How To Explain Salvation To A Child: 6 Tips For Sharing The Good News

6 Tips on how to explain salvation to a child while truly getting through to their hearts.

As a mom there are a multitude of things that I desire for my children…

To be kind and generous.

To have a humble heart.

To stand up for what is right.

To place others before themselves.

To seek wisdom when making decisions.

To take a break from running around like the energizer bunny on occasion.

But there is absolutely nothing greater than my desire to see them come to a saving faith in Christ. My heart’s plea is for both of them to see the beauty of and humbly accept the gracious gift of salvation they’ve been offered and live a life that will honor their Maker.

Explaining salvation to a child should be our top priority as parents, but unfortunately often gets shuffled to the very bottom of the list in the midst of life’s distractions and busyness.

What would our families look like if we truly began to grasp what is of greatest importance and joyfully began sharing it with our children?

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How To Explain Salvation To A Child

If you are wondering how to explain salvation to a child- in a way that they can wholeheartedly grasp- please rest assured that it is not difficult. Whether you are sharing the salvation message for preschoolers or high schoolers the essence remains the same. The beauty of the gospel is that it can reach the most wretched sinners, but is equally accessible to a young child.

In fact Jesus Himself mentions the importance of child-like faith on more than one occasion. “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven” Matthew 19:14 ESV.

So where do we start and how do we do it?

Well, as a whole our society tends to value people based upon measurable standards and outward appearances- talent, success, intellect, wealth, and beauty. Very rarely do we dig down any deeper.

God, however, values the heart.

To reach our children with the message of salvation we’ve got to get through to their hearts.

6 Tips For Explaining Salvation To A Child

I’d like to share with you 6 tips for leading a child to Christ. Obviously God is the One who draws people to Himself, but He can certainly use us as vessels to reach our children if we are willing to faithfully seek and follow Him in raising our children for His glory.

1. To Explain Salvation To A Child- Make It A Matter Of The Heart

When it comes down to it explaining salvation to a child isn’t much different than explaining it to anyone else. We should pray for wisdom and seek God’s leading, and then we should aim for the heart.

“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”

Proverbs 4:23

The Bible refers to the heart as the central processing station of every aspect of life. Our thoughts, speech, emotions, will, decisions, reactions, etc. are each a response to what is already taking place inside of our hearts.

Our children need to understand that at the core of their heart is a sin nature that separates them from a holy God.

A biblical definition of sin= “an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law” (Oxford Languages Dictionary). In simple kid friendly terms sin is making a bad decision or having a wrong thought in rebellion against God.

We may be quick to defend our children’s innocence, but it doesn’t take much to expose our children’s (and our) selfish motives right from the start. Children don’t have to be taught to lie, it is a natural response of a heart bent towards sin in an attempt to cover up a wrong.

One of the easiest ways to help a child understand their heart condition is to take a look at the 10 Commandments together (Exodus 20).

As you are reading God’s Word explain to them that this is His measuring stick of perfection- and we all fall short. We have all lied, taken something that doesn’t belong to us, selfishly desired something that another has, dishonored our parents, etc.

Reading God’s law will help open your child’s eyes to their own sinfulness. Once he grasps this much, you can move on to sharing the wonderful news of the gospel!

2. To Explain Salvation To A Child- Start At The Beginning

From the moment Adam and Eve first ate the forbidden fruit mankind has continually repeated the cycle of rebellion against God. The bent of every man, woman, and child’s heart is to selfishly pursue our own interests.

If we take a step back and look at the Bible as a whole we see a single strand woven throughout all of its pages: Fallen people in desperate need of a Redeemer. And a merciful God who sent them a Savior in the gift of His Son, Jesus.

We can explain to our children that the amount of love God holds for them is so much greater than they can even fathom. He is a perfect, loving, and compassionate Father who desires nothing more than for us to turn away from our sin and find rest in Him. But He is also holy and cannot be in the presence of our sin.

The very reason that He sent His perfect sinless Son to the world was for the sole purpose of dying the death that we deserve. Our sin requires a penalty and Jesus willingly stepped in to make our payment.

If we confess our sin, accept Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross on our behalf, and believe that on the third day He rose again (and defeated death)…we can be assured of an eternity spent with Him in Heaven.

Through His gracious act we may be forgiven and discover lasting joy.

Salvation doesn’t happen the moment a child believes in the existence of God… or even when he acknowledges that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. Salvation takes place the moment a child understands that he is a sinner that needs saving, humbly repents, and accepts God’s amazing gift of grace.

A true dependence upon Jesus to save us can’t help but result in a changed heart and a changed life.

  

3. To Explain Salvation To A Child- Use Visuals And Story Form

Children (as well as us adults for that matter) often benefit from the aid of visuals and stories to help them fully understand something. Remember that even Jesus used parables to help further the understanding of the crowds he was teaching.

Reading books that clearly share the gospel message may be quite helpful for children. And for some reason certain allegorical reads (written by some incredibly gifted authors) seem to be exceptionally good at explaining the gospel to a child.

My husband and I have read a multitude of books to our children since they were born and there are a few off the top of my head that do a tremendous job of sharing God’s story of redemption.

The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe (Chronicles of Narnia Series)

In his well-known The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe from the Chronicles Of Narnia series author C.S. Lewis takes children on quite the adventure through the eyes of four siblings in the land of Narnia. Lewis captivates readers through his engaging storylines all the while retelling the true story of our sin nature and need for a Savior.

