ETERNAL SECURITY FOR CHILDREN
FOR THE TEACHER:
During the Church Age, a saved person is secure, saved forever. Some of the references used in this lesson are spiritualized. Dispensationally, they do not refer to a saved individual today ; but spiritualized, they can be used to illustrate Church Age eternal security. For instance, Hebrews 13:5 "...I will never leave thee..." is written to the nation of Israel, but this is an excellent verse to teach Church Age children their own security. Paul himself appropriated Old Testament verses which referred to Israel and spiritualized them for the Body of Christ. (see Romans 9:25,26)
OBJECTIVES
1. To teach children that a person can never lose his salvation.
2. To instill the verse "I will never leave thee."
MEMORY VERSE:
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
TEACHER'S PASSAGE:
Psalms 89:27 Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.
28 My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.
29 His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.
30 If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;
31 If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments;
32 Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.
33 Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.
34 My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
35 Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.
36 His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.
37 It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.
INTRODUCTION:
Today, boys and girls, we are going to learn about a wonderful promise that God makes to us in his word. Adults call it eternal security, but we will call it "Saved Forever!" That does have a wonderful sound, doesn't it? The Bible
says that once you have asked Jesus into your heart, to wash your sins away, and to be your own personal Saviour, that he will never leave you. You are Saved Forever!
All the verses we talk about today are in your King James Bible. We are going to start with a part of a verse that is so easy that I hope you will remember it ALWAYS! The Bible says:
Hebrews 13:5 I will never leave thee...
How many words were in that verse? (teacher, use your fingers to illustrate) " I - will - never - leave - thee." Yes, there are five words. Every time you look at your hand you should remember : (teacher, use the fingers of your hand EVERY TIME you say this verse) "I - will- never - leave - thee." Since I am saved I can use my own name: "I - will - never - leave - (say your name)" Now if you are saved, you try it too. (The children should all recite the verse, using their fingers or pointing to each finger of one hand.) Let's say it again. "I - will never - leave - thee." Now if you are saved put in your own name. "I - will never - leave - (children should each say their own names.) One more time: "I - will - never - leave - (name)." What a wonderful, happy promise! Once you ask Jesus into your heart to be your Saviour he will never go away. Your best friend may move to another town. Your dog or cat may be killed by a car. Someone from your family, that you love, may even go away. But Jesus has promised to stay, forever, in the heart of each boy or girl who has asked him to wash away his sins. What a great promise! (Put up visuals #1 - #6) Now look at your hand. What does it say? "I - will - never - leave - thee."
Uh Oh! What if you do something sinful and wicked? Will Jesus leave you? NO! What does your hand say? "I - will - NEVER - leave - thee." What if you FORGET that you trusted Jesus? Will he leave you? NO "I - will - NEVER - leave - thee." Is there ANYTHING that can happen where Jesus will leave you? NO! and that's what we are going to learn about in these next verses.
Do any of you here have a baby brother or sister at your house? Babies can be a lot of fun, but they also can be a lot of trouble. (Put up visual #7) Everyone who was ever born started out as a baby. You were a baby, and even I was a baby. Your grandmothers and grandfathers were babies too.
The Bible says that everyone who has asked Jesus into his heart has been born a second time. The Bible calls this being born again. If you have been saved you have been born two times: once into your mother's and father's family, and once into God's family. If a person wants to go to heaven when he dies he MUST be born again. Listen to what Jesus said.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
A saved person is born again.
1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Now let me ask you. Can a baby ever be "un" born? No! Even if he dies, he still was born.
You each have a mommy and a daddy. Even if you don't live with both of them, you still have a mommy and a daddy. Can your mommy ever stop being your mommy? No! What if she moves away, is she still your mommy? Yes, she is. What if you grow up and move away. Is she still your mommy? Yes, she is. What if you do something that makes her really mad. Is she still your mommy? Yes, she is. Is there any way she can stop being your mommy? No. She was the only one who carried you under her heart inside of her until you were born. She gave birth to you, and there is nothing that will change her being your mommy.
That is how it works in God's family. When you get saved you are born again. God becomes your heavenly Father, and there is nothing you can do to become "un" born. No matter what you do, or how you act, you are God's child forever. Now, he may not always be pleased with what you do; but he has made you a promise, and God ALWAYS keeps his promises. What does your hand say? Yes, "I - will - never - leave thee."
