What Children Need to Know
Mark 10:13,14
And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, "Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them."
Children and Easter. New life and new beginnings. What better time to share the gospel with your children?
But what does a child, or any person, need to know to become a Christian? The following are the basics:
First, children need to be taught who God is and how He loves them. They need to know what sets Him apart from humans.
God is holy; He is perfect. People, however, are not perfect.
God is just; He is always fair. We are not just in all our decisions.
God is love; He desires a relationship with us. That's why He sent His Son. We are not always motivated out of our love for another.
Second, children need to be taught that their sins must be forgiven (see Rom. 6:23). Many parents in this culture of tolerance feel uncomfortable talking about hell. God is patient, but He is not tolerant. His justice calls for an atonement (a payment, a penalty) for people's sins. Our children must have some understanding that their sins can keep them out of heaven. Their sins must be paid for. And that is what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross.
Finally, children need to know that they receive God's forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ (see Eph. 2:8,9).
Faith involves repenting of our sins, turning to God in faith and trusting Jesus Christ to be our Savior and Lord. When we repent, we acknowledge our sins before God and express our sorrow about our sins to Him.
Those are the basics of what children need to know.
Prayer: That God would work in your children's hearts to bring them to Him.
Discuss: How have you done as a couple in explaining the gospel to your children? How can you arrange your Easter activities to take time to explain the gospel to your children?
Visit the FamilyLife® Website