Volume 34
30 August 2009

Issue No. 36

The False Gospel of Prosperity Theology

T.U.L.I.P.

Children's Page

Prayer Page

Weekly Archives

Upcoming Events

THE LORD TAUGHT THE
EVANGELIZATION OF CHILDREN

A. The Lord Jesus Himself invited the little children to come to Him, saying, "of such is the kingdom of God" (Mk. 10:14; Lk. 18:16)

B. The Lord clearly indicated that little children can believe in Himand be saved(Matt. 18:1-14)

1. Jesus called a child to Him and set him in the midst of the disciples as an object lesson.Mk 9:36 tells us that He picked the child up in His arms. The Greek word (paidion) used in Matthew 18:2, 3, 4, and 5 means "little child."

2. The Lord Jesus warned against causing "one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin" (18:6). Here the Greek word used for little ones is micros which means "very little one." The word believe is the same Greek word (pisteuo) as used in John 3:16, Acts 16:31, and throughout the New Testament for saving faith. Very little children, such as the one Jesus held in His arms could be saved.

C. Jesus spoke about the humility of the little children (Matthew 18:3,4). They are usually humble, teachable and trustful; but an adult must become as a little child. To be saved, one must renounce the value of his good works, acknowledge that he is a lost sinner, and receive salvation as a free gift. Since a child soon loses his natural traits of humility, teachableness, and trustfulness, he must be won early.

Many children will receive Christ if they are evangelized at ages four, five or six.

D. The Lord Jesus placed great value on little children (Matthew 18:5 & 10) We are not to look upon children as if they matter less than adults. God appoints a guardian angel for each saved child. He knows and cares for His own children. A child's soul is as valuable in the sight of God as the soul of an adult, for each will live eternally. To win a child to Christ is to save both a soul and a life, since the child still has his whole life to live for Christ.

E. Little children have gone astray (Matthew 18:12,13). The straying sheep mentioned in Matthew 18 is apparently a little child, for verses 12 & 13 are part of Jesus teaching about little children. Lost sheep because of their nature do not come home by themselves. Neither can little children come to Christ by themselves. This parable surely teaches that we should seek straying children at any cost. It is our God given duty to go to them where they are with the message of salvation. Scripture tells us that the shepherd rejoiced when the lost sheep was found. (Luke 15:6-7). May God help us to win so many little children that heaven is kept in continual rejoicing.

F. It is not God's will that little children perish (Matthew 18:14). God loves each child and wants all children to be saved, but He can save them only as we evangelize them.