There are other Bible verses that tell why you can't lose your salvation. One reason is that every saved person is "in" Jesus. Each born again person is in, what the Bible calls, the body of Christ. (Put up visual #6)
Ephesians 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
When you asked Jesus to save you, he came into your heart to wash your sins away so he could live there. But the Bible says that not only is Jesus inside you, but you are also inside him. The Holy Spirit put you into Jesus' body when you got saved.
1 Corinthians 12:13a For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body...
Now how can you be in Jesus, and Jesus be in you, all at the same time? teacher use a clear quart Jar full of water & another small bottle, without a lid, that will easily fit inside the quart jar) See this jar of water. This is like the body of Christ. Now see this smaller bottle. This is like you before you got saved. When you trusted Jesus, the Holy Spirit put you into Jesus' body. (Push the small bottle into the jar and under water so it will fill up and sink) NOW the bottle is like you if you are saved. The bottle is in the water and the water is in the bottle. Jesus is in you and you are in Jesus.
Not only is Jesus "in" you if you are saved; he is SEALED inside you. Have you ever gotten a birthday card in the mail and your morn let you open it yourself? The person, who sent you the card, licked the envelope and "sealed" it so the card, wouldn't fall out. (teacher, demonstrate by taking a picture or word strip which says "Jesus" and sealing if inside an envelope which has a picture of a child or the word "YOU" printed on it). The Holy Spirit puts you "in" Jesus and then "seals" you inside.
Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
(Put up visual #9) Once you have trusted Jesus as your Saviour, the Holy Spirit "seals" you inside the body of Christ. This gives us two more reasons that you can't lose your salvation.
First of all, anyone could have "unsealed" your birthday card and taken the card out. But the Bible says that NO one can "unseal" you from the body of Christ because God uses his power to keep Jesus "sealed" inside you.
1 Peter 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
That's another great promise. And God always keeps his promises. What does your hand say? "I - will - never leave - thee." That's right.
The second reason has do to with the body of Christ itself. Your own body has different parts. You have feet and hands. You have eyes and ears. You have a mouth and a nose. Each part of your body has a job of its own. You don't eat pizza with your feet. Ugh! You don't breathe through your eyes. You don't chew your food with your nose! Ugh! The body of Christ works that way too.
1 Corinthians 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
Wouldn't it be silly for Sally's nose to say "I can't be part of Sally's body because I am not her eye." Or for her foot to say "I can't be part of Sally's body because I am not her hand." All the parts of your body are important and work together to make a whole "you." Would you like to lose an eye? How about a hand? Would you like to lose a hand? Of course you wouldn't. Well, we just read how Jesus' body is made of many parts; and if you are saved, you are one of those parts, (Put up visual s #10 - #13) If you could lose your salvation, Jesus would have to take away one of his parts! You don't want to lose any of your body parts, and neither does he. Jesus is not going to cut off a piece of himself. When you get saved you are SAVED FOREVER! What does your hand say? "I - will - never - leave - thee." (Teacher, I know this may seem repetitious to you, but children need to know this verse, it will truly help them when the devil tries to make them doubt.) I love that "hand" and "fingers" verse! And the Bible has other verses about hands that show you can't lose your salvation.
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
The Bible says that saved people are the Lord's sheep and that he gives them "eternal life." (Put up visual #14) Does anyone know what "eternal" means? (Let children respond.) Yes, it means forever and ever. Does something that is "forever" ever stop? NO! So if you have eternal life you can't lose it! The verse also says that they shall NEVER perish. Who knows what "perish" means? It means "die" and in this verse it means "die and go to hell." Saved boys and girls are SAVED FOREVER and can NEVER go to hell.
Now here is the part about the hands. (Reread John 10:26) If you are saved Jesus holds you tight in his hand. (Put up visual #15) Now a need a volunteer. (Pick a child to help.) Let's pretend this penny is you and that this is Jesus' hand. (Place the penny in the child's hand and close it into a fist to hold the penny.) Could anyone open Jesus' hand to get you out? No, I don't think so either. BUT just in case you are worried, the Father holds you too. (reread John 10:29) Jesus has hold of you and so does God, the Father. (Teacher, use your hands to cover and hold the child's hand with the penny.) Now, what do you think. Can ANYONE get you out? NO! What if you tried to get out, yourself. Could you? NO! That's right, you're SAVED FOREVER. What promise does your hand say? "I - will - never - leave - thee." Who said that? Yes, Jesus promised you'd be SAVED FOREVER.
