Why Children Should Flee to Christ

In this part of the sermon: He explains that children are sinners by representation because they were in Adam when he sinned, making them condemned from birth. He refutes the idea of a period of innocence…

Martin uses the word 'representation' and then asks the children if they know what it means, implying they do through common experience, to introduce the concept of being sinners by representation.

You're a sinner, first of all, and I've got to use a big word because I can't find a smaller one, but I'll explain it. You are a sinner, first of all, by representation. Now, that's a big word, but you know what it means. You say, I do?

7:03 - 7:17 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin illustrates sin by nature using animal analogies (pig, cat, bird, fish) to show that creatures act according to their inherent nature. He asserts that children are born…

Martin uses the analogy of a pig loving mud to illustrate that animals act according to their inherent nature, which he then applies to human nature being sinful.

You ever go out to a barnyard and ask yourself, Why in the world does a pig love what he loves?

11:40 - 11:47 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin illustrates sin by nature using animal analogies (pig, cat, bird, fish) to show that creatures act according to their inherent nature. He asserts that children are born…

The fastidiousness of a cat is used as another analogy to demonstrate that creatures act according to their innate nature.

You ever ask yourself that? What in the world is in that pig that makes him love what he loves? On the other hand, when you see that little cat perched by the fireside, constantly licking, licking, clinging, See, what makes that cat so fastidious? Tracking down every little bit of soil and her fur?

11:49 - 12:15 Read in full sermon

Driving home: That's why you need to be saved as a child. Because as a child, you're a sinner by nature.

The natural happiness of birds in the sky is used as an analogy for creatures acting according to their God-given nature.

What makes the birds so happy up in the sky?

12:18 - 12:20 Read in full sermon

Driving home: That's why you need to be saved as a child. Because as a child, you're a sinner by nature.

The natural happiness of fish in water is used as an analogy for creatures acting according to their God-given nature.

What makes the birds so happy up in the sky?

12:18 - 12:20 Read in full sermon

Driving home: You know the only difference between a five-year-old who seems to be a sweet little child but who's not been saved and a fifty-year-old man who's full of cursing and drunkenness and abominable wickedness? You know the on…

Martin quotes Jesus from Mark 7:21-23, listing various sins that proceed from the human heart, to illustrate the depth of human sinfulness by nature.

I quote from Mark 7 now, 21 to 23. For from within, out of the heart of man proceed, and then listen to the things that He lists that come out of the human heart. Mark chapter 7, verses 21 to 23. For from within, out of the heart of man proceed evil thoughts, evil thoughts, thoughts of suspicion, thoughts of bitterness, thoughts of pride, thoughts of meanness, fornication, uncleanness, theft, murder, hatred, adultery, coveting, wanting what somebody else has, wickedness, deceit, telling lies, lasciviousness, an evil eye, railing, using your tongue to bash somebody else down, abusing people wit...

15:36 - 16:58 Read in full sermon

Driving home: You know the only difference between a five-year-old who seems to be a sweet little child but who's not been saved and a fifty-year-old man who's full of cursing and drunkenness and abominable wickedness? You know the on…

Martin explains that the difference between a seemingly sweet five-year-old and a wicked fifty-year-old is simply 45 years of allowing their inherent sinful nature to express itself.

Now listen to me very carefully. You know the only difference between a five-year-old who seems to be a sweet little child but who's not been saved and a fifty-year-old man who's full of cursing and drunkenness and abominable wickedness? You know the only difference? Forty-five years of letting what's within come out.

17:19 - 17:42 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The sermon then addresses sin by choice and practice, explaining that individuals actively choose to sin, using examples of lying and sassing parents. He uses the analogy of…

Paul's illustration from Romans 6:19 of servants presenting their members to obey their master is used to explain how individuals present their bodies and faculties to sin through choice and practice.

He said, you are sinners by choice and practice in the way that a servant obeys his master. This is what he says. He says, you presented the members of your body, servants to sin and unrighteousness. And this is what Paul is doing.

20:27 - 20:46 Read in full sermon

The point: Children should repent and believe the gospel now because their sins provoke God's anger and call for judgment.

The Genesis account of God blotting out humanity due to pervasive wickedness is used to show God's judgment extends to all, including children.

The Bible tells us in the sixth chapter of Genesis that God looked upon you in that condition. The Bible tells us in the sixth chapter of Genesis that God looked down upon the earth, men, women, boys and girls, and he saw that the imaginations of the thoughts of the hearts of men was only evil continually. And God says, I'm going to blot them all out. And you know the story.

23:34 - 23:56 Read in full sermon

The point: Children should repent and believe the gospel now because their sins provoke God's anger and call for judgment.

The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is used to illustrate that God's judgment consumes all inhabitants, including children, who have turned from Him.

Your sins call for God's wrath and God's judgment. Look at Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham prays, O God, if there are but ten righteous people, will you hold back the judgment? God says, if there are but ten.

25:18 - 25:36 Read in full sermon

The point: Children should repent and believe the gospel now because their sins provoke God's anger and call for judgment.

The story from 2 Kings 2 where youths mock the prophet Elisha and are mauled by bears is used to demonstrate God's severe judgment on sin, even when committed by children.

I want you to look at a very interesting passage and I hope it'll strike holy dread to the heart of some of you children this morning. It's found in 2 Kings chapter 2. Here's some kids who went out one day and said, hey, vacation time, gonna have a little fun. No school today, no homework.

26:03 - 26:24 Read in full sermon

The point: Children should repent and believe because Jesus is able and willing to save them.

Martin uses the analogy of a strong man who is able but unwilling to help a child stuck with a bicycle to illustrate that Jesus' ability to save is coupled with His willingness.

Suppose you're out riding your bike tomorrow and you hit a bump and you flop over and I remember this happened to me as a kid and you get yourself caught so that your leg is twisted in with a handle bar and you're bleeding at the knees and you can't get yourself out and along comes some big strapping guy 6 feet 2, 220 pounds well able to take care of you and you look at him and you say well he's able but you look up and say Mister would you please help me? Small comfort if he says sorry sonny I'd like to help you but I gotta catch the 803 and I've only got 22 seconds see you later. Doesn't do ...

33:19 - 34:46 Read in full sermon

The point: Children should pray for themselves and seek the Lord, not relying solely on parents' or pastor's prayers.

A letter from Charles Spurgeon is read, urging a young boy to pray for himself, seek the Lord, and trust Jesus for salvation, emphasizing it's never too soon to be saved, happy, or holy.

that I then want to have put in the hands of all of you children as you leave this is a letter from Charles Spurgeon the great preacher of another generation and Mr. Spurgeon had been at a prayer meeting where people were praying for the salvation of the children and when he came home from that prayer meeting he sat down and wrote a letter to a young boy who was son of one of the members of his congregation and this is the letter that he wrote to him and what I've done is I've had it mimeographed and left a blank and I want every one of you fellows and girls to consider this as a personal lett...

47:50 - 49:15 Read in full sermon

The point: Children should ask Jesus to save them, trust Him, and tell Him they have sinned.

Martin encourages children to go to their rooms and pray, confessing their sin and asking Jesus to save them, urging them to 'meet me at the mercy seat'.

ask him to do it he that asketh receive it then trust in Jesus to save you he can do it for he died and rose again that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life come and tell Jesus you've sinned seek forgiveness trust him for it and be sure you are saved then imitate our Lord be at your home what Jesus was at the home in Nazareth yours will be a happy home and your dear father and mother will feel that the dearest wish of their hearts has been granted them I pray you to think of heaven and hell for in one of those places you will live forever meet me in heaven mee...

50:42 - 52:10 Read in full sermon