Let us pray. Father in heaven, we thank you for the opportunity we have again in this day to be together as your people, that we might come together as one body in your presence again, to sit at your feet, to read your word, to sing your praises, to bring our offerings, and to be instructed by your holy word. Father, we thank you for the mercy that you show to us, that week after week, We may gather for worship in freedom, that we may sit at your feet and be taught what it means to be a disciple in our thinking, in our actions, in our living. Father, we pray that you will, by your spirit, apply your word, give us understanding, give us faith to receive it, and enable us, through an obedience, live by it, comfort in the truth of the gospel. Keep us from straying thoughts and sleepiness and bless him who brings your word. Give him strength to bring it clear expression. And father, we pray that it may be in truth. Receive our praise. We pray in Jesus name. Amen. Our scripture reading will be from Matthew 18. read up to verse 14 or through verse 14. Matthew 18. At that time, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said, I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin. Such things must come but woe to the man through whom they come. If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fires of hell. See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my father in heaven. What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the 99 on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth. He is happier about that one sheep than about the 99 that did not wander off. In the same way, your father in heaven is not willing that anyone, that any of these little ones should be lost. I find it an interesting, this is just an observation, an interesting thing that in the context of children, which we are all to imitate their humility of faith, he addresses the concern about sin and keeping in the right way. It's in that context, that we have the story of the parable of the lost sheep. So often that's just put out there as an evangelistic text, and really it's geared very directly to a concern in the church for the little ones, the disciples of Christ. Dear people of God, called to be saints, this afternoon we focus on an issue often raised concerning the doctrine of election, And that is, when godly parents lose children in infancy, what is the status of those children? We have to understand, again, the background to the question. We've seen in the series so far that God has the right to condemn all people, us included, to eternal hell. And there would be no injustice if he did, because all of us have sinned and fall short, present tense, of the glory of God. Yet God in love does not destroy us all, but saves all who believe in Jesus Christ. That salvation is entirely of grace. It's not of works. Even faith itself is a gift of God. And in order to accomplish this great salvation, God sends forth the gospel message so that these lost sheep may be gathered in. Preaching of the holy gospel is the primary means to accomplish that. Anyone, any sheep who hears his voice comes to him. They are chosen from before the foundation of the world. All those whom God has not chosen but has passed by in his eternal decree will not respond. They are not saved. In the hardness of their heart, they will perish in their sins. But everyone whom God has chosen, he works in by his word and spirit to bring them to the enjoyment of their eternal salvation, of an eternal fellowship with him. Assurance of this is given as we see evidence of this come to expression in our daily living. The first evidence, of course, being as we saw, faith itself. Now the question is, in this whole doctrine of election and reprobation, are children included? And of course, I think everyone here would say, of course, yes, why not? But it's not quite so simple. Things, it seems, never are. You see, if only believers can be saved, can children who die in infancy be saved? If they are really too young to give a response. It's a legitimate question that is raised, isn't it? In fact, if you believe that election is by foreseeing, God foreseeing way into the future what people are going to do, if these children are in infancy, can God even see any faith in them? These are not abstract questions. These are questions people ask. Now, in our day and age, as then, many people believe that all children are saved because they believe all children are innocent. They're not guilty of sin. And God would not pass by innocent children. That's what a lot of people believe. And that's the reason for this article. Many people believe that all children who die in infancy are saved because they see children as born sinless, not guilty, innocent. Now, if that were true, it would be wonderful. But there's no basis given in scripture whatsoever that children are born sinless, not guilty, innocent, or that all children automatically go to heaven. Considering the whole nature, the fact that we are born dead in our sin, trespasses, has a lot to say about that. We cannot give as a comfort to people that just because the children, it's children that have died, that they're therefore going to heaven. And we certainly cannot give that kind of comfort to unbelievers when the Bible doesn't. And yet we understand the Bible makes some distinctions. And so, to believers, we can say more. The Bible always distinguishes between the children of believers and unbelievers. Children of believers, from the very beginning, have been included in the covenant of grace. In Genesis 17, God establishes the covenant of grace with Abraham as an everlasting covenant between God and Abraham and his descendants forever. Abraham and his children. This covenant of grace continues in the New Testament as we see in Acts 2.39 where the promise is for believers and their children. And you see this understanding When Paul writes his letters to the churches, he's always including the children in the congregation among those who are called to be saints. He has words addressed to the children. The Bible teaches that all those who are born outside of the covenant circle Those born, I should say, within the covenant circle are to be regarded as clean, whereas those born outside are regarded as unclean. Paul makes this argument, 1 Corinthians 7, 14, that children are holy unto the Lord, even if only one parent is a believer. When it says holy, That means covenantally holy. It means sanctified for the Lord's use, just as vessels in the tabernacle were sanctified. Even the tabernacle itself was