Parenting Series 5: The Idyllic Ending

Koinonia Ministries

The idyllic end of the story is an absolutely essential hope in the parent-child relationship. This ideal is not merely some ethereal, fairy-tale ending; rather, Jesus incarnates and embodies the ideal. At His first coming, He inaugurated the restoration of all things which is first seen in the new nature of Christians. Like all humans, children must participate in the ideal. This is only possible by the Father’s election, the Son’s accomplishment, and the Spirit’s application of redemption. Often through parental evangelism, God frequently and graciously imparts faith to the hearts of children which transforms their cognitive, affective, and volitional heart functions. As more and more hearts are redeemed, the sin issues both within and without of a child begin to disappear as righteousness prevails. Ultimately, these redeemed hearts congregate into a spiritual family called the church. By virtue of Jesus’ person and work, the creation mandate is fulfilled in the church which allows all individuals to participate in parent-child relationships despite physical calling. Parents, both physical and spiritual, thus participate in the sanctification of the redeemed hearts found in their children.