There are times when our children’s sin really catches us by surprise. In our shock we ask how could he to do that; where did that come from? The hard truth is that your child began life as an enemy of God. He (or she) was an unregenerate, sinful, rebellious enemy of God. Do you believe this?
If you do, you can have great hope and peace about your child and his relationship to God. If you don’t believe this, then you will have no reason to tell your child what he needs to know to become God’s friend.
Paul teaches in Romans that all have sinned and come short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23) and
that there isn’t anybody who is righteous, not a single one (Romans 3:10). This is also what David says in Psalm 51:5, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.”
Paul sums this doctrine up in Ephesians 2:1–3:
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
Galatians makes things even more specific with regard to the lusts of the flesh we were all born with:
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5;19-21
If you believe what the Bible says about your child, you then have the wonderful privilege of bringing the truth of the gospel to their young lives.
The Bible is clear: your child, as well as you, was born an enemy of God and fully deserving of His wrath. This is not a popular thought today. More often, people see children as innocent victims. If they do something wrong, it is probably just because they haven’t learned better yet (after all, they’re just children), or they have had negative role models.
The Bible’s negative statements about human nature may seem harsh and offensive, but they are true. In this case, the hard truth is the kindest message. The Bible explains the problem accurately, and then it also gives you the right answer to that problem. The answer of hope is that those who are born the enemies of God can know peace with God through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In God’s great mercy you have the opportunity to bring the precious gospel of Jesus Christ to your children everyday. Yes, your children have serious issues. You know why they do what they do. You also know that God is in the business of making his enemies into his friends.
9 thoughts on “How could he do that!?!”
Thank you!!! For this Article, May The Lord Bless you Brother and all your children and Protect your lives from sins, giving to you Wisdom Every Day!
I needed this!
Thank you for this. As a parent and God-parent I need to remember this.
Couldn’t have come at a better time! Thank you!
I ask for prayer for my nine year old granddaughter Im raising she is having a time not listening to us.We have tryed everthing to punish her.I pray for her and she prays for herself . Her gradein school are not good.Teacher said she needs to listen.She can hear.But just doesnt do it.Ive raised 3 kids growed up now.Have taken taken care of my other grandchildren.But have not lost my faith.Pray for us.Her name is Sarrah.Thank u.God bless.I needed this a lot.
It’s been a battle of the mind thinking that because I’ve sinned my children are cursed, but the holy spirit says through your words all of us are sinners and this helps my heart have peace and courage to press on to His promises! Thank you for your obedience. God Bless.
Erman, please check out these verses. They teach that children are not innocent at birth
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. Ephesians 2:1-3
Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Psalm 51:5
Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies. Psalm 58:3
Children, like everyone else are dependent upon the grace of God for salvation. The Bible does not really provide much information here beyond all are born in need of the mercy of God. We are to trust that what God does is right. We can never be totally sure about the salvation of others, so we throw ourselves on the mercy of God that he will extend his grace to whom he will.
Erman, you must have not seen the two references quoted in Psalms 51 & 58. The both clearly speak of infants being born in sin.