Children in the Kingdom (Matthew 19:13-15)
We have already seen Jesus use a child to illustrate the humility and submission needed to enter the Kingdom of God. But here we also see that Jesus does not turn away children. At what age can children become a part of the Kingdom of God?
Most people tend to say that a child has to have a certain level of understanding before they can be saved. How dependent is salvation on understanding? How much did you understand when you accepted Christ as Savior and Lord? And, how much of what you understood was due to your intelligence and logical ability? Or, was it actually something you accepted by faith?
Others say that a child has to be older to be able to make the kind of commitment to accept the Gospel. How did you know that your decision was going to last? Was the proof not actually born out over time?
So: If Jesus did not reject children. If salvation is not based on understanding. If only time will tell how any decision plays out. Why would you reject any child who wants to follow Jesus?
The keys with child conversions seem to be:
A desire of the child to follow Jesus, at their level of understanding.
An age-appropriate understanding of guilt, sin, and the need for forgiveness.
Good discipleship and follow-up from the church community as they continue to follow Jesus.
Rather than reject children until they are old enough to “understand,” (and when people tend to lose the child-like desire to follow) we ought to let children into the Kingdom family of the church and help them grow in their understanding, commitment, and faith.
Most people tend to say that a child has to have a certain level of understanding before they can be saved. How dependent is salvation on understanding? How much did you understand when you accepted Christ as Savior and Lord? And, how much of what you understood was due to your intelligence and logical ability? Or, was it actually something you accepted by faith?
Others say that a child has to be older to be able to make the kind of commitment to accept the Gospel. How did you know that your decision was going to last? Was the proof not actually born out over time?
So: If Jesus did not reject children. If salvation is not based on understanding. If only time will tell how any decision plays out. Why would you reject any child who wants to follow Jesus?
The keys with child conversions seem to be:
A desire of the child to follow Jesus, at their level of understanding.
An age-appropriate understanding of guilt, sin, and the need for forgiveness.
Good discipleship and follow-up from the church community as they continue to follow Jesus.
Rather than reject children until they are old enough to “understand,” (and when people tend to lose the child-like desire to follow) we ought to let children into the Kingdom family of the church and help them grow in their understanding, commitment, and faith.
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