The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed from the tape, GC 1300, titled "Bible Questions and Answers."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE.

Question

How can you know if a small child has been born again? What evidence?

Answer

Only one way according to Scripture and that is this: Matthew, chapter 18. And this is really the only way… People are saying, “Well, how can you see the fruit of the spirit? I see my little kid and he says he’s saved, but he doesn’t read his Bible all the time, he doesn’t pray, and lead family devotions, and, you know, and I don’t see a lot of the fruit of the spirit in his life. Well, how do I know whether this is just a child or whether he’s been saved?” 

There’s only one way to know that a child can be saved and that’s because the Bible says he can. Because he’s really too young to manifest all of the things that indicate it.

Jesus called a little child to him in verse 2 of Matthew 18, set him in the midst, and said, “Verily I say unto you, except you be converted and become as little children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven; and whosoever shall receive one such little child in my name, receives me”--now, watch--“for whosoever shall offend one of these little ones who”--what? “Believe in me.”

There it is. Jesus said that a little child could believe in him. Listen to this: if somebody believes in him, what is he? Saved. Can a child be saved? Yes--by the authority of the Word of God. Do you want any better authority than that? When he believes, that is salvation.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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