The parallels of Aslan’s character to Jesus are sure to help a child better grasp the gentleness yet fierce protection, love, and holiness of our Savior.

The Lightlings

Beloved author Dr. R.C. Sproul crafted a beautiful tale in The Lightlings. This allegorical story clearly depicts the creation account, fall of man, and our need for a Redeemer.  

Children will easily grasp the symbolism which may lead to some “light bulb” moments as they connect the dots of this make believe story to the richness and beauty of the gospel.

Little Pilgrim’s Progress (Illustrated Version 2021)

We read Helen Taylor’s original Little Pilgrim’s Progress a few years back with my daughter and recently bought her the new illustrated version for Christmas. The illustrations are stunning and the story is a precious work of art!

This retelling for children of John Bunyan’s classic allegory truly does the original justice, and speaks volumes to children in a way that they can comprehend. This book clearly describes our sin nature, as well as our enemy’s tactics, temptations and difficulties we are likely to experience, the grace of our Savior, and forgiveness of our Father.

Our family has genuinely enjoyed following young Christian on his journey to the Celestial City, and I believe that yours would too.

Children’s Stories

J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) was an English evangelical Anglican bishop during the 19^th century gifted in his ability to teach and preach God’s Word. He had a heart for children.

Children’s Stories is a compilation of six sermons he preached to children to share the hope of Christ and equip them to live a life that will honor Him. These rich truths pulled straight from Scripture will encourage children and adults alike.

 Related: WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT PARENTING?

RAISING A GODLY DAUGHTER: 7 TIPS FOR PARENTING GOD’S WAY

4. To Explain Salvation To A Child- Ask And Answer Questions

Having conversations with our children regarding faith issues is a wonderful way to get their wheels spinning. No matter their age we can easily engage in conversation by asking them questions to help shift their thoughts to what is of greatest importance.

 A simple question can open up so many doors when it comes to sharing the hope of Christ with our children.

Questions To Ask

“Buddy, why did you make that decision?”

“Does our selfishness truly bring about lasting satisfaction?”

“How do we know what is true?”

“How do we know that Jesus is the only way to Heaven?” 

“Why is it important for us to stand up for what is right?”

“Do you understand why we had to discipline you?”

“Do you know what God’s Word says about that topic? Would you like to look it up together?”

“Why do our bad choices have consequences?”

Obviously these are all quite random questions, but they are each ones that I have asked my own children, and thankfully they’ve prompted some wonderful discussions that so easily transition into sharing the gospel or some kind of hope found in Scripture!

(If you’re looking for some specific questions to begin asking your children you may want to check out Natasha Crain’s “Keeping Your Kids on God’s Side: 40 Conversations to Help Them Build a Lasting Faith”.)

Answer Their Questions

Not only should we be asking our children questions, but we should also eagerly answer their questions as well!

Please be careful to never judge your children’s questions or despair of their doubts. In fact if your child has expressed some doubts or struggles regarding their faith this can actually be a good thing! It means that they are thinking which can propel them to sincerely search for the truth.

Keep pouring the truths of God’s Word into them and back it all up with solid evidence based answers. (This is one of my all-time favorite books that answers life’s tough questions and gives a plethora of evidence for the existence of God and reliability of the Bible if you’re on the hunt for a solid resource. If you’d like a free copy please let me know!)

It is extremely important in the day and age we’re living in that, as parents, we can confidently give an answer for the hope that is within us (1 Peter 3:15).

We need to know what we believe and why which means that we need to be faithfully studying our Bible, outside evidence, and the deceptions of the culture in order to be able to provide those answers to our children and others.

Please take comfort in the reminder of Jeremiah 29:13 “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

If your children are sincerely searching for truth, they will find it. Encourage your children to ask away and never be ashamed of any questions they may have. Keeping that open line of communication, especially in this area, is vital to maintaining a strong relationship with them.

5. To Explain Salvation To A Child- Don’t Coerce

Children have a natural drive to please others, especially their parents who hold such a great amount of influence over them. It can be tempting for us to try to coerce or convince our children to follow Jesus when in reality their heart may be far from it. This can result in a false sense of security regarding salvation and we need to be careful to guard against taking the reins of their faith.

The truth is that the gospel doesn’t need convincing. Its beauty is alluring all on its own.

Keep praying for your child, keep speaking God’s truth into their heart, keep following Jesus yourself, and then rest in knowing that God’s love for them is even greater than your own.

6. To Explain Salvation To A Child- Be An Example

I think we often downplay the amount of influence we hold over our children. Or perhaps we honestly don’t realize the magnitude of the example we live out before their eyes.

This is a humbling thought, but can also bring about comfort if we’re truly seeking to glorify God in our own lives. Yes, our children will see our flaws and mistakes, but we can use even our downfalls to point them to a gracious God who never gives up on us.

Explain The Gospel To Your Child And Trust God To Work

Although explaining salvation to a child certainly involves us sharing the good news of Jesus verbally with our children, our actions play an important role as well. The faith we live out before them can be a seed planted and powerful tool God uses to draw them to Himself.

Be an example to your children of what it means to be a true follower of Christ. Paint an accurate picture of the One you claim to know, and watch God do a mighty work in their hearts.

Friend, explaining the gospel to a child doesn’t need to be a thought provoking presentation. It is more importantly a conversation where we engage with one another, ask questions, and share about the incredible forgiveness and hope we’re offered (that we come nowhere near deserving) in the amazing work and person of Jesus. It really is that simple.