God has given a myriad of gifts to both believers and unbelievers via His common grace and special grace. To Christians, our Father in Heaven provides two special gifts that can be considered the greatest of the many gifts He imparts to His adopted children. The supreme gift is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Another great gift God gives is children (parenthood).
The gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest gift God gives freely to those that repent of their sins and put their faith in Jesus Christ. The gospel begins with God’s holiness and man’s sinfulness (Rom. 3:10-11). All mankind has fallen short of God’s glory. Therefore, all men are subject to God’s wrath as sin demands judgment and eternal damnation in hell (separation from God). But there is good news – that is, God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, from heaven to earth in order that He might die and be raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. Christ became our Substitute, the propitiation of our sins to the holy God.
What should our response be to all of this? If we remain in our sin and we cannot be free from it. Unless we repent, we likewise will perish. We need to be forgiven and saved from our unbelief. Repentance and faith is only gifted by the Holy Spirit (Romans 10:9: 1 Jn 2:10; Eph 2:10; Jn 12:11). Where there is repentance and faith, adoption as sons and daughters to God Father takes place for eternity.
As Christians become children and heirs to God the Father, the Lord gifts the married couple earthly children of their own. This, too, is a great gift the Lord gives. Parents are not God by all means but they intuitively act like God as parents to their children (Ps. 127:3; Jn. 14:8). Under God’s sovereignty, parents are responsible over their children’s lives, especially to train them up in the Lord (Prov. 22:6).
A child needs a parent to lead and teach as they grow. What does “train” mean? To train means there is dedication and initiation made by the parents in their instruction and discipline of their children. Parents are the most important when it comes to this role, not church leaders or other education teachers. God will hold all parents responsible how their children are trained up.
Children are a blank slate. How do parents begin this daunting task? As trainers, parents need to first focus on themselves to be excellent and effective trainers. In other words, both mom and dad must be genuine Christians first and foremost. This truth applies to all walks of life. We must yield to Christ His lordship in our thoughts and actions and draw near to God by walking with Him. Consequently, the following characteristics are formed: holiness, humility, happiness, gospel-centeredness.
“To train up the child in the way he should go..” Parents must instruct their children to love God. How? If the parents love God, then the children will learn to love God. A practical example of this is holding family worship. But to circle back on what’s most important is that the parents must fear God (reverence). Struggling with sin and taking God’s word seriously to obey (sanctification).
Being godly parents must include disciplining their children. What is discipline? Children are sinners, born with a sinful nature. They are born to disobey God and hate God (total depravity). How and when should parents discipline? “Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death” (Prov. 19:18. Scripture even says not to spare the rod as a part of discipline (Prov. 13:24; 29:15). Although not sparing the rod may apply to toddlers and older children, babies are able to comprehend more than they verbally can express. Parents should discipline their infants for sinful attitude, but always err on the side of mercy.
However, this passage does not promise that the child will become a Christian even if we obey and follow through in the child’s life. Salvation is ultimately up to the Lord. But mentally, emotionally and physically they will grow up healthy when instructed in the Lord. In order not to fail in instructing our children, we must not fail in the gospel and daily grow in our own faith.
BIBLE COMMUNITY CHURCH 
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