sanctified with sprinkling. They were holy in the service of the Lord. Which means children of believers are set apart from the world to be trained, to be servants in the house of the Lord. They were to be trained just as priests who served in the temple were dedicated and trained. They were consecrated to the service of the Lord, even though some of them were not believers. And we understand that. We just think of Hophni and Phinehas, sons of Elam. We understand covenantal membership does not mean that therefore they are automatically saved. It means they're set apart by God unto holiness and call to believe and to exercise godly service. The Lord claims them as his, and he says, I will be a God to them, and they shall be my people. That's a promise made to believers and to their children. Scripture sees children of believers differently than the children of unbelievers. they are to be raised differently. Children of believers, although like children of unbelievers, are conceived and born in sin, the children of believers are separated by God unto the Lord. That's just an understanding we are given in the scripture. Now the question is this, can such children set apart by God, unto his service, if they die in infancy, be saved. Because if they cannot embrace Christ by faith, can they be saved? God chose mercy. to the children of believers as he includes them along with the parents in the covenant of grace. As I've said, he claims the children is his. This covenant relationship must be acknowledged by faith, by parents and by children. But infants cannot, you'd say, understand the matters of the faith as parents can. And since salvation is through faith, well, does that mean that an infant who dies goes to hell? The remonstrance. Remember, those are the people who were protesting the doctrines of grace. They accused the reformed people of saying, no, they cannot be saved. And they accused him of that because, of course, these reformed people who believe that salvation is entirely by grace believe in a doctrine called total depravity. They actually believe children are conceived and born in sin. And so the accusation is this. Many children of believers are snatched in their innocence from their mother's breasts and cruelly cast into hell so that neither the blood of Christ nor their baptism nor the prayers of the church at their baptism can be of any use to them." Unquote. We believe in the doctrines of grace. Do we teach that? We believe that. No. Article 17. Believers whose children die in infancy ought not to doubt the salvation of their children. They want to make it very clear. We don't believe that all children are automatically condemned to hell because of the doctrine of total depravity. We do believe in sovereign election before the foundation of the world. We do believe in a merciful God. And we do believe in a covenant of grace. The reason why they believe that such children be saved is not what the protesters said. The protesters would say, of course, these children go to heaven. They're innocent. They've done nothing wrong. The problem with that, of course, is that makes salvation dependent upon works, something We do, or in the case of infants, we don't do. But the Bible again teaches that all are born dead in sin. We are guilty by virtue of being in Adam. Can God save children who don't understand the mysteries of this gospel? Yes. The reformers who were accused of condemning all children to hell because of the guilt of original sin wanted to make clear that's not what they actually taught. God is able to save all whom he has chosen from eternity. That's why this is in the context of the doctrine of election and reprobation. And he does regardless of age. The Bible is very clear that the salvation of children and their role in history was decided before they were born. Could use the example again from Romans nine, Jacob and Esau, but think of Jeremiah and think of John the Baptist who leaped in his mother's womb, the presence of Christ. Isaiah 44 says, I will pour out my spirit on your offspring, my blessing on your descendants. It's not addressed to all people, that's to the people of God. And the word offspring there literally means, I will pour out my spirit on your little buddies. That's what it means. On your little ones. The same phrase that Christ uses in Matthew 18. That includes them, doesn't it, in this decree of redemption. The Lord can give our infants his spirit. Although they may not have our understanding and comprehension, God can indeed give them the seed of faith planted within. Even though it hasn't come to full flower, that seed can be there by his sovereign grace. Now, normally, at least today, normally, children grow up. And as they come to comprehend these things, they either believe the gospel or they don't. But remember that in the time of this confession was written, Many children died in infancy, in childbirth. And then the question is raised, you see, what comfort can parents have? These children conceived, born in sin, born within the covenant. Well, godly parents. Because of the covenant promises, ought not we believe, doubt the election and salvation of the children whom God called out of this life in infancy? The reason for this is not on their innocence. It is on the basis of the covenant of grace. Notice we said, and confess, godly. parents. Why use that word? Well, godly parents are those who not simply profess Christian doctrine, but they live it. It's possible, you see, to be in the church and not concerned about godliness in life, in work, in play, business, and so on. And that was particularly common back then when churches were parish churches, and all communities were rounded up into the church, and everybody is regarded to hold the faith of the leader of that region. So they're in the church. Good, isn't it? They weren't all godly. They weren't all believers. Godly parents show in their walk that they want their children not simply to be successful in society, to be successful in business, in farming, or whatever, but they want their children to be saved in eternity. They're concerned about their children, not only when they are sick or dying, but they daily uphold their children in their prayers and teach their children, wanting them to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Godly parents do not rest in this until they know that their children are saved under the blood of Jesus and are being, and are well-trained, I should say, for living a life of godly service. One thing you notice about godly parents, they will never talk