Raising Faithful Kids: Debunking Misconceptions About Salvation
As a parent, I’ve often worried about my children’s spiritual futures. Will they trust and follow the Lord? How can I guide them towards the Savior without being too pushy? Over the years, God has graciously calmed my anxious heart and clarified my thinking. Here are three common misconceptions about salvation that parents may need to re-examine.
The Power of Repentance and Faith
The Bible teaches that salvation involves both believing in our hearts and confessing with our mouths (Rom. 10:9). This dual process of repentance and faith isn’t just a one-time event; it’s a lifelong journey. True followers of Jesus continually turn from their sin and turn to Christ. Jesus himself reminded us to pray for daily bread and forgiveness of sins (Matt. 6:11-12; Luke 11:3-4). The apostle John described believers as those who regularly receive Jesus (John 1:12), and Paul wrote that all Christians make a habit of calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 1:2).
Teaching Children the Proper Response to Sin
When our children misbehave, we often focus on corrective consequences. However, it’s essential to communicate the truth about their actions. They’ve sinned against a holy God and his good rules. We should lead them towards repentance and, in faith, ask Jesus to forgive them. This is the proper response to sin – always. So why delay in encouraging our children to tell the Lord they’re sorry and ask for forgiveness? Guide them in prayers of repentance and faith from an early age, and pray with them that God would open their hearts to truly believe the good news about Jesus.
Beyond the “Right Words”
In our quest to help our children understand salvation, we might focus on getting them to say the “right words.” But the Bible never provides a word-for-word script for conversion. Instead, it’s about expressing heartfelt repentance and faith. As our children grow, so will their vocabulary and self-awareness. As Christian parents, we’re not only called to explain salvation but also to model it in our own lives. Help your children grow in their understanding of salvation, repentance, and faith, and show them what true Christianity looks like through your own responses to failure.
Embracing the Mystery of Conversion
While the Bible speaks of conversion as a momentous event, our awareness of that moment may be unclear. We might not remember exactly when we went from darkness to light. But that’s okay. What matters is that we’re living as people who practice turning from sin and turning to the Savior. When our children wonder about their own salvation, we can assure them that it’s okay to not recall every detail. Point them to the Savior whose grace and love remain the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8).
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