What it Means to be Saved
Last weekend’s high-budget sci-fi blockbuster was “Terminator Salvation,” and it continued the story of humanity’s battle against the machines. Only in this episode, the dreaded Judgment Day has already happened. The machines have wiped out most of humanity, leaving a handful to carry on the fight.
Movies often borrow the language of the Bible to heighten interest in their stories. That works in this case because so many of us put real weight into the word “salvation.” We believe an actual Judgment Day is coming. For Christians, those words are essential to the real life story we’re living in every day.
Do our kids understand the big ideas behind their salvation? Do they anticipate a real Judgment Day? As Christian parents, we rejoice when our children believe the simple message of the gospel, placing their faith in Jesus for the salvation of their sins.
As they grow, we can help them gain a deeper understanding for what being “saved” really means for them. What are we saved from? What are we saved for? What really happens when a person trusts in Christ? Yes, these are questions of doctrine, but they also have very straightforward answers that will give your kids greater confidence and security in God and their salvation.
Our talking points this week are built on Romans 5:1-11. We encourage you to spend a little time with that passage and then to look for some teachable moments in which to ask and discuss a few of the questions below.
Talking Points:
- “Terminator Salvation” just came out. How would you define the word salvation as Christians use it?
- In a few words, how does a person “get saved” or become a Christian? [Parent: Use this opportunity to make sure your child understands the basic gospel message.]
- What would you say we’re saved from?
- What do you think we’re saved for?
- In Romans 5, Paul explains several of the benefits of being saved. [Parent: Consider reading the first 11 verses with your child.]
- What do you think it’s worth to have peace with God? What would be wrong with not having peace with God?
- Do you think we have peace with Him even when we don’t feel like it? [Parent: Emphasize to your child that our status of being at peace with God does not go away—even when we don’t feel it. Because of Jesus, Christians are always at peace with God.]
- How would you define the word grace? What does it mean that people who are saved are in God’s grace?
- Is it ever a good thing for us to suffer? What are some of the ways that Christians suffer?
- How can suffering help us learn to trust God more?
- One of the things that God gives to Christians when they are saved is hope. How would you describe the hope that Christians have?
- What are you hoping for—looking forward to—after you die because you know you’re a Christian?
- What difference does it make that God gives His Spirit to Christians? How does the Spirit help us?
- Would you say that Jesus died for you because you’re a good person or because He knew you’d be able to pay Him back one day? [Parent: Emphasize that Romans 5 says we were powerless, sinners, and God’s enemies when Christi died for us.]
- Do you think someone has to make an effort to be a really good person before they can be saved by God? Why or why not?
- What do you think it means that God proved His love for us by sending Jesus to die for us while we were still sinners?
- How would you define what it means to be a sinner?
- How would you describe God’s wrath or anger? Do you think there will be a Judgment Day when God will judge all who are sinners—everyone who is not forgiven for their sins?
- What is it worth to be saved from God’s wrath on that day?
- Did you know that we were once God’s enemies?
- How would you say we went from being God’s enemies to being His children? How were we “reconciled” to Him from being against Him to being for Him (or from Him being against us to being for us)?
- Based on what we’ve talked about, could you list 5 or 10 huge good things that come with being a Christian? [Parent: Just from Romans 5:1-11 alone, this list could include being justified, being at peace with God, having access to God, standing in God’s grace, the hope of heaven, purpose in our suffering, God’s love in our hearts, God’s Spirit with us, being saved from God’s wrath, and being reconciled to Him.]
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