-THE GOSPEL-
Our world is fallen.
We live in a fallen world. This means our world is corrupted by sin. The Bible tells us of a God who created everything good, including creating humans, in his image. However, humanity chose disobedience and sin.
Genesis 3:3 tells us, “God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" The first choice given to the first humans, Adam and Eve, resulted in disobedience (sin). Since then, our world has fallen into the consequences of that sin. As a result, we have disasters, disease, and death. Romans 8:20–21 says, “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in the hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”
Although our world is fallen, God’s ultimate plan throughout history is a wonderful rescue.
We are individually fallen, as well.
Not only is our world corrupt, but we are corrupt, too. We inherited the sinful nature of the first humans. We’re all guilty of wrongdoing. According to Romans 3:23, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” A quick examination of your life within the past week will likely show your faults—if not in your actions, at least in your thoughts.
John writes, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). God is so perfect and holy that even a slight amount of sin disqualifies us from a relationship with our Creator.
Jesus is God, and He is perfect.
The Bible says that Jesus was God in the flesh and that He became one of us to save us. Philippians 2:7–8 says that Jesus ”emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
Jesus died in the place of sinners.
Jesus was perfect, fulfilling the obedience we fail at. The Bible tells us that He was nailed to a cross, suffering a cruel and excruciating death. His death was substitutionary. Jesus was a perfect sacrifice in our place, taking the wrath sinners deserve on Himself. Colossians 2:13–14 exhorts, “You, who were dead in your trespasses, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.”
Not only did Jesus die, but He also rose from the dead. The Bible gives hundreds of eyewitness accounts of Jesus’s resurrection. Through His resurrection, we are assured of our own resurrection. Although physical death awaits us, eternal life is promised to those who believe—in and through Jesus’s resurrection.
Repentance is needed.
So, how do we share in this promise of eternal life? We repent of our sin and worship Jesus. To repent means to decide to turn away from our wrongdoings and place trust in Jesus. Christians are saved by grace, meaning there’s nothing we can do to save ourselves. Salvation is a gift. Ephesians 2:8 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” If you repent of your sin you won’t become perfect, but you’ll be forgiven.
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If your child has recently made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ, praise God! This is a great thing and it’s evidence that the Lord has drawn your child to repentance and regenerated their heart that was dead in sin. Here’s a guide to conversations that will help you have assurance of their salvation and lead them toward baptism.
// LOOK FOR HOPE IN JESUS, NOT IN WORKS //
Romans 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Let’s not complicate the gospel. The gospel is simple and young people can understand it. You’re not looking for them to do enough to be saved; you’re looking for evidence that God has saved them. If salvation for them is something that they did (sinner’s prayer, be good, etc.) then begin to gently steer them toward the true gospel: that Jesus did everything. The gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and his free gift of salvation through his work, not ours.
Read Ephesians 2:1-10 and talk about it to make sure they know that Jesus’ work saved them. A key thing to look for is an understanding of their need to be saved because of their sinfulness.
Ephesians 2:1-10 [1] And you were dead in the trespasses and sins [2] in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—[3] among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. [4] But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, [5] even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—[6] and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, [7] so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. [8] For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [9] not a result of works, so that no one may boast. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
// LOOK FOR REMORSE, NOT GOOD BEHAVIOR //
Many kids will be tempted to think that they need to be perfect now that they have become Christians. Assure them that they will continue to sin and mess up for the rest of their lives.
Romans 7:19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
The best evidence of whether someone is saved or not isn’t that they want to go to heaven. I mean, who doesn’t want to go to heaven? If kids are given a choice of heaven or hell, they will choose heaven. Perhaps the best evidence of conversion is someone’s view of their own sin. With a new heart, our sin brings grief and remorse to us and leads us to have a desire to repent of it. To repent means to change one’s mind or direction. Look for a change of attitude toward sin and Godly remorse. This is evidence of the Spirit dwelling in your child. Talk to them about this and let them know you’ll be watching and helping them see their sin and how to continually repent of it.
2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
// LOOK FOR THE SACRAMENTS TO BE THEIR TRUE PROFESSIONS OF FAITH //
Baptism and communion are big deals and they're God’s way for us to let the world know we have repented and been born again. Encourage your child to view their baptism as the primary way they let people know that they’re Christians. In this period of figuring out their faith, it’s okay to have some gray area. Utilize it for discipleship and lead them toward a right understanding of baptism and communion.
Romans 6:4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Baptism is a ceremony of proclamation that represents us dying to our old sinful selves and being raised (as Jesus was raised from the dead) as new creations.
Baptism is the one time celebration of conversion. Communion, however, is the continual reminder of what it took to save us: Jesus’ death. It’s a continual opportunity for us to repent of the sin that we commit even after conversion.
1 Corinthians 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Review these ideas with your child and commit to a time of prayer and examination. The Lord will help make conversion clear. Of course, please communicate with those in your church and your pastors about this process and let your church family help. Above all, celebrate the sovereign Lord’s work in your child!
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If you have repented of your sin and trusted in Jesus for salvation, the Bible makes it clear that you are saved! And those who are saved are part of a global family called the church. We would love to hear about your decision to worship Jesus and help you. Just click below to fill out a short form—one of our pastors will gladly follow up with you!