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Julia recently posed a dilemma she is facing with her daughter in this article. It’s a difficult issue, since as Christian parents our duty is to raise our children in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).
When our children reach an age in which they are able to be held accountable for their actions, they often begin to question whether or not to choose a relationship with God. If they seek our assistance in understanding the enormity of this commitment, how can we best help them to assess their readiness?
With children who have mental health issues, the hardest thing to know is whether the individual has the capacity to understand sin as God defines it:
Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin (James 4:17)
Does the person seeking to enter into Scriptural relationship with God truly understand that lying, stealing and other “sinful” choices are condemned by Scripture?
I don’t mean to imply that there is an “out,” however, there are individuals who lack the mental capacity to understand their actions. Therefore, the Scripture gives us the following steps to help us to be able to assess that:
Believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God
Many times verses are taken out of context, however, reading the following verses and concluding the “sum total” of their effect shows the necessity of belief as it relates to salvation. Further, many of these verses show the need for further action beyond belief alone:
Mark 16:16: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned”
Belief here is enjoined, however it is a two part equation – belief and baptism.
John 3:16: “… That whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
Belief is necessary in order to obtain eternal life.
John 8: 24: “… you would die in your sins, if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.”
Belief is an integral part of receiving forgiveness of sins.
Acts 16:31: They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved…”
Here belief is listed alone, but as we see from the other verses in this section, more is required.
Acts 18:8: “… and many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized.”
Again, belief is yoked with baptism.
Hebrews 11:6: “… for he who comes to God must believe that He exists…”
To sum up this section, does the person seeking salvation understand that God does exist and believe that Jesus is the Son of God? Further, do they believe that Jesus died for sin?
Repentance of past sins
2 Corinthians 7:10: “…For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation…”
Note that the text states that true (“godly”) sorrow leads to repentance. The sorrow alone is not the repentance that God commands one to possess in order to fulfill this Scripture.
Luke 13:3: Jesus said, “… but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
To perish is to be “lost,” thus repentance is a key requirement in being the opposite, which is, being saved.
Acts 2:38: “…Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins…”
Each person must repent of their own sins. As much as we as parents might want our children to be saved, each individual person must voluntarily turn from their own wrongs, and seek God’s forgiveness.
Acts 17:30: “… God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent.”
In this context, Paul is contrasting the Old Testament law with the New Testament covenant given by Christ. He states that whereas God “overlooked” the Isrealites sins in past, with the advent of Christ’s blood being shed, a new covenant existed and thus all must repent.
2 Peter 3:9: “… [The Lord] is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”
God does not want any of us to be lost. The word “but” is a contrast word – it shows how the state of being lost can be avoided – by repentance (along with the other things we will show the Bible commands).
Stay tuned for Part Two: Parenting and Salvation: Confession and Baptism
Photo credit: Stock Xchng
