5 Truths About God that You Must Teach Your Children

“Mom, who is God?”

The surprising question came from my quiet 6 year old. And honestly, in the moment, I wasn’t sure what to say!

Strange, right? But sometimes, when we’ve known the Lord for awhile, we find it hard to explain WHO He is in words.

So I gave my son the quick answer, “God loves you and He created you.” Then I purposed myself to give him some more details, from a Biblical perspective. :)

If you’ve had a similar question (or want to be prepared when you do!) and want to teach your children in a solid, biblical way about God’s character and attributes, these are five truths about Him that I believe are important to understanding who He really is, plus Scripture verses to go with it!

5 Truths About God You Must Teach to Your Kids

God is unchanging.

One of the attributes (or characteristics) about God is that He is unchanging. What He said at the beginning of the world is what He is still saying now. Hebrews 13:8 is a great example of this truth. “God is the same yesterday, today and forever.” In a world that is ever-changing in viewpoints and opinions about right and wrong or what is true or not, our children can rely on God to always say what is truthful and to be unchanging in His ways.

Key Verses to Share: God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? Numbers 23:19

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17

God is strong and powerful.

When we talk about God being powerful and strong with our kids, it works well to compare His power with that of earthly rulers. They are limited in their power, eventually they are no longer powerful and someone comes to take their place. But God is always strong and mighty! He is the creator of the universe and can do far more than anyone who is “in charge” on earth.

Key Verses to Share: It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens. Jeremiah 10:12

Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created. Revelation 4:11

God is full of Lovingkindness.

The word “lovingkindness” means “tenderness toward others.” Sometimes it’s not easy for us to treat other with lovingkindness, but God always possesses this attribute! We tell our kids that the Lord is a loving God. He loves us and constantly is kind, even if we are not kind or loving back to him.

Key Verses to Share: I shall make mention of the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, the praises of the LORD, According to all that the LORD has granted us, And the great goodness toward the house of Israel, Which He has granted them according to His compassion And according to the abundance of His lovingkindnesses. Isaiah 63:7

How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. Psalm 36:7

God is holy.

Sometimes the attribute of God’s holiness can get passed over in Sunday School lessons. It is a BIG concept! A simple way to explain it to your children (the young ones especially) would be to say that holy means that God is perfect and clean, with no sin. He is the only One who is completely holy. Jesus makes us holy, so we can talk to God and have him as our friend.

Older children can understand the truth that God cannot tolerate or be in the presence of sin because He is holy. This is why He sent Jesus, the perfect Son, to take our sins on Himself so that we can be in the presence of a holy, perfect God. And because He is perfect, He always does what is right, even when we don’t understand.

When we start thinking about the truth that God is holy, it’s then that we really comprehend why we need Jesus! It makes God’s plan of redemption more beautiful and really is an example of why Jesus is the only way to the Father.

Key Verses to Share: This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5

Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy; for all the nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed. Revelation 15:3-4

Song of the Lamb by Maranatha is Revelation 15 put to words–this was one of my favorite praise songs to sing on the church worship team in college! Search YouTube for the video to watch/listen with your kids!

God is Merciful.

Mercy and grace are different attributes, even though they are often put together! A good way to explain these truths about God to your kids is to say that grace is the blessings of God given freely to us (an acronym to share with your children is God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense). Mercy is God not punishing us as our sins deserve. Salvation is a beautiful illustration of both mercy and grace! It is in God’s very nature to show mercy.

I told my 6 and 3 year old that God is merciful to us because He loves us. And that even though we don’t always do the right thing, God shows us mercy and forgives us.

Key Verses to Share: Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.  Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! Psalm 51:1-2

Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1 Peter 2:10

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. Psalm 23:6 (great verse for young children!)

Other Attributes of God

There are many other attributes of God that we can teach to our children! He is:

• Ever-present – He is always with us and nothing is too hard for Him, nothing is hidden from Him (Psalm 139:7-12)
• All-knowing – He knows the heart of each person and knows everything that has ever happened (Romans 11:33-34, Psalm 147:4)
• Sovereign – He has a plan for His people and controls the times and seasons (Ephesians 1:5, 11, Daniel 2:21)
• Just – He is right in what He does, and He will always treat me fairly (Deut. 32:4, 1 John 2:1)
• Faithful – He will keep His promises (1 John 1:9, Psalm 36:5, Lamentations 3:22-23)

I hope these six truths help you teach your children about God so they can understand more about Who He is and give them the confidence to trust in Him!

What truths about God do you teach to your children?

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