Oogene: Jenny may, did you understand what the Sunday School teacher said today?

Jenny may: I think so Oogene. What do you mean?

Oogeen: Well, she said that when Adam sinned in the garden, it made all of us become sinners! If we are all sinners, Jenny May, how can we get to heaven?!!!!

Jenny May: Oh, Oogene, didn’t you hear all of the lesson?

Oogene: Uh huh!! Well…..maybe I forgot to listen some…but Jonathan put a spider on Jessica’s hair and it was so---------funny!!!!!

Jenny May: That was not funny Oogene! But if you have questions about what Jesus did to make us righteous, maybe you should ask Dad?

Oogene: Ok. DAD!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dad: What Oogene, and please don’t yell in the house.

Oogene: Dad, if Adam made us all sinners in the garden, how do we stop being sinners?

Dad: Well, son, first of all, Adam was made in God’s image. But Adam didn’t understand he was already like God, so when the snake told him that if he ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Adam thought it would make him like God. So he sinned, because God had told him not to eat that fruit.

Oogene: oooh, sometimes I do stuff like that too! DAD!!!I’M A SINNER!!!!!!GOD WON’T LET ME INTO HEAVEN!!!

Dad: Calm down Oogene. Before you get too focused on what Adam did, let’s look at what Jesus did.

Oogene: I know Jesus died for me, but Dad, if I keep doing the bad things, I’ll never be good enough for Jesus!

Dad: Yes, Oogene, Jesus died for you. But he didn’t just die for you. He died AS you. Do you remember the story of Barrabas?

Oogene: Wasn’t he the murderer that was in prison and the people wanted him set free instead of Jesus?

Dad: That’s right. That story is a picture of what happened to us when Jesus went to the cross.

Oogene: How?

Dad: Jesus went to the cross in our place. Barrabas’ name means "son of Abba". That means ‘son of God’. So when Jesus who IS the Son of God was crucified, Barrabas was released from prison.

Oogene: Wow! Jesus took Barrabas’ place! And he had done bad things!

Dad: Yes, son, and that is a picture of what happened with us. Jesus drew all of mankind into Himself and when He was crucified, God saw all of us there. Jesus didn’t need to die because He had never sinned. But He loved all of us so much He became sin for us.

Oogene: Dad, that was a lot of love huh? But how does that make me stop doing bad stuff?

Dad: You realize son, that Jesus drew you into Himself and crucified everything God didn’t like about you. And then you know what happened?

Oogene: What Dad, WHAT!!!!

Dad: God began to see you as His own Son. Jesus became sin so that we could become righteous.

Oogene: Really? I’m God’s son?

Dad smiling: Yes, Oogene, the moment you asked Jesus to come into your heart, you became God’s son.

Oogene: But Dad? What about when I do bad stuff? Will God stop seeing me as His son?

Dad: No Oogene. God loves you and He already has judged sin. But we need to learn to see God as our Father, because we are in Christ, and Christ is in us. Jesus lives inside of you and because of that, you won’t want to do the things that get you into trouble. But if you do, ask Father God to forgive you and remember He loves you no matter what.

Oogene: Thanks Dad. I’m gonna go see if Freddy wants to play. I’m gonna tell him about being on the cross with Jesus.