Romans 5
Explanation and Bible story for toddlers and preschoolers (ages 3-6)
The Explanation
Come, sit close. I will tell you something beautiful.
There once was a big problem. A very big problem. People had done wrong things. They fought. They said mean words. They did not listen to God. That is called sin.
And God is so good and so pure. Sin cannot come near Him. So the people could not come to God. That was very sad.
But God had a plan. A wonderful plan.
God sent His own Son. His name is Jesus. Jesus came to the earth. He was good. Always good. He never did anything wrong.
And then something happened that was very sad, but also very special. Jesus died on a cross. For us. For all the wrong things people did.
Do you know why? Because God loves us. So, so much.
What Does This Mean?
Listen carefully. This is important.
Because Jesus did that, we may come to God again. There is peace now. No more fighting between God and us. It is all good again.
Paul, who wrote this in the Bible, was so happy about it. He wrote: God loves us! Even when we are not sweet, God loves us. Even when we do wrong, God loves us.
That is a very big love. Bigger than the sky. Bigger than the sea.
The Common Thread
The Bible tells one big story. Do you know what that story is about?
It is about Jesus. Jesus who makes everything good again.
Long, long ago, the very first people did something wrong. Their names were Adam and Eve. Since then, everyone does wrong things sometimes. You too. Mom too. Dad too. Everyone.
But Jesus came. And Jesus did everything right. He gave a gift. A very big gift. The gift is: you may belong to God again.
You do not have to pay for that gift. You do not have to be sweet enough. Jesus already did it. You may just say: thank You, Jesus.
For You
Do you know what is so nice?
God loves you. Now. Today. Just as you are.
Sometimes you are happy. God loves you. Sometimes you are sad. God loves you. Sometimes you are angry, or you did something you should not have done. And guess what? God still loves you.
You may go to God. Just like that. Because Jesus made the way.
Try it today. When you wake up, say: good morning, God. When you eat, say: thank You, God. When you are scared, say: help me, God.
God hears you. Always.
Talk About It
Do you know what Jesus did for us? Can you tell it in your own words?
How big is God's love, do you think? Can you show it with your arms?
Praying Together
Dear God,
Thank You for Jesus. Thank You that You love me. Even when I am small. Even when I do wrong. You love me always. Thank You, God.
Amen.
Questions about Romans 5
Short answers for anyone reading about this for the first time.
What is Romans 5 about?
What does Romans 5 say?
What does Romans 5 teach us about God?
What can toddlers learn from Romans 5?
Why is Romans 5 an important Bible story?
What others discovered
But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Notice the timing. Not after you got your life in order. While. At your worst moment, the cross was already happening. You have never once been loved because you earned it, and you cannot now lose it by failing.
Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Notice it says peace with God, not peace inside your head. The war is over, whether or not your feelings have received the news yet. You may wake anxious tomorrow. The treaty still holds, signed in blood you didn't shed.
We also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation."
Notice Paul does not say we rejoice in the reconciliation itself, as wonderful as it is. He says we rejoice in God. The gift is not the point. The Giver is. It's easy to love what Jesus gives you: peace, forgiveness, a future. But do you love Him?
The law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly."
Notice Paul does not say grace merely matches sin. It "abounded more exceedingly." Wherever your failure has piled up, grace has already outrun it. The place you are most ashamed of is the very place where grace is waiting, deeper than the wound.
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