Bible Question:

What would have happened if Jesus had not been born and recognized as the Messiah? How can I give significant facts to 7 to 12 year olds about the importance of the gift of the Messiah to the people of the earth?

Bible Answer:

When Jesus started His public ministry in A.D. 30, many people believed that Jesus was the Messiah, including four men who would become His disciples (John 1:40-51), a woman at a well (John 4:25-26), and many others who can be found throughout the gospels. But Jesus was not the type of Messiah they were looking for. They wanted one who would liberate them from an evil government – Rome. Jesus’ major reason for coming was to die for our sin.

Not Born?

If Jesus had not been born into this world He would not have been able to die for us (John 12:23-27). God required that a sinless person had to die in order to rescue us from the penalty of our sins. We are sinners, but not Jesus. He was the only sinless person who has ever satisfied the standard of God. Jesus became a man so that he could die for us. That is what He told His disciples.

Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon, and after they have [beat] Him, they will kill Him; and the third day He will rise again.” (NASB) Luke 18:31-33

Why Believe?

If Jesus had not been born, every man and woman would remain a sinner and spend eternity in punishment. They would spend eternity in the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:11-15). God warned us that every man and woman has already been judged. We are either going to spend eternity in punishment or eternity in heaven. The escape from eternal punishment occurs when we want and ask God to forgive our sins. We must believe in Jesus in order to escape. That is the message in the following passage.

For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil . . . He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. (NASB) John 3:17-19, 36

Jesus’ Resurrection

If Jesus had not been born, He would not have died in our place and been resurrected. The Apostle Paul tells us that if Jesus Christ had never been resurrected, then we are still in our sins and in real trouble.

But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain . . . and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. (NASB) 1Cor. 15:13-17

Conclusion:

Therefore, the answer to your question is that all men and women would still be sinners and would be on their way to eternal punishment if Jesus had not been born into this world some 2,000 years ago. Only Jesus could rescue us because He was the only sinless person who has ever lived. His birth was predicted from long ago. He performed miracles as the Bible and secular historians have reported. Jesus saved us from a painful eternity if we believe in Him, that is, if we want Him to forgive our sins. If you do, just ask Him. If you’d like to learn more, visit the page Searching For God.