He asked the Lord in his heart when he was 8-years old. So I went to him and asked if he remembered it and he said he did remember praying that day. I was so relieved to know he’s a Christian. I was thinking he didn’t remember when he did that.

Sadly, this is an all-too-often understanding of salvation and what it means to be a Christian. Though there is no evidential fruit in this teenager’s life, Marge is hanging his faith on some words that were said five years earlier. Knowing whether a person is a Christian is somewhat subjective, but the bible does offer certain evidences that can guide our thinking about how to examine ourselves as to whether we are in the faith. The biblical evidences of salvation are far less subjective than basing our faith solely on words spoken many years ago.

Wisdom seems to suggest that if we look through the lens of transformative fruit, as outlined in the Word of God, then we would see a clearer picture of what a regenerated soul should look like. The point of this article is NOT to talk you out of your religion or to create un-faith where faith should be, as though I could do that. However, I think there is wisdom in carefully examining ourselves to see whether or not we are in the faith.

Two of the more obvious templates in Scripture that speak of the transformed life are Galatians 5:22-23 or 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. There are others as well. John has helped us immensely through his writings regarding what it means to be a Christian. Roll your cursor over the verses below and read the pop-up boxes to see some of the characteristics, attitudes and evidences of what it means to be a Christian.

• 1 John 1:5-6; 1 John 1:8-9; 1 John 1:10; 1 John 2:1; 1 John 2:3, 5
• 1 John 2:6; 1 John 2:10-11; 1 John 2:15-17; 1 John 2:23; 1 John 2:24
• 1 John 2:28-29; 1 John 3:3; 1 John 3:9-10; 1 John 3:1-15; 1 John 3:18-19
• 1 John 3:23-24; 1 John 4:2; 1 John 4:4; 1 John 4:6; 1 John 4:7-8
• 1 John 4:11-13; 1 John 4:15; 1 John 4:20-21; 1 John 5:1; 1 John 5:2
• 1 John 5:4-5; 1 John 5:10; 1 John 5:12-13; 1 John 5:18; 1 John 5:20

When do you baptize?

When walking dads and moms through whether or not to baptize their kids after their “profession” of faith, I usually suggest they wait until their child is older and has a fuller understanding of what happened at his second birth. This also gives the parents time to examine the fruits of repentance, that can only be measured by time. I think it is wise to wait until they are at least in their teen years, where it is easier to discern whether they are walking in their own faith or the faith of their parents. This is particularly important for “christianized” kids.

While I would never want to discourage a kid in their new found faith, I also do not want to presume they were regenerated by the power of God just because they prayed a prayer. I’ve never found waiting on baptism to be a bad thing for a young Christian. James was right: faith without works is dead. (James 2:17)

I rejoice when a person comes into the kingdom. I also want to love, serve, disciple, watch, wait and not base the primary evidence of their regeneration on a prayer that was prayed when they were five.

If they were regenerated, then the power of God that leads to salvation will break out all over them…in time. (Romans 1:16) Unfortunately, Marge is resting in a prayer that was prayed, while her nephew is currently manifesting a lifestyle that is objectively contrary to the Christian life.

Other Helpful articles to help you think through what it means to be a Christian

1. Your Child’s Profession of Faith, by Dennis Gundersen
2. How Can I Know My Kid is Saved, by James Naisang
   
3. I Prayed: Therefore I Am … a Christian

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It is the best book I have read on the subject of discerning your child’s salvation and walking them through their profession of faith. It is a powerful and insightful book. It also is thin, which is a plus for us busy parents. Dennis has done well in serving the local church by putting his thoughts in a book.

One of my guest bloggers James Naisang was so encouraged by Dennis’ book that he put together this blog post for me: How Can I Know My Kid Is Saved?

Thank you Dennis for your good work! To find out more about Dennis Gundersen you can link to him here.

