine in another state. She and her husband married fairly late in life, just two or three years earlier. They had been trying to have a child. You can imagine their elation when they learned that she was pregnant. Then, my dear friend miscarried. You can imagine their disappointment. She wrote to ask, ÒWas my unborn child a human being? At what point is an unborn child a living person? Is my child in heaven?Ó You can imagine my elation as I wrote back and said, ÒYes, your baby is one of ChristÕs jewels, taken from your womb into His everlasting arms and into His glory.

 

            How are they saved? How do they enter the kingdom? — By works? — By the exercise of their will? Of course not! They enter the Kingdom by the mighty operations of GodÕs free grace. And if we enter the Kingdom of God that is exactly the way we will enter it.

 

            How do they receive the Kingdom? Our Lord Jesus tells us that however they receive it, so must we receive it. Certainly, children do not receive it by birth or blood, for we are expressly told in JohnÕs Gospel that the children of God are born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh. All privilege of descent is now abolished, and no baby enters into heaven because it was born of godly parents, neither shall any be shut out because his parents are atheists, or idolaters, or ungodly. If saved, as we assuredly believe they are, infants must be saved simply according to the will and good pleasure of God, because He has made them his own by election, redemption, and regeneration.

 

            Notice this, too. ÒThey brought unto him infants.Ó These young children were brought to Christ. The word means Òbrought and presented.Ó So sinners, if ever they enter into the Kingdom of God, must be brought by God the Holy Spirit, brought by omnipotent, irresistible grace and power, and presented to Christ, presented to Him as the reward of His soulÕs travail. Thus, ÒHe shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied.Ó

 

            Third, our Lord Jesus is a king and His Kingdom a Kingdom that must be received by faith. All ChristÕs subjects want to be His subjects. All His servants are willing, voluntary, bondservants. We serve Him because we want to serve Him. All that is done in the service of Christ is done because of love and gratitude to Him, freely and voluntarily. And, if ever you are saved, if ever you enter into the Kingdom of God, you must come to Christ yourself, and receive Christ yourself. And His promise is, ÒHim that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.Ó

 

            Fourth, the primary thing in this short message is this: — All who receive this King and Kingdom, all who enter into the Church and Kingdom of God must do so as little children. Let me show you what that means.

 

Utter Dependence

 

A little child is completely and utterly dependent. That is as good and clear a picture of faith in Christ as I can imagine. Saving faith is complete, utter dependence upon Christ; dependence upon Him alone as our Savior (1 Corinthians 1:30-31), dependence upon Him Alone as our Lord (Proverbs 3:5-6), dependence upon Him alone as our Advocate and Intercessor.

 

Modesty

 

A little child is humble, modest, unassuming. He knows that he is just a child. Being just a child, he owns nothing. Faith comes to Christ as absolute Lord and King, giving up all things to Him, willingly acknowledging that all things are His.

 

 

            Possessing nothing, faith looks to Christ for everything, offering Him nothing. We trust His expiation, not our experience. We trust His mediation, not our morality. We trust His work, not our works. We trust His sanctification, not our sanctity. We trust His Priesthood, not our piety. We trust His sacrifice, not our service.

 

Tender Love

 

A little child is tender and loving. The younger the child, the more this is true. A young child is crushed by a loving fatherÕs disapproval, or a loving motherÕs frown. He loves mom and dad. He craves nothing more than to do for them, honor them, and enjoy their approval and delight.

 

            So it is with GodÕs saints. I am not saying this is the way it is with religious people, or even with very devoted religious people. But this is the way it is with GodÕs people. Believers love Christ and want to serve and honor him (2 Corinthians 5:14-15; 1 John 4:19).

 

            When my daughter, Faith, was just four or five years old, she did something that illustrates this love-inspired service to Christ. I had been away preaching. As I neared home, I called to tell my wife when I would arrive. As I drove up to the house, I saw that beautiful little girl sitting on the front steps, waiting for her daddy. When I opened the door, before I could get out of my truck, she came running to greet me. As she ran, she pulled her hand from behind her back. She had picked a handful of dandelions for her daddy. As she ran, the wind started to blow. It blew all the fuzzy tops off those weeds. When Faith handed them to me, she started to cry, because her flowers were just ugly stems. I started to cry, too, — because they were the most beautiful flowers I had ever seen. How so? She had picked those dandelions just for me, just because of her love for me, just because she wanted to do something to please me. That made those ugly dandelion weeds, that no one wants, more beautiful to me than any flower on earth. That is just the way GodÕs people serve Him; and that is just the way He receives our wretched attempts at honoring Him for ChristÕs sake (1 Peter 2:5).

 

Sincerity

 

A little child is an open book, honest, sincere, and without guile. Pretense, hypocrisy, and show are things a little child plays. He doesnÕt try to live them. Did you ever listen to a little child pray? He does not try to frame his words in impressive sentences, or attempt to show what he knows. The little child simply tells the Lord God what he wants, what he wants to know, and gives thanks.

 

Teachable

 

Children are teachable. They are not just teachable. They are anxious to learn. Little children do not have to be convinced of anything by argument and reason, science and logic. They simply embrace the things plainly revealed to them. That is why they learn so much so quickly. They never debate the obvious. They do not try to make simple things complex.

 

            When our grandson, Will, was five or six years old, he and his dad were walking around in a store chatting. Doug had been talking to him about God creating all things. As Doug was looking at some doors, Will said, ÒGod made that door.Ó Doug smiled, and began to explain the process of the door being manufactured by men, who got the wood from trees God had made, with the skills God had given them. When his dad finished explaining the details, Will responded, ÒThatÕs what I said, God made the door.Ó He had learned what his father taught him about God making everything. The detailed explanation was not needed.

 

Not Envious

 

A little child is relatively free of envy and ambition. Those things they learn by observing us. Two children who are friends do not even think about what the other is wearing, how big or little their houses are, what kind of car their parents drive, how much money their parents have in the bank, or what their family heritage is. And they pay no attention to the color of their skin.

 

Forgiving

 

One more thing you cannot help observing about children. They are quick to forgive. God give us grace ever to come to Him, as little children, trusting the Lord Jesus Christ, forgiving as we have been forgiven (Ephesians 4:32-5:2).

 

ÒAnd they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when [his] disciples saw [it], they rebuked them. But Jesus called them [unto him], and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.Ó

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

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