There are so many verses that fell you about being saved forever, but we are almost finished. In these verses Jesus talked about saved people.
John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
39b .....that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing......
Jesus promises never to "cast out" or lose anyone who has trusted in him.
Everyone who has asked Jesus to save him is in the Body of Christ and is on his way to heaven. Now suppose this whole class was going on an airplane trip. Have any of you ever been in an airplane? Well, we will pretend to fly from New York City to Los Angeles, CA. (Put up visual #l6) In order to get on the plane you need something. Does anyone know what that is? Yes, each of you need a ticket. Now get into the plane and find a good place to sit. Are you next to a window or on the aisle? Is everyone comfortable? All right, open your eyes. (Pretend you are on a plane.) Isn't this a great plane? Uh Oh! We are getting ready to take off. Make sure your scat belts are tight. Oooh, it sure is getting loud. And look down. Everything is getting smaller and smaller. Isn't this fun?
All right, boys and girls, let's stop to think about this plane ride for a minute. We are all on our way to Los Angeles. We all needed a ticket to get on the plane. Are you sure? Is everyone of the plane going to Los Angeles? Yes, they are. What if one of you gets sick while you are on the plane. Will he still go to Los Angeles? Yes, he will. What if one of you acts up and is really a trouble maker and disobedient. Will he still go to Los Angeles? Yes, he will. What if one of you is very helpful, and helps the stewardess do her work. Will that boy or girl get to Los Angeles? Yes, he will.
The truth is that EVERYONE on the plane will get to Los Angeles, no matter what he does. (Put up visual #17) He gets to Los Angeles because he is ON the plane. Now, of course, the best thing would be for everyone on the plane to be helpful and obedient; but even if a passenger is really bad he will still get to Los Angeles. That is just like the Body of Christ.
Once a boy or girl has Jesus in his heart, that's the ticket. He or she is in the Body of Christ and on the way to heaven. How you act after you are saved does not determine if you will stay saved. The pilot of the airplane is not going to throw anyone out the door, and Jesus has promised that he will NEVER "cast out" anyone who has come to him! Of course, you are to try to be a good Christian, and to be obedient to God's word: but your behavior doesn't get you to heaven. Here is another "hand" verse.
Psalms 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
Even if a saved boy or girl falls into sin, he will NEVER be cast out of the body of Christ. That boy or girl will still go to heaven because God holds him up with his hand. (Put up visual #16)
CONCLUSION:
Now, what promise did God give you with your hand? "I - will - never - leave
- thee." And that is exactly what he means. Here are our last verses to show that you can never lose your salvation.
Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
That's quite a list, boys and girls. It says there is NO WAY you can ever lose your salvation. No problems or trouble can make you lose your salvation. Being poor and hungry with no good clothes cannot make you lose your salvation. No danger or war can make you lose your salvation. No one's death or life can make you lose your salvation. No angels, or devils, or powerful people, or any other kind of creature, can make you lose your salvation. Nothing above you and nothing below you can make you lose your salvation. Best of all, no sin you are committing now, and no sin you will commit in the future can ever make you lose your salvation! What a wonderful promise! I'm sure glad I'm saved forever! And I will always remember Jesus' promise to me. He said "I - will - never - leave - thee." I hope you always remember that promise too.
Maybe some of you boys and girls here have never asked Jesus to save you. Now is the time to do it. Or maybe some of you have never thanked the Lord for saving you and promising you that you would go to heaven. Let's everyone bow your heads and close your eyes. (Teacher, give an inivitation)
If you are interested in obtaining the visuals for this lesson write me at AV1611Root@Juno.com The cost is MINIMAL to cover photocopying and postage only, and you may free copy them to give to others.
List of visuals.
1 - open hand
2-6 - individual words "I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE" to be placed above the fingers of the hand.
7 - baby
8 - Body of Christ
9 - envelope with "sealed"
10-13 - ear, eye, tooth
14 - sheep with 'eternal life'
15 - Jesus' hand with children
16 - plane
17 - large internal view in plane
17a - small internal view in plane
18 - heaven