Suffer the little children to come unto me
William MacDonald teaches that children who die before the age of accountability are embraced by God's grace and belong to His kingdom, offering comfort to grieving believers.
In this sermon, William MacDonald addresses the difficult topic of the death of children and offers biblical reassurance about their salvation. He explores the concept of the age of accountability and highlights Jesus’ teachings that affirm children’s place in God’s kingdom. MacDonald encourages believers to trust in God’s providence and find comfort in His sovereign care, especially during times of loss.
Text
“Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:14)
The death of children is always an especially severe trial of the faith of God’s people, and it is important to have some solid moorings to hold us at such a time.
The general belief among Christians is that children who die before they reach the age of accountability are safe through the blood of Jesus. The reasoning goes something like this: the child himself has never had the capacity to either accept or reject the Savior, so God reckons to him all the value of the work of Christ on the Cross. He is saved through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, even though he himself has never fully understood the saving value of that work.
As far as the age of accountability is concerned, no one but God knows what that is. It is clearly different in each case since one child may mature earlier than another.
While there is no Scripture that says specifically that children who die before the age of accountability go to heaven, there are two lines of Scripture that support this view. The first is our verse for today: “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:14). Speaking of children, Jesus said, “…of such is the kingdom of God.” He didn’t say that they had to become adults to enter the kingdom of God, but that they themselves are characteristic of those who are in the kingdom of God. This is a very strong argument for the salvation of little children.
Another line of proof is as follows. When Jesus was speaking of adults, He said, “The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Lu. 19:10). But when he was speaking of children, He omitted any mention of seeking. He simply said, “The Son of man is come to save that which was lost” (Matt. 18:11). The implication here is that children have not wandered away as adults have, and that the Savior sovereignly gathers them into His fold at the time of their death. Although they have never known about the work of Christ, God knows about it and reckons all the saving value of that work to their account.
We should not question the providence of God when He takes children away from us. As Jim Elliot wrote, “I must not think it strange if God takes in youth those whom I would have kept on earth till they were older. God is peopling eternity, and I must not restrict Him to old men and women.”
Sermon Outline
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I
- Introduction to the trial of losing children
- Importance of solid faith moorings
- General Christian belief about children’s salvation
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II
- Explanation of the age of accountability
- God’s unique knowledge of each child’s maturity
- No explicit Scripture but supportive biblical principles
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III
- Jesus’ words on children and the kingdom of God
- Contrast between salvation of adults and children
- God’s sovereign gathering of children
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IV
- Encouragement not to question God’s providence
- Reflection on Jim Elliot’s quote
- Comfort in God’s eternal perspective
Key Quotes
“Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God.” — William MacDonald
“God is peopling eternity, and I must not restrict Him to old men and women.” — William MacDonald
“The Savior sovereignly gathers them into His fold at the time of their death.” — William MacDonald
Application Points
- Trust God’s sovereign care when facing the loss of a child.
- Remember that children belong to the kingdom of God regardless of age.
- Find comfort in Jesus’ promise and God’s eternal perspective.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'age of accountability' mean?
It refers to the age when a child is capable of understanding and accepting salvation, but only God truly knows when that is for each child.
Are children who die before this age saved?
Yes, the sermon teaches that children who die before the age of accountability are saved through Jesus’ sacrifice and belong to the kingdom of God.
Is there a specific Bible verse that guarantees children’s salvation?
No single verse explicitly states this, but passages like Mark 10:14 and Matthew 18:11 strongly support the view.
How should believers respond to the death of a child?
Believers should trust God’s providence and find comfort in His sovereign care and eternal plan.
What is the significance of Jesus’ statement about children in Mark 10:14?
Jesus affirms that children are representative of those who belong to the kingdom of God, highlighting their special place in His care.