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Helping Children Understand God's Reliability and Consistency

The reliability and consistency of God are central themes in biblical teaching, often presented as foundational for children's spiritual development. Scripture emphasizes that children are capable of glorifying God and should be instructed in His ways from a young age [2]. This instruction aims to foster a deep understanding of God's character, which includes His faithfulness and the certainty of His promises [12].

Parents are given the primary responsibility for this instruction, receiving their children as gifts from God [8]. Their duty includes training children for God, instructing them in His word, and teaching them about His judgments and miraculous works [8]. For instance, Deuteronomy 31:12 highlights that children who have not yet known God should hear His law, learn its meaning, and thereby be brought up to fear the Lord [15]. This early exposure to God's word is crucial, as "from an infant" is the tender age when the most lasting impressions of faith can be made [13]. The Old Testament, taught by a Jewish mother, is presented as making one "wise unto salvation" through faith [13].

The concept of God's reliability is reinforced through His actions and attributes. God is able to afford protection, and this protection is described as indispensable, seasonable, unfailing, effectual, uninterrupted, encouraging, and perpetual [10]. His faithfulness is a key aspect of His character, as seen in His commitment to His promises [12]. Those who hearken to God, returning sinners, the perfect in heart, and the poor are all afforded His protection [10].

Children are encouraged to obey God and fear Him [2]. This obedience is not merely a set of rules but an expression of righteousness, which is defined as obedience to God's law [9]. God loves righteousness and looks for it [9]. The Psalms invite children to "listen to me. I will teach you the fear of Yahweh" [1]. This "fear of Yahweh" is not terror, but a reverent awe and respect that comes from understanding His power and goodness.

The New Testament continues this emphasis, with Paul addressing Timothy as a "true child in the faith," wishing him grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ [4]. John encourages "little children" to remain in Christ, so that they may be confident and unashamed at His coming [5]. The assurance of salvation and eternal life is linked to knowing God and confessing Jesus as the Son of God, leading to union with God and Christ [7, 6, 3]. This assurance is produced by faith, made full by hope, and confirmed by love [7].

The instruction of children in God's ways is not just for their benefit but also for future generations. The aim is that "the generation to come might know them," not only notionally but spiritually and experimentally [11]. John Gill notes that this happens when human teachings are accompanied by the Spirit of wisdom, making the truths of the Gospel known [11]. Calvin also emphasizes the duty of parents to diligently communicate what they have learned from the Lord to their children, ensuring the propagation of God's truth to posterity [14]. This continuous transmission of faith ensures that God's reliability and consistency are understood and cherished across generations.

