Jesus said that it is not the will of our heavenly Father that little children should perish.
How think ye? If a man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if it so be that he find it, verily, I say unto you, he rejoiceth more over that which was lost, than over the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so, it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. Matthew 18:12-14 IV
All versions of the Bible are in agreement on this truth. For example, the Authorized or King James Version (KJV) of the Bible reads as follows:
How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. Matthew 18:12-14 KJV
We can rest assured, then, that Jesus will indeed save all little children. How can we be sure? As Jesus testified, He seeks to do the will of His heavenly Father.
Marvel not at this; for the hour is coming, in the which all who are in their graves shall hear his voice. And shall come forth; they who have done good, in the resurrection of the just; and they who have done evil, in the resurrection of the unjust. And shall all be judged of the Son of Man. For as I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just; For I can of mine own self do nothing; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father who hath sent me. John 5:28-31 IV (KJV)
And since it is the will of our heavenly Father that no little child should perish and be lost, we can be sure that Jesus will not lose any of them.
For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up in the resurrection of the just at the last day. John 6:38-40 IV (KJV)
This means that there are going to be a lot of little children in the kingdom of heaven. For as Jesus has said, of such is the kingdom.
Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them and pray. And the disciples rebuked them, saying, There is no need, for Jesus hath said, Such shall be saved. But Jesus said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven. And he laid hands on them, and departed thence. Matthew 19:13-15 IV (KJV)
And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them; and the disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw and heard them, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the 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, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, and put his hands upon them, and blessed them. Mark 10:11-14 IV (KJV)
And they brought unto him also, infants, that he might touch them; but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them, 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 will not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, shall in no wise enter therein. Luke 18:15-17 IV (KJV)
This is why Jesus tells us that we must become as a little child or we cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven.
At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily, I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever, therefore, shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:1-3 IV (KJV)
For someone to think that little children, who are incapable of choosing for themselves, will be lost is to deny Jesus Christ. And so it is written:
8 And the word of the Lord came to me by the power of the Holy Ghost, saying, Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord, and your God.
9 Behold, I came into the world not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance; the whole need no physician, but they that are sick; wherefore little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin; wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in me, that it hath no power over them; and the law of circumcision is done away in me.
10 And after this manner did the Holy Ghost manifest the word of God unto me; wherefore my beloved son, I know that it is solemn mockery before God, that ye should baptize little children.
11 Behold I say unto you, that this thing shall ye teach, repentance and baptism unto those who are accountable and capable of committing sin; yea, teach parents that they must repent and be baptized, and humble themselves as their little children, and they shall all be saved with their little children: and their little children need no repentance, neither baptism.
12 Behold, baptism is unto repentance to the fulfilling the commandments unto the remission of sins.
13 But little children are alive in Christ, even from the foundation of the world; if not so, God is a partial God, and also a changeable God, and a respecter to persons; for how many little children have died without baptism.
14 Wherefore, if little children could not be saved without baptism, these must have gone to an endless hell.
15 Behold I say unto you, that he that supposeth that little children need baptism, is in the gall of bitterness, and in the bonds of iniquity; for he hath neither faith, hope, nor charity; wherefore, should he be cut off while in the thought, he must go down to hell.
16 For awful is the wickedness to suppose that God saveth one child because of baptism, and the other must perish because he hath no baptism.
17 Wo be unto him that shall pervert the ways of the Lord after this manner, for they shall perish, except they repent.
18 Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear; and I am filled with charity, which is everlasting love; wherefore all children are alike unto me; wherefore I love little children with a perfect love; and they are all alike, and partakers of salvation.
19 For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity.
20 Little children can not repent; wherefore it is awful wickedness to deny the pure mercies of God unto them, for they are all alive in him because of his mercy.
21 And he that saith that little children need baptism, denieth the mercies of Christ, and setteth at naught the atonement of him and the power of his redemption.
22 Wo unto such, for they are in danger of death, hell, and an endless torment.
23 I speak it boldly, God hath commanded me.
24 Listen unto them and give heed, or they stand against you at the judgment seat of Christ.
25 For behold that all little children are alive in Christ, and also all they that are without the law.
26 For the power of redemption cometh on all they that have no law; wherefore, he that is not condemned, or he that is under no condemnation, can not repent; and unto such baptism availeth nothing.
27 But is mockery before God, denying the mercies of Christ, and the power of his Holy Spirit, and putting trust in dead works.
28 Behold, my son, this thing ought not to be; for repentance is unto them that are under condemnation, and under the curse of a broken law.
29 And the first – fruits of repentance is baptism; and baptism cometh by faith, unto the fulfilling the commandments; and the fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins; and the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart, cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God.
May we, then, look together unto the day in which the Lord shall bring again His kingdom upon the earth, a day in which all little children may dwell together with Him in peace upon the earth.
6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.
9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek; and his rest shall be glorious.
9 Therefore after this manner shall ye pray, saying,
10 Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
11 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is done in heaven.
12 Give us this day, our daily bread.
13 And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
14 And suffer us not to be led into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
15 For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
To be continued…