presumptuously or glibly about the salvation of their children. They seriously want to be sure of salvation for themselves and for their children. You know, work out your salvation and fear and trembling. Proverbs 22.6 says, train up a child in the way that he should go. Even when he is old, he will not depart from it. Godly parents take this kind of wisdom seriously and therefore exert great effort in training in godliness. They try to teach them by example and also by direct teaching of the gospel. Godly parents give their children a thorough Christian education. And if they can't get that at school, they will supplement it at home with readings, further instruction, daily devotions. They will teach their children how to worship in church, how to actually listen to a sermon, how to be involved in prayer, how to present your offerings to the Lord. They will want their children to be sitting with them in worship because they understand that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation. Of course then they would have their children there. They involve their children in the fellowship of other believers, not just other Christian children, but also in the fellowship of mature Christians. and they will help them to avoid friendships that are worldly and harmful in this pursuit of faith. Parents who take these things most seriously are what's being referred to here. There are parents who actually do believe the Bible stories. And they believe that Sunday school will help their children to be better people. But they don't necessarily teach them to make Jesus the center of their life. I have known people within our own circles insist that their children go to Sunday school. go to the youth group and never set foot in a Bible study themselves. They believe it's good for the kids. My daughter-in-law was raised in a family like that. Parents had her go to the church. And her expression is, well, in my case, it took She's a believer, but her parents, we pray for them. But there are parents like that, that's my point. Some parents fill their children's lives with anything that is going to help them be good children, good members of society. They want to provide for the children a good living, a pleasurable life. In our first congregation, all the schools were government schools. And every graduation, we could hear it over and over again, that the purpose of all this training was to make their children better citizens of the Canadian society. Hogwash. For Christians, that's hogwash. unless we mean by that citizens of the heavenly kingdom. A lot of people will provide for their children the abundance of this life and presume all is well, but do little to help them follow or know Jesus and thus prepare them for eternity. Well, parents who live that way, if they have a child who dies in infancy, really doesn't have much comfort, do they? Because they really don't believe the promises of the gospel. They can't really comprehend this notion that their children were made holy in Christ and separated from the world, and that now are therefore with God in glory. Some children of believers grow up not embracing the covenant promises. Esau and Jacob were twin sons of believing Isaac, but only Jacob was saved by no stretch of imagination. Can we come to the conclusion that all of David's sons were saved? Not all who are of Israel are of Israel. There are children who are covenant breakers. And yet that does not change what we are saying here. You see, you cannot apply the comfort given in Canons of Dort 117 to all children regardless of their age. There are a lot of people who do that. They presume the regeneration of all of their children From the day they're born, I've heard this as an argument given as to why we have Christian schools. Well, because my child is elect, period. It's not why you have Christian schools. But there are people who simply believe and they presume that their children are born again until their children give clear evidence otherwise. And they don't. present necessarily their children with a clear message of the gospel. They believe that's the task of the preacher or the elders. I've had people come to me and say, what are you going to do in order to make my children make profession of faith? I said, well, I'll talk with them. Well, what do you do? And the reply was, that's not my job. There's a presumption you see that sometimes people can have. And parents don't always enforce that gospel message. They do not look for positive signs of faith, repentance, and a desire to live godly lives in their children. They simply consider them as saved because they have been baptized and they sit with us in church. This article in no way supports those kind of views. The point here is being made that God's covenant promises are extended to the children of believers, and that when believing parents take these promises sincerely, God normally blesses these promises and these parents so that believing parents, as well as children, walk in the ways of their fathers. They know God's blessing to a thousand generations of those who love him. And when such parents lose a child in infancy, they ought not all of a sudden crumble into doubt and despair. They have to trust God and his sovereign grace, his covenant promises. They're not comforted because, oh, my children were so innocent. They are comforted because of the sovereign grace of God in Jesus Christ and that God in that sovereign grace had included these children in the covenant. Now, we know. That God is most concerned about children. So much so. that he saved the city of Nineveh, quote, because it had many children. He rebukes the disciples who were discouraging children, pardon me, who were discouraging parents from bringing their children to Christ. Matthew 18 indicates to us that the concern of covenant children are very dear to him so that their angels continually see the face of his father in heaven. It is a dangerous tendency if we assume that everybody in the church is on his way to glory. Because in that kind of a climate, many people have no questions about the salvation of children. They're simply not raised. I can remember people being upset about a minister who talked about the evangelization of their children. They couldn't believe it. Of course, evangelization of children simply means presenting children to the gospel. Today it seems that people think all will be saved simply because God is love and we are all good people, not just children, we are all good people. But we must understand, salvation is a matter of grace. Many people