During our past Vacation Bible School
a mom asked me how a parent knows when their little one is capable of
understanding Jesus’ substitutionary death for sin. And when is the child ready to commit his/her life to accept Him and believe in Him. Well, she didn't
say it in those words. She said, “How do you know when children are ready to
ask Jesus into their heart?”
Well the simple answers are:
1. Are
they asking questions about their relationship with Christ?
2. Are
they aware that their disobedience is sin?
3. Do
they know the only way to heaven is through Christ?
These kinds of discussions with
parents are an indication that the child understands the salvation concept.
I told the mom that I, myself,
accepted Jesus as my Savior at the age of about six years old. My mom and dad
having been saved as young adults didn't know that they were supposed to write
the date down in my Bible. In fact they weren't sure that it was even possible
that a child could understand. But I believed and it has stuck all these many
years. Did I understand everything about Jesus at that time? No. (I still
don’t.) Did I believe as I learned more about Him? Yes. (I still do.)
But I did caution the mom that as
the child gets older he/she may forget some of the exact events of their faith
moment. And that is natural and OK. Because salvation is not based on what we
remember it’s based on belief in what Jesus did not what we did and do.
It’s a
gift of God not by our own works…Ephesians 2:8.
As I get on my soapbox now, I
think some children and adults get confused by us older Christians because if
we’re not careful we will add stuff to the salvation requirements. And if we
are not careful we will be the direct cause of them doubting their salvation.
Requirement 1. If we agree and
acknowledge with our speech that Jesus is the Son of God and our means for
salvation from our sins. If we believe and entrust our now and future with all
our mind, emotion, and will that God the creator of all things raised Christ
from the dead as our substitute for sin then we are saved from the
consequences of our sinful nature. We are saved and rescued from the power and the consequence of
sin in our lives forever. Romans 10:9
Requirement 2. There are no other
requirements.
At the age of 14 when I was told
by well-meaning Sunday School teachers and pastors and visiting evangelists
that:
If you don’t remember the exact date of your salvation you probably
aren't…If you don’t remember the exact words you prayed to accept Christ you probably
didn't… You can be saved in your head and not your heart…If you didn't cry
because of your realization of your sinfulness you probably weren't serious…If
you didn't come forward in church and talk to the pastor it’s probably not
real….etc.…
That was a little confusing to a
teenager who asked Jesus in their heart at 6 years of age. I didn't know the
date as I said earlier. My mom didn't
write it in my Bible and I didn't know I was supposed to recall the date just
that I did have a moment. I didn't remember the exact words just the intent of
my heart. I didn't realize that you could believe with only your head and not
your heart because I lumped it all together with my belief. I didn't cry I just
trusted and believed. I didn't go forward in church. My mother led me in a
simple prayer at home. I wasn't fitting their plan of salvation so I was
feeling doubtful. Until a Godly visiting missionary asked me what I believed to
be true about Christ. I told him I believed that Jesus was God’s son come to
earth. He died on a cross to forgive my sins. He was buried but actually rose
from the dead and went to heaven to sit by God the Father. And that He would
return to collect His children and take them to heaven to be with Him forever.
Then the wise old missionary asked me the one question that my soul needed to
hear,
“What more do you need to
be saved?”
Nothing
Even
if I don’t fit other Christian’s definition of how one comes to belief. I just
have to fit Christ’s definition.
If
I forget everything, my salvation is not based on my memories but on Christ’s
promise.
I only have to believe.
Only believe.
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