Just a little something I wanted to add on the topic of salvation.
Mark Chapter 10
13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
** I don't think that Jesus is saying here that we have to accept the gift of salvation when we are a child but as a child. Trusting, believing, that is faith.
Wanted to share my DS's salvation experience to paint a better picture. Now he has always been in church and he goes to a Christian school where they talk about this a lot. In K5 they evidently were really talking a lot about salvation and the Book of Life, etc. He knew who Jesus was, what He did, and why but he hadn't made that decision. So one day on the way home from school (he had brought this topic up for several days but my DH and I had decided we weren't going to push him, he would make the decision when he was ready) he asks me "mom, is my name written in the Lambs Book of Life?" Instead of going into a long rant telling him no, etc....that it didn't happen until you asked Jesus to by your savior, etc. I asked him what he thought. Asked him how your name gets there, why it needed to be there, to make sure he understood. Now a lot of small kids understand the concept of sin but they just can't get a grasp on "yes I am a sinner" I think God brings them to that accountability point at varying stages. DS and I went through the whole thing, mostly me asking him questions and him telling what he understood, something I think he needed to talk out as he seemed to be wrestling with this issue himself. He finally said, "mom, can I pray and ask Jesus in my heart" So when DH got home, that is exactly what he did.
Now does that mean that DS will never sin, no. There are lots of things in the Bible he doesn't even understand yet. But he does grasp the most important point......Yes, I am a sinner and I can't save myself. Jesus paid the price for me so I am trusting in him.
He wanted to get baptized but when he looked at the baptismal he got scared so we didn't push that issue either. Figured when he was ready, he would do it. Right before the school year ended this year he said, "I want to talk to pastor so I can get baptized" so on his own he went and talked to our pastor. Our pastor is great and loves to see kids come to the Lord but he also wants to make sure they understand.
The evening he got baptized, (pastor always asks them something) and he asked DS "Micah, tell us how you got saved" DS replied "well, the Lord got me saved". See he knows that it is nothing he did, the Lord was working in his heart and drawing DS to Himself.
When I think about this whole experience (which stretched over a 2 year time frame) I get all happy and teary eyed at the same time.
As little children.....that's how we are to believe. Sometimes as adults we are so analytical that we make everything to complicated......and want to read more into things than there actually is.....thinking surely it couldn't be so simple, surely I have to do more.
EXACTLY. This is what causes me to question why homosexuality is made out to be a big deal with so many Christians, yet no one is running around saying the overweight are damned to hell.
I had know idea when I chose that for my example. And to be clear, I have nothing against smokers except that it is bad for you and since my FIL died from complications due to his habit, I'd love to see people be able to quit.