today do not know what sin is. They would define sin as breaking the rules of society or the rules of the church or the rules of parents. They simply don't have a good definition of sin. And so they do not know what grace is. Our society has forgotten the great issues of salvation, of eternal damnation, and God's electing grace of someone to salvation. They have forgotten the great themes of mercy. They have forgotten the nature of men as being lost in sin. Our generation has forgotten what it means to tremble before a holy and a righteous God. Oh no, since God is love, he wouldn't harm a flea. So everybody's going to heaven. Go to a lot of funerals. It's just automatically assumed that people are going to heaven. Our forefathers understood the seriousness of man's condition. They understood the urgency of the gospel of salvation. And they would press men, they would press women hard concerning salvation. Not speaking about altar calls, just present the claims of the gospel in an earnest way to people. In their preaching, they struggled, they labored to make sure parents understood their tasks, making their children disciples. James Manton. A Puritan preacher exemplifies this, and I just want a quote from him. Bear with the English. Learn to fear God. That is the best way of providing for your children. We all seek the welfare of our children. You may heap up riches and honor upon them and leave a curse with it. Wicked parents do, as it were, stop the way of God's mercy from descending upon their posterity. At least they do not open a passage and a channel that grace may run down freely and with an uninterrupted course. God often threatens that the posterity of the wicked shall be cut off. You may not only injure your own souls, but your posterity. Oh, for your poor babe's sake, learn to fear God, that you may not leave them to the wrath and displeasure of God. God will require not only the neglect of your own souls at your hands, but visit you for neglecting your children, as you have not taken a course to open a passage that grace may descend unto them. You don't find that much today. In fact, in a large number of churches, when it comes to the presentation of the gospel, we ushered the children out to go to their own church and not sit under preaching of the gospel. But we who believe in the authority of the gospel Parents who fear God can have every confidence that in application of God's word to their lives and those of their children, God's blessing rests. Boys and girls, you should listen. Young people should listen. There is a warning for everyone. You know, when you were a baby, Your parents stood here and were responsible for you. They stood here because you could not stand here yourself. You could not stand here and give evidence of your faith, of your repentance. But because of your children, of your parents, you were included in God's covenant mercy. Now, as you are growing older, boys and girls, As you are growing older, you come to a better understanding and things change. You just can't rely on your mom and dad's faith anymore. You don't get into heaven on the basis of your parents' faith. Do you believe? We long to see evidence of faith. We present you with a gospel. We want to see a believing heart. Not only your parents must walk in faith, you must believe, you must live by faith in Jesus Christ. You're not going to have the same spiritual experiences as your parents. But the question is, do you know their Savior? And what evidence is there of that in your life? Would your living, boys and girls, would your living convict you of being a follower of Jesus? Or would it only convict you of attending worship services? Where the gospel convicts you of sin, don't throw that away. Where the gospel tells you of Jesus, embrace it. Your parents, your elders, and I long to see evidence of faith in your lives. We pray for it. We started baptism and we pray. We long to hear from you a profession of Christ as early as that can be meaningfully done. God himself comes to his church and he wants to see the fruit that she bears him. He has sacrificed his son for the salvation of his people. Boys and girls, you are in his church by virtue of the covenant. By virtue of the covenant, you have been raised and trained in the way of life everlasting, and Savior is looking for fruit in your lives. He's looking for you to embrace the gospel promises. He wants to hear from you a public acknowledgement of him. Because if you do not acknowledge him, then you perish. He wants to see your witness of grace. He wants to see your love for him and for his people. So boys and girls and young men and women, in fact, all of you, is Jesus Christ your savior? Is he your Lord? And how do you show it? Parents, Is your daily living one that promotes godliness and holiness in your children? Is it one which calls them to faith and obedience? I guess this is directed to us as grandparents as well. If our children and grandchildren look at us, do they see us in love with the Lord Jesus Christ? Or do they see us in love with the world and this life? Do they see us concerned with keeping Sunday as a festive day of rest, a festive day of celebration, of worship and praise? And do they see us when we gather for worship, exulting in the presence of God, rejoicing In His presence, enthusiastic, therefore, in the giving of our offerings and singing of our songs, they see a passion in us for Christ. Do they see us loving one another because of the love of Christ? Do they see us involved in growing with the Church, hungering and thirsting after righteousness? Do they see our main concern in life as living in Jesus or rather earning a living? We must not let our living hinder them from seeing the grace of God. We must not in any way, hinder them. Because you know what Jesus says about that. If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. I look back at raising my own children. And honestly, it's but for the grace of God. We have to be fervent in raising our children that they may embrace the covenant promises. God, in his sovereign electing mercy, chooses some unto eternal salvation. And if you enjoy this salvation, then understand this. Your children, by virtue of your salvation, are brought into the realm of the covenant of grace. And when you walk faithfully in the covenant of grace, and you bring your children with you, you may live by the assurances given in the promises of grace. When God says, I will be a God to you and to your descendants after you. Brothers and sisters, let us be faithful in all matters of the covenant.