What Do I Do After My Child Makes a Profession of Faith?

I remember when my daughter made her profession of faith. She was only seven years old, but she had an understanding of why she needed a savior and how Jesus was the only one who could rescue her from her sin. My husband and I were so excited! Our little girl was joining us on the journey of faith that every Christian embarks on in their life. However, we had questions about what our next steps as parents were. How should we help her understand what this meant?

It’s very common for children who have grown up in the church to doubt their salvation at some point. While God often uses times of doubt to strengthen their faith, there are things we can do as parents to help them know for sure that they are saved and live like it. 

Celebrate– But Wisely

If you listen to the salvation testimonies of people who grew up in Christian homes and solid churches, often you will hear them talk about “getting saved” multiple times before the time they actually “got saved.” They prayed a prayer in Vacation Bible School when they were five, and then in Sunday school at seven, and later at summer camp when they were twelve, and so on. This happens because the child is never sure that they really were saved. The way you respond to your child’s profession of faith can help or hinder this issue. 

If your child tells you that they were saved in Sunday school and you make a big deal about it, congratulating them and announcing it to friends and family alike, and then never talking about it again, they may start to doubt their salvation in the years to come. Maybe they didn’t feel a change, don’t remember what happened, or feel like their salvation story is not as dramatic as someone else’s. As they grow up and begin to understand that salvation is not about praying a prayer, they may wonder if their prayer meant anything. 

Let’s consider a different response. If your child tells you they got saved, the best way to respond is with encouragement and watchfulness. 

• Point out the fruits of the Spirit in that child’s life. 
• Encourage a desire to read God’s word or listen in church.
• Praise an attempt to choose the right thing where they previously would not have.

Showing them ways they are growing and changing as a Christian is the best thing you can do to help them know if they are truly saved. 

When I was a teenager, I doubted my salvation because I couldn’t remember praying a prayer or how I felt afterward. I had asked Jesus into my heart many times, but it wasn’t until I stopped to look at the changes in my life and my love for God I felt before I was certain that I was saved. To this day, I still don’t know exactly when I got saved. Salvation is not a magical feeling, a prayer, or a transformation. It is a work of God in the heart of your child helping them come to an understanding that God is real, sin is deadly, Jesus is the answer, and that they must call out for Jesus to save them. Encourage your child in that understanding, but congratulate God for His work instead of them. Help them see the ways God is working in their lives to make it clear that Jesus is truly living in their hearts. 

Prepare them for the race

In Hebrews 12, the Bible uses the metaphor of a race to help us understand the Christian life. Once a person is saved, they become a follower of Christ. Followers of Christ don’t just stand around, they run after Him. Salvation is a commitment to run after Jesus for the rest of your life, not a safety card to play when you die. Here are three ways to equip your child for this race. 

1. One of the first things you should do when your child makes a profession of faith is to help them understand the beauty of Christ’s sacrifice and the honor, responsibility, and mission they now have of living for Him. 

If you’re looking for a way to do this, our Bible study I Have Decided was written to give you the tools you need to help your child understand what salvation means Biblically. 

2. The next step is to equip your child to learn about God and His Word. Give your child the resources they need to read and understand the Bible, like an age-appropriate Bible study. As they continue to grow in their relationship with Christ, being a person they can come to with questions or struggles is one of the most valuable things you can do. Following Christ isn’t easy, and God designed us to disciple each other as we learn more about Him. 

I had a teacher in college who taught child development, and one thing I heard her say often was “The best teachers are the ones who remember what it feels like to not know.” Do you remember what it felt like as a new Christian who wanted to trust God, but was afraid? How about when you knew serving others was the right thing to do, but you just wanted to do what you thought would make you happy? Do you remember the verses or truths that helped you understand God’s great story better? Those memories will help you understand your child as they grow and know what to say when they struggle. 

3. After helping your child understand what it means to run after Christ and giving them tools to grow, your final job is to encourage and pray for them. Encourage them by telling them things God is teaching you and helping you grow in. Share stories of how you were convicted of a sin and the freedom you felt when you made it right with God. Tell them and show them what it looks like to live a life of peace in Christ. Finally, pray that God would help them grow, give them understanding, and be with them in the tough parts of their lives. 

Our Foundations Bible study bundle is a great tool to help your child learn more about God, His Word, and salvation. Click here to learn more and find the right level for your child’s age.

Encourage them in the race

When we moved to a new church, I met a man who enjoyed running 5Ks, half-marathons, and even marathons. I didn’t learn that about him until a few weeks later, and suddenly everything I knew about him made so much sense. The things he did and said, the way he dressed, and the fact that he woke up very early in the morning to run all clicked with this new understanding. He didn’t run professionally or to win prizes; he ran because he loved it. Although he lived his life much like I did, small differences in the way he spent his time, the things he ate, and his priorities set him apart as a runner. 

As believers, our lives should look like that to unbelievers. When we live our lives with God as the priority and seek after Him because we love Him, it makes a difference in the way we think and the things we do. Other people should notice something different in the way we conduct our lives, and when they learn that we are Christian, it should make sense to them. 

However, living this lifestyle is not always popular. Some people look up to those who wake up at dark o’clock to run in below-freezing weather, while others laugh at them. Many people who don’t understand their commitment ridicule it. 

Your child needs to understand that when they live for Christ, there will be a change in their life. They may have friends who dislike their new perspective or bully them for refusing to do something sinful that they used to do. However, the most important thing is living for Christ. God is the one in charge of how other people respond when we live like followers of Christ. 

In Acts 2:38, Peter calls new believers to repent and be baptized. Baptism is an outward demonstration of an inward changing of the heart. It’s saying, “I have committed my life to Jesus!” This is one of the ways that believers make their salvation known to their church body. When your child has made a profession of faith and shown through their actions that they are running after Christ, the Bible says that they should be baptized. 

Here are some tips when it comes to talking about baptism with your child:

• Baptism may not be just one talk, but rather a series of conversations diving into what your child understands about their salvation and what baptism means. 
• Help your child see fruit in their life BEFORE you talk to them about being baptized. 
• Don’t pressure your child to do this as that might make them want to be baptized to make you happy rather than to proclaim their faith in Christ. 
• Some parents choose to wait until their child asks to be baptized since it is important to understand and shouldn’t be forced on a child who may not be sure they are saved. 
• Check out this post to read more about those conversations and download a free printable to help as you talk about baptism with your child. 

It is wonderful when our children become children of God! Our goal is to be a resource to help you as you help your child grow in faith. Lean on the Lord for strength and guidance and surround your child in prayer, friend!

How We Can Help

We’re here to help make it easy for you to support your kids as you talk about the Christian life. Once your child makes a profession of faith, we are here to help you discuss how this decision will impact their lives. Our I Have Decided Bible study is a great resource to help new believers learn and apply God’s truths for themselves.

I Have Decided Bible study will teach them:

• about their new identity in Christ.
• what their life should look like within that design.
• how to rely on help from God and others on that journey.
• how to exercise their faith by walking daily with God.