SALVATION OF CHILDREN
Background
As children learn about Jesus, His life, His death, and His resurrection, they learn to respond to God's love. Their salvation is desirable, for Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these" (Mark 10:14, NIV). On another occasion He said, "Unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3). A child is ready for commitment to Christ as soon as he or she understands the meaning of sin and that Jesus is the Savior from sin.
Helping Strategy
You may explain to the child, as simply as possible, the way of salvation. Use the Bible but make sure the child understands the relevance of each Scripture in the unfolding of God's plan. If you feel that the child understands, lead the child in a prayer to ask Jesus to forgive him or her and to come into his or her heart as Savior. The following outline might be of help as you explain the Gospel:
1. What is God's plan for you? (Peace and life.)
This is God's world. He made it. He made you. He wants you to have peace and happiness. In its very first chapter the Bible says: "God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good" (Genesis 1:31). But when we read about all the trouble in the world—the unhappiness, the badness—we realize that something has gone wrong in God's world.
2. Why can't we live according to His plan? (Sin.)
Instead of living our lives to please God, we have been pleasing ourselves: "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way" (Isaiah 53:6). This is what the Bible calls sin. Sin is insisting on our own selfish way instead of taking God's way. The Bible says that, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
3. How does God solve this problem of our sin? (The cross of Jesus.)
When God's Son, Jesus, died on the cross, He took the punishment for sin which we deserved. Through His death we can be forgiven: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever