Earning Salvation

A lot of kids grow up thinking love has to be earned. They may feel pressure to behave well, succeed or make good choices so adults will be proud of them. Over time, that same mindset can shape the way kids think about God too. Some may believe God loves them more when they are “good” and less when they mess up.

In this week’s Brite lesson, kids will hear how God worked through His people as the exiles returned home and rebuilt the temple and the city walls. God invited His people to take part in His work, but not because they had earned His love. God had already shown them grace long before they ever rebuilt anything.

As you talk with your kid this week, remind them that we cannot earn salvation or make God love us more by doing good things. God’s love is a gift given through Jesus. We obey and serve God, not to try to earn His favor, but because we are thankful for the grace He has already shown us.

Here’s how we discussed this topic and how you can discuss it at home: 

Discuss: Have you ever heard someone say that you have to do good things to get into heaven?

Discuss: Why do you think people might believe that they can earn entrance into heaven by doing good things?

Discuss: What does the Bible have to say about that?

Say: Many people in our world believe that they can go to heaven by doing more good things than bad things. Some of the major world religions believe this. But Ephesians 2:8–9 says: For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. In other words, heaven is a gift from God when we have faith in Jesus. There is absolutely nothing we can do on our own to earn it. In fact, the Bible says in Isaiah 64:6 that all of the good things we do are like dirty rags compared to God’s holiness. God does want us to do good things, but we do those out of love and obedience toward Him, not to try to earn His love.