Life’s Beginning and God’s Valuation of the Unborn

Scripture establishes that human life commences at conception, with God actively involved in forming each individual. In Psalm 139:13-16, David declares under inspiration: “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” This passage reveals God’s intimate knowledge and purposeful design from the earliest stages, viewing the unborn as fully human and valued.

Jeremiah echoes this divine oversight: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5). Here, God’s foreknowledge extends to the pre-born state, appointing roles and demonstrating personal investment. Exodus 21:22-25 further protects the unborn, prescribing penalties for harm: “When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman’s husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.” This law equates injury to the unborn with that to the born, underscoring equal worth.

These texts affirm that God regards the fetus as a living person, not mere potential. Thus, any loss—through miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion—impacts a being under His care. While Scripture does not explicitly detail the eternal fate of such lives, these principles suggest God’s justice extends to them, as He does not overlook the vulnerable.

The Nature of Sin and Its Implications for Infants

Sin, as defined in Scripture, encompasses any deviation from God’s standards, damaging the relationship with Him. The Hebrew chattath and Greek hamartia both convey missing the mark, failing to meet perfection. Genesis 6:5 states: “Jehovah saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” This mental bent toward evil persists post-flood: “And when Jehovah smelled the pleasing aroma, Jehovah said in his heart, ‘I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.'” (Genesis 8:21). Jeremiah adds: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).

Inherited sin originates from Adam: “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned.” (Romans 5:12). This Adamic sin affects every descendant at conception, rendering all imperfect and subject to death. Romans 5:18 clarifies: “Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.” Christ’s sacrifice addresses this inherited imperfection.

However, sin manifests in multiple forms: words (Job 2:10: “In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”; Psalm 39:1: “I said, ‘I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence.'”), actions (Leviticus 20:20: “If a man lies with his uncle’s wife, he has uncovered his uncle’s nakedness; they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless.”; 2 Corinthians 12:21: “I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.”), omissions (Numbers 9:13: “But if anyone who is clean and is not on a journey fails to keep the Passover, that person shall be cut off from his people because he did not bring Jehovah’s offering at its appointed time; that man shall bear his sin.”; James 4:17: “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”), and inner thoughts (Proverbs 21:4: “Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin.”; Romans 3:9-18: “What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.’ ‘Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.’ ‘The venom of asps is under their lips.’ ‘Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.’ ‘Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.’ ‘There is no fear of God before their eyes.'”; 2 Peter 2:12-15: “But these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant, will also be destroyed in their destruction, suffering wrong as the wage for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, while they feast with you. They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing.”).

Lack of faith constitutes sin: “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” (Hebrews 3:12-13); “And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.” (Hebrews 3:18-19).

Unborn babies and infants, while inheriting Adamic sin, do not commit personal sins in word, deed, omission, or thought, lacking capacity for such. This distinction informs considerations of their fate.

John MacArthur’s Position and a Scriptural Correction

John MacArthur maintains that all infants dying in infancy receive salvation and enter heaven. In his sermons, he argues they are not morally neutral but sinful through Adam, yet God applies Christ’s atonement sovereignly, as they cannot exercise faith or rejection. He posits death results from inherited sin, but grace covers those without opportunity for personal rebellion.

The provided quote—”they enter and leave the world without being touched by sin”—appears partial or contextualized differently in his teachings. MacArthur affirms original sin’s touch from conception, stating infants die due to it, but grace saves them. The correction lies here: Scripture confirms inherited sin at conception, covered by Christ’s ransom for the repentant or incapable. Romans 5:12-18 establishes this coverage, extending hope to infants via God’s mercy.

Personal sins—those of commission or omission—do not apply to infants, aligning with MacArthur’s point on lack of willful transgression. However, unrepentant willful sin, inapplicable here, remains uncovered. God’s foreknowledge, as in Canaan’s condemnation (Genesis 15:16: “And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”), demonstrates justice in judgment.

The Resurrection as God’s Means to Undo Death

Scripture promises a resurrection defeating death’s effects. Acts 24:15 declares: “having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.” This includes the unrighteous—those without opportunity for faith—offering judgment based on future conduct.

Job expresses this hope: “If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my service I would wait, till my renewal should come. You would call, and I would answer you; you would long for the work of your hands.” (Job 14:14-15). God’s longing to restore reflects His character: “But you, O Jehovah, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” (Psalm 86:15).

The resurrection encompasses all, with principles suggesting inclusion for the unborn and infants, as God’s justice ensures opportunity for life.

Distinguishing Resurrection Hopes: Heavenly and Earthly

Scripture delineates two hopes for the redeemed: heavenly for a limited number ruling with Christ, earthly for the majority inheriting a renewed paradise.

The heavenly hope involves selection to co-rule: “To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” (Revelation 2:7); extended to kingship in Revelation 5:9-10: “And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.'”

The earthly hope fulfills original intent: “And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'” (Genesis 1:28). Isaiah 45:18 affirms: “For thus says Jehovah, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited!): ‘I am Jehovah, and there is no other.'”

The new earth renews creation: “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.” (Isaiah 65:17); “As the new heavens and the new earth that I make shall remain before me, says Jehovah, so shall your offspring and your name remain.” (Isaiah 66:22). Matthew 19:28 speaks of renewal: “Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.'”

Romans 8:18-21 describes liberation: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”

Peter adds: “But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:13). Revelation 21:1-5 envisions: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’ And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.'”

This renewal aligns with God’s purpose, offering eternal life on a perfected earth for most, while the heavenly class governs.

Abortion and God’s Forgiveness

For those who have undergone abortion, Scripture offers repentance and restoration. Luke 5:32 records: “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” Isaiah 1:18 invites: “Come now, let us reason together, says Jehovah: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”

Psalm 51:17 assures: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” Philippians 4:6-7 promises peace: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Psalm 130:4 affirms: “But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.” God’s mercy extends to sincere repentance, healing emotional wounds through Christ’s sacrifice.

God’s Character in Light of Difficult Texts

Certain Old Testament accounts may seem to challenge God’s loving-kindness, but examination reveals justice. For instance, the flood eradicated pervasive wickedness (Genesis 6:5), preserving righteousness through Noah. Commands against Canaanites addressed entrenched evil (Genesis 15:16), with archaeology confirming practices like child sacrifice.

God’s actions reflect holiness and protection of His people, consistent with mercy shown in opportunities for repentance (Jonah 3:10: “When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them.”).

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