To me the Bible is very clear on those who accept Christ, truly accept him and believe (faith) are saved.  We have the Spirit dwelling in us and although we slip we will make our way back again.  I can see where the wicked and those who have been given an opportunity and rejected Christ will be damned.  But what of the baby, the child who dies......what of the people who do the best they can but have never been told of Christ.  Or perhaps people we know that by all apparent measures are good but have not found Christ?  Were they not chosen? (predestination - unless the Father sends them).  Or since no one will come to the Father except through Christ and since Christ is the final judge, he will look to their heart then?   Or does "through Christ" mean the person must have accepted in faith through grace first?   I read the earlier posts about inerrancy.  In some ways I find the issue similar on this matter.  There are those who paint it black and white...is it?  I don't know that the middle is covered, it seems silent.....not sure that falls under you are neither hot nor cold (and I will spit you out) either.  I am new to the program and excited about the opportunity of learning more.  For now I will go with Christ is the judge, it is not for us to judge.  But it is for us to be a reflection of his love and draw others to him.  God bless you all for being here.  Joe

Hi Joe, i pray all is well with yourself. I do beleve that they key in it all is that our God is Just and whatever he does is Just.

But when it comes to the babychild i believe that the Bible does show us that when it comes to the child/baby that God has made a provision for them. When David in the Old Testament lost his child he went onto say in 2 Samuel 12 v 23 that he will be reunited with his Son.

Also children througout the Bible are symbolic of salvation, just like when Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is reserved for people like this. I also believe that it is important to remember in essence what Hell is - a rejection of Christ which in essence is very very hard for a baby or young child to do.

In regards to people that haven't heard the gospel, know of God, i'm not sure there is such a thing because God says in Psalms and in Romans that God has revealed himself through nature and that nature pours forth the speech of God so that no one is left without excuse, because we have the written scriptures i think it is easy for us to think that unless you have a handheld Bible then you can't be saved but i believe that this is putting God in a box. He says that he responds to faith and i believe that if someone puts there faith in God through nature then they will see more of God, whose not to say that they can have more of a relationship with him than us??

But in regards to everything you have said there is no doubt that God is good and God is just and that has to be what we trust in ultimately.

Hope i may have helped a little