Other Helpful articles to help you think through what it means to be a Christian

1. Your Child’s Profession of Faith, by Dennis Gundersen
2. How Can I Know My Kid is Saved, by James Naisang
   
3. I Prayed: Therefore I Am … a Christian

Checkout some of our training videos on our YouTube Channel

Free Counseling Advice via Twitter

Free Counseling Advice via Weekly eBlast

Checkout The Christian Counselor Resource Center

And here is some sound wisdom from my friend James Naisang that will help discern if they have it. This applies similarly to kids and adults.

Sometimes we just need to go back to the main thing.

Getz Creative Photography

By James Naisang

Have you ever wondered if your child is truly saved? I often have, and like all Christian parents, I desire for my children to come to a genuine, saving faith in Jesus Christ, passionately grasp the Gospel, apply its life transforming truths and bear fruit that lasts.

My heart resonates with the Apostle John when he states, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (3 John 4). I am eager to hear them declare their undivided love for the Savior, and yet I have often struggled with knowing how to truthfully evaluate my child’s profession of faith. How can I know if my child has come to a saving knowledge in the Lord and is not walking in deception?

Recently after reading Your Child’s Profession of Faith, by Dennis Gundersen, I received valuable insight on this matter. In a nutshell, Gundersen establishes that although some children are saved at an early age, it is generally difficult to discern true salvation in young children. It is usually during their teen years that a child’s faith (or lack thereof) begins to be revealed. Distinguishing between a child’s profession of faith is much like trying to distinguish the sex of your child at conception. It’s nearly impossible to know if the fetus is a boy or a girl until it has grown to a certain level of maturity. And then there is no mistaking the child’s sex. In the same way, a child who professes to be saved may or may not be and therefore, it is beneficial to wait until it is clear that he or she has genuine, saving faith.

Evaluating our children’s spiritual state is much like the process we use to evaluate their individual gifts and talents. For example, when my oldest son Joshua was about six years of age he expressed a desire to play the guitar. Upon his profession, I was eager for him to begin playing, but was also apprehensive being aware of the fleeting desires of children. Instead of going to Musicians Friend and ordering him a $6,000 Martin guitar, I visited our local Super K Mart, and purchased a ¾ sized acoustic guitar that cost me about thirty five bucks. After teaching Joshua three basic chords, I watched to see what he would do. Over time, he mastered the chords so I taught him three more. Although he was showing growth, it was still too early to know if my son would really be able to play the guitar. Because of his age, there were many variables I was unsure of. Will he be able to keep time and play rhythms? Does he have an ear for music? Will he grow tired and bored and move onto something else? Only after a season of growth and evaluation could I know.

For me, understanding this concept has been a tremendous encouragement! Instead of feeling the pressure to have my children make a profession of faith, I can daily instruct them to seek a living relationship with Jesus. Rather than trying to lead them in a prayer, I will continue to encourage them to come to Jesus, love God’s Word and instruct them in the Gospel. True salvation will produce a true profession of faith and it will become evident to all as he or she begins bearing fruit that accompanies their salvation.

In closing, I want to emphasize that the point is not whether a child can be saved at an early age. Rather, we are encouraged to be wise parents in our assessment of our children’s salvation so as not to falsely give them eternal hope when in reality their lives do not display enough discernable fruit to do so. I believe this approach will only serve to strengthen the church of Jesus Christ for generations to come!

Oh, and by the way . . . recently Joshua turned 13 and it is evident that he has the desire, ability and skill to grow in playing the guitar. Therefore I invested in a better instrument for him to play. And just in case you’re wondering, it wasn’t the $6000 guitar from Musicians Friend. As a matter of fact, I’m certain that he’ll never mature enough for me to buy him a guitar like that as long as he’s living under my roof!

Other Helpful articles to help you think through what it means to be a Christian

1. Your Child’s Profession of Faith, by Dennis Gundersen
2. How Can I Know My Kid is Saved, by James Naisang
   
3. I Prayed: Therefore I Am … a Christian

Checkout some of our training videos on our YouTube Channel

Free Counseling Advice via Twitter

Free Counseling Advice via Weekly eBlast

Checkout Counseling Solution’s Membership Training Site