Question 45: Do you believe that anyone will go to heaven that is not saved (i.e. babies, mentally handicapped, those who have never heard the gospel, etc)?

Answer: I do believe that there will be babies and mentally handicapped people in Heaven who never accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour because they were simply too young to understand. Biblical support for this can be found in the case of the death of King David's infant son. After the child's death, David said he would one day go to be with him (2 Sam. 12:22-23). This shows David's assurance that the baby was safe with God. If this were true for the children of Old Testament saints, surely it is true for the New Testament believer as well. At a certain point in the child's life he becomes personally responsible before God for his relationship with Jesus Christ (often referred to as the “age of accountability”). The Bible does not say at what age or point this occurs, but Jesus encouraged children to come to Him (Luke 18:16), and Timothy was taught the Scriptures as a child with the goal that he come to salvation (2 Tim. 3:15). I believe that this same concept applies to those mentally handicapped individuals as well – but I must also say that many who are labeled as “mentally retarded” do have the capability to understand their sin condition and need for a Saviour and this knowledge makes them accountable to God. The last point of the question – “those who have never heard the gospel” does not apply. The Bible says that no person (who has reached the age of accountability as described above) is without excuse for the gospel. Romans 1:19,20 tells us “Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. ²⁰For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” The Bible tells us that the power and majesty of God’s creation testifies to every human being about Him and makes us each responsible (“without excuse”) to the gospel.