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When a Baby Dies
“Is my baby with God now?” What does the Bible say to such a question? What hope does it offer parents grieving the loss of a precious child? The answers are merciful. However, the implications are not simple. Is God a Universalist? Is there salvation after death? What is the role of infant baptism? And what about the doctrine of depravity? If a baby is born into sin, then what? What happens to the unborn -- to the miscarried and the aborted? For pastors looking for biblical grounds to offer comfort and assurance, and for parents seeking solace for their grief, When a Baby Dies offers insights that are rich in hope and grounded solidly in Scripture.
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
53 people want to read
About the author
Ronald H. Nash
49 books39 followersRonald H. Nash (PhD, Syracuse University) was a longtime professor at Western Kentucky University, Reformed Theological Seminary, and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
He was an heir of the theological tradition of Carl F.H. Henry, and was an lifelong admirer and student of Augustine of Hippo, his favorite philosopher.
He was the author of numerous books, including The Concept of God, Life's Ultimate Questions, and Faith and Reason.
He was an heir of the theological tradition of Carl F.H. Henry, and was an lifelong admirer and student of Augustine of Hippo, his favorite philosopher.
He was the author of numerous books, including The Concept of God, Life's Ultimate Questions, and Faith and Reason.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 20, 2017
With book, Professor Ronald Nash attempts to provide a theological basis for the salvation of infants, small children and mental incompetents who die in that condition. In so doing, he provides comfort for grieving Christian parents and closes a hole in his argumentation in his book Is Jesus the Only Savior. In that book, his rebuttal of the doctrine of inclusivism was so thorough that it left some questioning whether there was a theological basis for the salvation of those lacking the mental capacity to believe in Christ. Here he provides that theological basis.
Professor Nash starts out by addressing four flawed views often given as a justification for infant salvation:
1. Pelagianism, the doctrine that people are born morally innocent, without sin.
2. Universalism, the doctrine that all will be saved.
3. Post-mortem salvation, the doctrine that there will be an opportunity after death to hear the gospel and accept or reject it.
4. Baptismal regeneration, in this case, salvation of infants who received infant baptism.
Most of his arguments against these views are fairly strong, but I was hoping for more on baptismal regeneration. I grew up in a denomination that teaches baptismal generation of adults, not infants. Some of the same rebuttals Professor Nash used against baptismal regeneration of infants would apply to this denomination's teachings, as well. Personally, I think his case would be more convincing to someone not already convinced of the efficacy of baptismal regeneration and doubt that the people in this denomination with would find them convincing. That chapter is a decent summary of the issues and may be adequate for the objective of this book, but I think that a much more thorough analysis is needed to do justice to the issues.
Professor Nash follows up with a theological justification for infant salvation from a Calvinist perspective and contrasts it with the same case from an Arminian perspective (specifically, the Wesleyan version). Since the late Professor Nash was a former Arminian, I believe he was well qualified to make this case. To be honest, his argument that Calvinism provides a natural justification for infant salvation is strong. The Arminian doctrine of Prevenient Grace strikes me as a bit of a Rube Goldberg workaround. That said, with respect to Calvinism and Arminianism, I am a fence-sitter. Some passages in the New Testament appear to support Calvinism and others appear to support Arminianism. At this point, I don’t know what to make of that, and desire a more thorough analysis to ultimately choose one way or the other. As with baptismal regeneration, Professor Nash probably provides a decent survey of the issues that may be adequate for the objective of this book.
Professor Nash starts out by addressing four flawed views often given as a justification for infant salvation:
1. Pelagianism, the doctrine that people are born morally innocent, without sin.
2. Universalism, the doctrine that all will be saved.
3. Post-mortem salvation, the doctrine that there will be an opportunity after death to hear the gospel and accept or reject it.
4. Baptismal regeneration, in this case, salvation of infants who received infant baptism.
Most of his arguments against these views are fairly strong, but I was hoping for more on baptismal regeneration. I grew up in a denomination that teaches baptismal generation of adults, not infants. Some of the same rebuttals Professor Nash used against baptismal regeneration of infants would apply to this denomination's teachings, as well. Personally, I think his case would be more convincing to someone not already convinced of the efficacy of baptismal regeneration and doubt that the people in this denomination with would find them convincing. That chapter is a decent summary of the issues and may be adequate for the objective of this book, but I think that a much more thorough analysis is needed to do justice to the issues.
Professor Nash follows up with a theological justification for infant salvation from a Calvinist perspective and contrasts it with the same case from an Arminian perspective (specifically, the Wesleyan version). Since the late Professor Nash was a former Arminian, I believe he was well qualified to make this case. To be honest, his argument that Calvinism provides a natural justification for infant salvation is strong. The Arminian doctrine of Prevenient Grace strikes me as a bit of a Rube Goldberg workaround. That said, with respect to Calvinism and Arminianism, I am a fence-sitter. Some passages in the New Testament appear to support Calvinism and others appear to support Arminianism. At this point, I don’t know what to make of that, and desire a more thorough analysis to ultimately choose one way or the other. As with baptismal regeneration, Professor Nash probably provides a decent survey of the issues that may be adequate for the objective of this book.
July 29, 2025
In 1619, the Canons of Dordt addresses this hard providence: “godly parents have no reason to doubt the election and salvation of their children whom God calls out of this life in infancy.” The great comfort to Christian parents who have lost a child is that God’s promises are for you and they are for your children.
In this book, Ronald Nash comes to the correct and biblical conclusion about the children of believers who die in infancy, but his basis for this has to do with an age of accountability. It is true, as he says, that we are judged for our deeds in the flesh, but God does not save our children because he finds nothing to condemn in them or because they, so to speak, haven't done anything wrong. He saves them because he is the God who keeps his promises and who shows mercy to thousands of generations. To be shorter, God saves our children the same way we are saved, by the precious blood of Christ.
In this book, Ronald Nash comes to the correct and biblical conclusion about the children of believers who die in infancy, but his basis for this has to do with an age of accountability. It is true, as he says, that we are judged for our deeds in the flesh, but God does not save our children because he finds nothing to condemn in them or because they, so to speak, haven't done anything wrong. He saves them because he is the God who keeps his promises and who shows mercy to thousands of generations. To be shorter, God saves our children the same way we are saved, by the precious blood of Christ.
September 17, 2022
Dr. Nash delivers a concise and comprehensive work which answers the question many fail or avoid to address. His time spent discussion on what does not meet the topic, which is found in the first four chapters is a informative session for the inquisitive reader. For the grieving parents, I suggest jumping to chapter five, working to it's completion, and then backtracking.
September 28, 2018
such a helpful, biblical and pastoral book for grieving parents and Christians who seek to help them. warmly commended.
March 23, 2019
A great reformed view of infant salvation that covers a broader scope of the Christian faith than what the title implies.
May 2, 2021
Thorough approach to the question of infant salvation from the Calvinist perspective, but it is not a book I would place in a mom's hands after she lost her baby via miscarriage.
November 20, 2007
The confusing salvation assurance question for every dying baby of every parents was answered in the most biblical and hopeful way.
April 22, 2014
Great book. Nash makes a clear, compelling case.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews