WILL GOD SAVE MY CHILDREN?

Of course the answer to that question is I don’t know. I pray the Lord will be merciful but I don’t know if He will or not. Mercy is God’s to give and God’s to withhold. However, the Word of God does give some instruction to parents on raising our children in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Eph 6:4)

Be sure to raise your children under the constant sound of the gospel. Be sure your children are in their Bible classes and in the worship service as often as humanly possible. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. 10:17) God has given us faithful pastors and teachers. See to it that your children hear them. In addition, look for every opportunity to teach your children at home. Tell them of their sin and point them to Christ the Savior.

Be sure to live as an example of faith to your children. Don’t give mere lip service to faith in Christ. Children see through religious hypocrisy faster than anyone. Live what you claim to believe. Live in faith in and love for the Lord Jesus Christ. Set an example you want your children to follow

Be sure to discipline your children. Discipline your children in love “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” (Prov. 13:24) “Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.” (Prov. 19:18) Discipline your children wisely and not too severely. “Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath.” (Eph. 6:4) Eli was a believer who worshipped God with his family and set an example of faith for them, but Eli’s sons were rebels because Eli did not discipline his sons. He “restrained them not.” (I Sam 3:13)

Pastor

He that believeth on the Son HATH EVERLASTING LIFE”– John 3:36

The text does not say, “He that believeth on the Son SHALL HAVE LIFE”, but rather. . . “HATH LIFE”. He that believeth already has eternal life. That is why he believeth! Faith is proof of life. Just as a dead man cannot breathe, neither can a dead sinner believe. Just as a dead man cannot speak, neither can a dead sinner call on the Lord. Just as a dead man cannot see, hear nor feel, neither can a dead sinner see God’s glory, hear God’s Word, nor feel his need of Christ. Just as natural life begins at conception, even so, spiritual life begins when the Seed or Word of God is conceived in the heart by the Spirit of God. And that Word is of Christ, the Word incarnate. That Word planted in the heart is the life-giving gospel of Christ. That gospel takes root in the heart, breaks the heart over sin, fills the heart with “new things”, i.e.. love for God, love for Christ, longings for God, Christ, salvation; yes, SPIRITUAL LIFE has begun, “a new creature” has been formed much like that new fetus in a mother’s womb.

You see, faith is not life giving, but proof of life. Faith is not a work for salvation, but a work of salvation. Faith is not what saves us, but is certain proof God has saved us. Faith is not a condition we meet, but the condition God’s Spirit puts in us to “make us meet” (Col.1:12). Is all this important? Do we split theological hairs here? NO! NO! For the Glory of God is at stake! That other (false) gospel says faith is man’s work, man’s will. But no, faith is “not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Eph.2:8). Faith is “according to the working of His mighty power” (Eph.1:19). Therefore, it is “to the praise of the glory of His grace” (Eph.1:6) . . . and not rather “to the praise of our faith.”

Pastor Paul Mahan

FAITH—ESSENTIAL BUT NOT MERITORIOUS

Faith in Christ is essential to salvation. No man will ever be saved, accepted with God, apart from true faith in Christ. You must believe on Christ; or you will perish. But do not ever think that your faith is meritorious with God. Faith is the instrument by which we receive God's blessings; but it is not the meritorious cause of those blessings. The obedience of Christ alone is meritorious with God.