As much as many of us love our children and grandchildren, and want God’s best for them, we cannot make the most important decision of their lives for them – the decision to believe on or reject the Lord Jesus Christ alone as their personal Savior. We firmly believe that human life begins at conception (Psalm 139) and we are opposed to abortion. However, abortion (murder) is a forgivable sin (1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Revelation 21:8). God forgave Moses and David and others for murder but it does leave lasting consequences during this life.
Death and Resurrection. Christ died for all the sins (lawless behavior) of all the little children of the world (as the song suggests). Thankfully, He arose again bodily from the dead on the third day, and can save anyone and everyone who places his/her faith and trust in Him alone for deliverance from everlasting condemnation in the lake of fire (John 3:16; Revelation 21:8). We are NOT saved by our good works lest anyone should boast (Ephesians 2:8, 9; Titus 3:5).
Disservice. We believe that well meaning parents, who have their children sprinkled as babies, are doing a great disservice to them. Most of them believe that this causes babies to find more favor with God than those who haven’t gone through this ritual. Baptism by immersion is to follow faith (See Acts 8:35-39). It identifies us with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection (Galatians 2:20). It enables us to have a good conscience before God (1 Peter 3:21), and is an expression of our obedience to God (Matthew 28:19 20). There are no examples of “infant baptism” in the Bible.
Offending Children. Jesus said, “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea…and then into the lake of fire where their worm [sinful nature] does not die, and the fire is not quenched.” (Mark 9:42, 44, 46, 48; See Matthew 25:30, 41, 46).
Real Places. Yes, according the Jesus, heaven and hell are real places to which people will go someday to spend eternity. God desires that all human beings be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). But not all will be saved because most people love spiritual darkness rather than light (John 3:19-21).
God’s Children. Since all of us belong to the human race (Acts 17:26), and came from our first parents, Adam and Eve, we all are physically related. But we are NOT all related spiritually. Believe it or not, we all start out our physical lives as “children of the devil” (John 8:44; 1 John 3:9, 10), and we need to be “born again from above” (John 3:3-7) before we can become the spiritual children of God.
Little Angels? As “innocent” and lovable as little babies appear to be, they all have a sinful nature (disposition) that they inherited from us, their parents (Psalm 51:5). Those who deny that they have one are just deceiving themselves (1 John 1:8). Even the Apostle Paul talked about the struggle he had with his sin nature (Romans 7:15-25). Thankfully, Christians don’t have to keep on sinning – acting lawlessly (1 John 2:1 ff). We can/should live victoriously over our 3 spiritual enemies (1 Corinthians 10:13). [1]
Potential. Christians have the potential to act as badly as they did before they were saved, and sometimes do act this way. They are “carnal Christians” (1 Corinthians 3:1 ff; Galatians 5:19-21) who could die prematurely (Acts 5:1ff; 1 Corinthians 11:30; James 5:19; 1 John 5:16). We have “potential years” and “actual years.”
The Minnesota Crime Commission declared this of babies – “Every baby starts life as a little savage. He is completely selfish and self-centered. He wants what he wants when he wants it: his bottle, his mother’s attention, his playmate’s toys, his uncle’s watch, or whatever. Deny him these and he seethes with rage and aggressiveness which would be murderous were he not so helpless. He’s dirty, he has no morals, no knowledge, no developed skills. This means that all children, not just certain children but all children, are born delinquent. If permitted to continue in their self-centered world of infancy, given free reign to their impulsive actions to satisfy each want, every child would grow up a criminal, a thief, a killer, a rapist.” [2] Wow! That is quite a statement, especially coming from a secular source.
Action. From an early age, let your children and grandchildren know that they are sinners like you are, and that they need to be saved by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ alone, Who died for their sins, was buried, and rose again bodily on the third day. As a parent, tell your child about Someone you know personally, not Someone you know about. Make sure of your own salvation first before trying to help them. Why should God let you into His heaven? Is there anything you could do or fail to do that would cause you to lose your salvation? If so, what?
Help. We’re here to assist those who are teachable, willing to change, and grow spiritually (2 Timothy 2:2, 15; 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 3:18). If you have questions and/or comments, We can be reached here or through our website: www.keleypeach.com. You can help us reach others by LIKING and SHARING this with those in your circle of influence. To receive future articles as they come out, click on the notification Bell or Follow.
[1] Overcoming Our Spiritual Enemies –
[2] MN Crime Commission –https://www.family-times.net/illustration/Self-Centered/201632/
Gospel Presentations: https://kelseypeach.wordpress.com/2022/02/16/gospel-presentations/
Biblical Discipline –
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Used by Permission. All rights reserved.
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