Romans 10:9-13
This morning, 7 children of various ages prayed to recieve Christ at our VBS. Yesterday, 2 others did the same. As I was sharing the plan of salvation with them, I tried carefully not to lead them along or put words in their mouths. Using the ABC's I tried to explain how we are sinners in need of a Savior, all-the-while greatly concerned that these rote quips and repeated prayers were an x+y+z = salvation kind of approach.
Is that all it takes? Is it even fair to drag little children through such equations? Were they really transformed into new creations? Did they even really understand the levity of their sin? Do they realize they have just been granted innocence in lieu of condemnation? Do they know they have now begun a lifelong process of sanctification?
Romans 10:9 makes it pretty simple. Confess that Jesus is Lord. Believe God raised Him from the dead. Romans 10:13 says, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Can little children simply call on that name without knowing all the finer points of theology and have a genuine conversion experience? Are we manipulating impressionable children to do something that is not real, personal conversion to discipleship under Christ Jesus?
All I know is this. As two of the little girls left the sanctuary to tell their teachers and classes what they had done, they were overheard saying, "I'm a Christian now; I'm a Christian now."
All it takes...I believe it takes the wooing of the Spirit who plants the gift of faith in hearts to belong to the Kingdom. I believe it takes total life-surrender to the Lordship of Christ. I beleive it takes a changed life to give evidence of true salvation.
When it comes down to it, however, from the other side of the cross, all it really takes is for one to call on the name of the Lord. All the rest is assumed. Praise God for our new little brothers and sisters in Christ, and pray that their lives from here on will give evidence of inner faith in Jesus Christ alone.
