Discerning Salvation Through Biblical Understanding of Children
Discerning Salvation Through Biblical Understanding of Children
Many tend to apply these verses strictly to the protection of physical children. This is common in conservative circles, where there is a strong emphasis on societal corruption, child trafficking, and moral decay. While these issues are real and concerning, such an interpretation of Scripture reveals a lack of spiritual discernment.
The Lost Man’s Religion: A Worldly Interpretation
The lost man’s religion is one of confusion, where he cannot grasp the deeper truths of Scripture because he has not experienced them. Jesus said in John 3:3, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." This means that without being regenerated by the Spirit of God, one remains spiritually blind. The misinterpretation of children in the Bible is a key indicator of this blindness.
The Saved Man’s Understanding: Spiritual Children of God
In contrast, the born-again believer understands that Jesus is speaking of those who have been spiritually reborn. John 1:12 states, "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." This clarifies that a child of God is not determined by physical age but by faith in Christ and the transformative work of salvation.
When Jesus says in Matthew 18:3, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven," He is not commanding people to remain in a state of physical childhood. Rather, He is speaking of the necessity of spiritual rebirth—a humbling of oneself to trust in Him fully, just as a child trusts a loving father. The saved man recognizes this because he has experienced it. It is not just doctrine to him; it is his reality.
Spiritual Blindness and the Hidden Truth
The inability to recognize this truth is not a matter of mere theological disagreement—it is a sign of spiritual blindness. Jesus made it clear in Matthew 13:11, "Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given." The unregenerate mind cannot comprehend spiritual truths because they are hidden from them.
Paul echoes this in 1 Corinthians 2:14, stating, "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." Those who insist that Jesus is speaking only about physical children reveal that they have not been spiritually awakened. They lack the discernment that comes from being born again.
Conclusion: A Litmus Test for Salvation
This distinction in understanding serves as a powerful test of whether someone has truly been born again. If a person cannot grasp that children in the New Testament refer to born-again believers of any age, it is because they themselves have not been born again. The truth remains hidden from them because they have never experienced the transformation of becoming a child of God.
In a world filled with moral decay and deception, many claim to follow Christ while lacking true spiritual rebirth. This simple yet profound test—how one interprets the identity of God’s children—can serve as a revealing indicator of whether one is truly saved or still lost in darkness.