A Believing Parent's Responsibility

"But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." (II Tim.3:14,15)

Every believing parent should pay careful attention to these words written by the Apostle Paul under inspiration of God the Holy Spirit to this young man Timothy. Those same parents should ask themselves this question: WHO did this young man Timothy learn the Holy Scriptures from? Was it local Scribes and Pharisees who taught him? Was it from his "worldly" friends that he had "learned" these words? Was it through some mystical, emotional experience he had "learned" and "known the Holy Scriptures"? I KNOW that God is absolutely sovereign in all matters, down to the most minute details, working all things after the council of His own will. I KNOW that this even applies in the MOST IMPORTANT MATTER OF ALL, the salvation of a sinner's soul. Even though I KNOW these things to be true, I KNOW God has declared HOW and by what MEANS He will call out His sheep to true faith and true repentance - "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."(Rom.10:13-17); "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe."(I Cor.1:21) So the preaching and hearing of God's Gospel is the GOD APPOINTED MEANS by which God calls His sheep out of this world to Himself in every generation - "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."(John 10:16) Knowing this to be the case, shouldn't a believing, justified saint's (one who has been graciously given the gift to parent children) NUMBER ONE responsibility to the children they have been given to do everything in their power to teach their children by their words and by their example HOW IMPORTANT God's Gospel and the Christ it sets forth is to them, and should be to their children?

Now, let me answer the original question: WHO did Timothy learn the Holy Scriptures from; WHO taught Him the Gospel? "When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also."(II Tim.1:5) His grandmother Lois, and his mother Eunice taught Timothy concerning "the faith of God's elect". If the Lord has graciously revealed Himself and His righteousness alone as your only HOPE and CAUSE of salvation, you can't use God's absolute sovereignty as cover for being irresponsible when it comes to the Scriptural and spiritual instruction of your children while you have them - "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."(Prov.22:6) You can rest assured if you show by your neglect to teach and instruct your children at home the Gospel and all the eternal implications of that Gospel, or if you neglect to keep your children under the preached Gospel in the assembly of the saints, your children will NEVER hear God's Gospel. How many parents claim to love their children, yet when it comes to the most important thing about that child, i.e., their ETERNAL SOUL and it's destiny, many parents tragically cater to their children's will and wishes. If you as a parent cater to their will and wishes, don't be surprized when that child grows into a man or woman who absolutely hates and rebels against that which you love. Keep in mind: THAT IS THEIR NATURE to hate the Gospel and the Christ declared in that Gospel.