Sources

  1. Psalms “Come, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of Yahweh. -- Psalms 34:11”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Children — Christ was an example to -- Lu 2:51; Joh 19:26,27. Are a gift from God -- Ge 33:5; Ps 127:3. Are capable of glorifying God -- Ps 8:2; 148:12,13; Mt 21:15,16. Should be Brought to Christ. -- Mr 10:13-16. Brought early to the house of God. -- 1Sa 1:24. Instructed in the ways of God. -- De 31:12,13; Pr 22:6. Judiciously trained. -- Pr 22:15; 29:17; Eph 6:4. Should Obey God. -- De 30:2. Fear God. -- Pr 24:21. Remember God. -- Ec 12:1. Attend to parental teaching. -- Pr 1:8,9. Honour parents. -- Ex 20:12; Heb 12:9. Fear parents. -- Le 19:3. Obey parents. -- Pr ”
  3. 1 John “We know that the Son of God has come, and has given us an understanding, that we know him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. -- 1 John 5:20”
  4. I Timothy “I Timothy 1:2 (LITV) — to Timothy, a true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.”
  5. I John “I John 2:28 (BSB) — And now, little children, remain in Christ, so that when He appears, we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.”
  6. I John “I John 4:15 (BSB) — If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Assurance — Produced by faith -- Eph 3:12; 2Ti 1:12; Heb 10:22. Made full by hope -- Heb 6:11,19. Confirmed by love -- 1Jo 3:14,19; 4:18. Is the effect of righteousness -- Isa 32:17. Is abundant in the understanding of the gospel -- Col 2:2; 1Th 1:5. Saints privileged to have, of Their election. -- Ps 4:3; 1Th 1:4. Their redemption. -- Job 19:25. Their adoption. -- Ro 8:16; 1Jo 3:2. Their salvation. -- Isa 12:2. Eternal life. -- 1Jo 5:13. The unalienable love of God. -- Ro 8:38,39. Union with God and Christ. -- 1Co 6:15; 2Co 13:5; Eph 5:30; 1Jo 2:5; 4:13. Peace with ”
  8. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Parents — Receive their children from God -- Ge 33:5; 1Sa 1:27; Ps 127:3. Their duty to their children is To love them. -- Tit 2:4. To bring them to Christ. -- Mt 19:13,14. To train them up for God. -- Pr 22:6; Eph 6:4. To instruct them in God's word. -- De 4:9; 11:19; Isa 38:19. To tell them of God's judgments. -- Joe 1:3. To tell them of the miraculous works of God. -- Ex 10:2; Ps 78:4. To command them to obey God. -- De 32:46; 1Ch 28:9. To bless them. -- Ge 48:15; Heb 11:20. To pity them. -- Ps 103:13. To provide for them. -- Job 42:15; 2Co 12:14; 1Ti 5:8. To rule”
  9. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Righteousness — Is obedience to God's law -- De 6:25; Ro 10:5; Lu 1:6; Ps 1:2. God loves -- Ps 11:7. God looks for -- Isa 5:7. Christ Is the Son of. -- Mal 4:2. Loves. -- Ps 45:7; Heb 1:9. Was girt with. -- Isa 11:5. Put on, as breast-plate. -- Isa 59:17. Was sustained by. -- Isa 59:16. Preached. -- Ps 40:9. Fulfilled all. -- Mt 3:15. Is made to his people. -- 1Co 1:30. Is the end of the law for. -- Ro 10:4. Has brought in everlasting. -- Da 9:24. Shall judge with. -- Ps 72:2; Isa 11:4; Ac 17:31; Re 19:11. Shall reign in. -- Ps 45:6; Isa 32:1; Heb 1:8. Shall execute.”
  10. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Protection — God is able to afford -- 1Pe 1:5; Jude 1:24. God is faithful to afford -- 1Th 5:23,24; 2Th 3:3. Of God is Indispensable. -- Ps 127:1. Seasonable. -- Ps 46:1. Unfailing. -- De 31:6; Jos 1:5. Effectual. -- Joh 10:28-30; 2Co 12:9. Uninterrupted. -- Ps 121:3. Encouraging. -- Isa 41:10; 50:7. Perpetual. -- Ps 121:8. Often afforded through means inadequate in themselves. -- Jdj 7:7; 1Sa 17:45,50; 2Ch 14:11. Is afforded to Those who hearken to God. -- Pr 1:33. Returning sinners. -- Job 22:23,25. The perfect in heart. -- 2Ch 16:9. The poor. -- Ps 14:6; 72:12-14.”
  11. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 78:6: That the generation to come might know them,.... Not only notionally, but spiritually and experimentally; which is the case, when human teachings are attended with the spirit of wisdom and revertion in the knowledge of divine truths; for the truths of the Gospel are unknown to men; the Gospel is hidden wisdom, the wisdom of God in a mystery; the Bible is a sealed book, the doctrines of it are riddles and dark sayings; the ministry of the word is the means of knowledge, which become effectual when attended with the Spirit and power of God: even the children which sho”
  12. Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 6:13: 6:13-20 This passage focuses on the reliability of God’s faithfulness to his promises. The theme of God’s oath is developed with an illustration (6:13-15), followed by a general principle (6:16), followed by the main point: God has sworn a significant oath (6:17-18), which gives us hope because it shows that Jesus is our permanent High Priest (6:19-20). 6:13-14 Abraham was the premier exemplar of faith: He continued to believe that God would give him a son, then was willing to sacrifice that son in obedience to God (11:17-19; Gen 15:1-5; 22:1-14). In response to ”
  13. 2 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Timothy 3:15: from a child--literally, "from an infant." The tender age of the first dawn of reason is that wherein the most lasting impressions of faith may be made. holy scriptures--The Old Testament taught by his Jewish mother. An undesigned coincidence with Ti2 1:5; Act 16:1-3. able--in themselves: though through men's own fault they often do not in fact make men savingly alive. wise unto salvation--that is, wise unto the attainment of salvation. Contrast "folly" (Ti2 3:9). Wise also in extending it to others. through faith--as the instrument of this ”
  14. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 22.18: to posterity and that they may deliver the knowledge received through us, from hand to hand, (as we say,) to their descendants. Wherefore, it is the duty of parents to apply themselves diligently to the work of communicating what they have learned from the Lord to their children. In this manner the truth of God is to be propagated by us, so that no one may retain his knowledge for his own private use; but that each may edify others, according to his own calling, and to the measure of his faith. There is however no doubt, that the”
  15. Deuteronomy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Deuteronomy 31:12: And that their children, which have not known anything,.... Of God and of his law and of their duty to God, to their parents, and the rest of their fellow creatures: may hear, and learn to fear the Lord your God; hear the law of God, learn the meaning of it, and so be brought up in the fear, nurture, and admonition of the Lord, and serve him their Creator in the days of their youth: as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it; this being a means to continue the fear, service, and worship of God in their posterity, and so of their l”
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