Little Children In The Bible Show Us The Whole Path Of Faith From Coming To Christ, To Being Formed By Christ, To Abiding Until He Comes. That’s Faith Like A Child

Faith like a child is not weak faith, ignorant faith, or blind religious sentiment; it is the right kind of faith because it comes to Christ with empty hands and a dependent heart. When the Lord Jesus said, “Suffer little children to come unto me,” He showed us that the doorway is not pride, performance, intellect, ritual, or religious self-confidence, but simple trust in the One who calls. A child does not negotiate terms, present qualifications, or boast in achievement; a child simply comes because he is invited and because he believes the one calling him is good. That is the beginning of true faith: not confidence in the flesh, but helpless dependence upon the Lord Jesus Christ. But childlike faith does not end with merely coming to Christ; it continues as Christ is formed in the believer and the believer abides in Him until He appears.

“But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” Luke 18:16 (KJB)

SUNDAY SERVICE STUDY NOTES: Faith Like A Child

Faith Like A Child

Little Children: From Coming To Christ To Being Ready At His Coming

Main Texts

“But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” Luke 18:16 (KJB)

“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,” Galatians 4:19 (KJB)

“And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.” 1 John 2:28 (KJB)

The Bible presents a spiritual progression in these three uses of “little children.” The Bible uses the phrase “little children” to denote actual little children who are seeking to come to Jesus, and it also uses that phrase to denote the “little children” that are formed, in people of any age, through the new birth.

First, the little children are called to come to Christ. That is the beginning. No one enters the kingdom through pride, religious performance, self-righteousness, or human merit. The child comes empty-handed, dependent, trusting, and helpless.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJB)

Second, the little children must have Christ formed in them. Paul is not dealing with unsaved pagans in Galatians 4:19, but with believers who had been turned aside by legalism. They had begun in the Spirit, but were being tempted to be made perfect by the flesh. Paul travailed over them because doctrine matters, grace matters, and Christ must be formed in the believer.

Third, the little children are told to abide in Him until He appears. John brings the thought to the Judgment Seat and the appearing of Jesus Christ. It is possible for a saved person to be ashamed at His coming, not because salvation is lost, but because fellowship, fruit, doctrine, and testimony were neglected. We cannot lose our salvation, but we can lose our inheritance.

“Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.” Colossians 3:22-25 (KJB)

In the case of a Christian who might have lived in such a way as to lose their inheritance, you would need to plead the “sure mercies of David” before the Lord.

“God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.” Acts 13:33,34 (KJB)

“Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.  Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:2,3,7 (KJB)

Come to Christ → Christ formed in you → Abide in Christ until He appears

That is reception, formation, and expectation.

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” 1 John 3:1-3 (KJB)

Application

I. The Child Must First Come To Christ

“But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” Luke 18:16 (KJB)

The first issue is not religion, church attendance, moral reform, or personal improvement. The first issue is coming to Christ. A child does not come with a résumé. A child does not come boasting. A child comes because he is called, welcomed, and received.

This is the simplicity of salvation. The sinner comes to Jesus Christ by faith, with nothing to offer and everything to receive.

“Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the cross I cling;
naked, come to thee for dress; helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly; wash me, Savior, or I die.”

Doctrinal Point: Salvation begins with helpless dependence on the Lord Jesus Christ, not confidence in the flesh.

II. The Child Must Then Be Formed By Christ

“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,” Galatians 4:19 (KJB)

Paul calls the Galatians “my little children” because he had spiritual responsibility for them. But they were in trouble. They had been pulled toward law-keeping, religious bondage, and fleshly performance after having begun in grace.

Christ being “formed” in them speaks of more than profession. It speaks of doctrine taking root. Grace replacing bondage. The inner man being shaped by the truth of Christ according to Paul’s gospel.

Doctrinal Point: The saved person must grow beyond merely being brought to Christ; Christ must be formed in him through sound doctrine, grace, and the renewing of the mind.

III. The Child Must Abide Until Christ Appears

“And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.” 1 John 2:28 (KJB)

John brings the child of God face to face with the appearing of Jesus Christ. This is not merely sentimental language. This is accountability language. A believer may have confidence at His coming, or he may be ashamed.

The issue is abiding. Remaining in fellowship, continuing in truth, and not being seduced by antichrists, false doctrine, worldliness, and spiritual drift.

Doctrinal Point: The Christian life is lived in view of the appearing of Jesus Christ, and the believer should desire confidence, not shame, at His coming.

Closing Challenge

The connection between these three verses is not accidental. The Holy Spirit shows us the whole path of the child of God.

The little child comes to Christ.
The little child has Christ formed in him.
The little child abides in Christ until He appears.

Many are content to say they came to Christ, but they resist being formed by Christ. Others begin well, but fail to abide. The Bible calls the believer to all three.

So the question is not only, Have you come to Christ?

The deeper questions are:

• Is Christ being formed in you?
• Are you abiding in Him?
• Will you have confidence when He appears, or will you be ashamed before Him at His coming?

The Lord does not merely call little children to come near. He calls them to grow in grace, stand in truth, abide in Him, and be ready when He appears. Whenever that may be.

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 (KJB)

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“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 (KJB)

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