What basics of Christian faith do you need to teach your child?
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To base your child’s faith on a firm foundation, your child needs to know the commonly held beliefs of Christians based on the Bible. These beliefs are essential to Christian faith. The earlier you begin conveying these truths to your child, the greater chance your child will hold onto these truths as an adult.
The Basics of Christian Faith
There are several truths all true Christians can agree on. We may disagree about many particulars, but these basic truths are what we all hold to be evident in Scripture. It’s crucial that your child grasps and accepts these truths as early as possible in his or her spiritual journey. You can convey these truths to your child in everyday conversations, which will help them stick in your child’s mind and heart.
Truth 1: The God of the Bible is three Persons in One.
The God we worship is unified as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There are not separate gods in the Christian faith, but a mysterious and beautiful oneness as three Persons in One. Though the Trinity is a difficult concept even for adults to understand, you must emphasize this all-important truth with your child. Your child will likely accept this truth with the open faith children are known to have.
Scripture reference: Matthew 3:16-17
Truth 2: The Bible is God’s true Word.
As Christians, we believe that God’s Word is literally true. Since God is holy, his Word is holy. This means it is without error, complete, authoritative and inspired by the Holy Spirit. We do not have the authority to pick and choose what we believe from the Bible. Rather, we need to interpret it with the attitude that God’s Word is correct and prescriptive for every problem we face. One of the Holy Spirit’s primary roles is to help us understand Scripture. We can teach our children to ask the Holy Spirit to help us accept and understand the Bible truths.
Scripture reference: 2 Timothy 3:16
Truth 3: All people are sinful by nature.
Though the world says that people are basically good, the Bible teaches differently. The Bible is very clear that we are all conceived in sin – that we are “infected” by sin before we are even born. None of us does good all the time. Our sinful nature will naturally lead us back toward wrongdoing. This is a simple concept you can teach your child. It will be quite obvious to them that they most often want to do wrong rather than what is right. You can teach your child that we are all sinners in need of God’s grace to rescue us.
Scripture reference: Romans 3:23
Truth 4: God desires all people to be saved.
Though all of us are sinners, God wants all people to join his family. God is love, and his love extends to all people, believers or not. He longs for everyone to accept the love he offers. You can teach your child that he or she can never do anything bad enough to stop God’s love. Your child is always welcome to turn to him for comfort, encouragement and love.
Scripture reference: 1 Timothy 2:3-4
Truth 5: Salvation is only possible through the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus.
Without Jesus’ sacrifice, none of us can be saved from our sins. When Jesus died on the cross, he received the rightful punishment for our sins on our behalf. But because he was the Son of God, his sacrifice made a restored relationship possible. His resurrection over death proves he is victorious over sin and the devil. When we believe in him, he transfers this gift of salvation to us. What a precious truth to convey to your child over and over! Teach your child that Jesus came to die and rise for YOUR child. Make it personal. That’s how special your child is to Jesus!
Scripture reference: John 3:16
Teaching Your Child The Basics of Christian Faith
Deuteronomy 11:18-21 tells us to review the basics of the Christian faith with our children on a daily basis. Work these powerful truths into everyday conversations with your children. By doing so, you’ll help these essential truths sink deep into your child’s heart and mind.
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