What are the Colors of Sin, Sorry, and Saved? (Teaching Children About Salvation)

School’s out for summer, and children fill their days with fun in the sun.  While they might be taking a break from their schoolwork, we need to teach them never to take a break from learning about Jesus. Summer is a great time to teach children about salvation.  And what a great activity for a rainy day.  Let the rain from Heaven be a reminder and an opportunity to speak to your children about Jesus. Open the Bible and read them a story.  Tell your children about Jesus’ love, His life, His service, His miracles, His friends, and more.  Help them to understand that Jesus is the Son of God and He is God!  Help them to also understand who they are….sinners in need of a Saviour.

Teach your children and entertain them by coloring a salvation flower!

Sin, Sorry, and Saved

It’s not always easy to talk about sin with young children, but it is very important. They need to understand what sin is, what it does, and how God has provided forgiveness in Jesus. Parents must start early—even in the toddler years—teaching God’s truth and His ways, because children are confronted with the world’s ways at very young ages.

Children learn quickly what it means to do wrong. They hear “no-no” the first time they reach for something they shouldn’t have, and they learn what it means to do good when they receive smiles and praise from family and friends. The difference between good behavior and bad behavior is quickly learned, and so is the remedy for bad behavior.

“I’m Sorry” Repentance

For young children, “I’m sorry” often wipes away the consequences of bad behavior. Parents are quick to forgive—and that’s good. But “I’m sorry” can also become a doorway to teaching about biblical repentance.

Repentance is a big word, and little ones won’t understand it at first. So explain it simply. Help your child see that saying “I’m sorry” to God is more than trying to get out of trouble; it means truly wanting not to do wrong again. Keep the explanation simple but true to Scripture. Children can grasp these truths when they are taught clearly and gently—we know this because Jesus saves children!

The Colors of Sin, Sorry, and Saved

A Fun Activity for a Rainy (or sunny) Day

Before you begin this project, pray for your children. Ask the Holy Spirit to open their ears to hear and their minds to understand. Ask Him to give you clear words to share God’s plan of redemption, and boldly ask Jesus to save them. Then start the project.

Using the coloring page (download it here: The Colors of Salvation) have your children select seven crayons: gold, black, red, purple, white, blue and green.  Explain the meaning of each color using the sections below. As you walk through the path of salvation—gold, black, red, purple, and white—have them color the matching petals of the flower. Let older children read the Scripture verses themselves; for younger ones, read the verses aloud.

After all the petals are colored, gently assess how much they understand about salvation. If they already trust Christ, help them deepen their understanding of the great gift they’ve received. If they’re not yet saved but can understand repentance and faith, ask whether they desire to put their trust in Jesus. Then help them find simple words to ask Him for forgiveness and salvation. Even very young children can understand this with clear teaching and the help of the Holy Spirit.

The Smile of Salvation

Once the petals are finished, color the flower’s center blue to represent Heaven. Explain that Heaven is a wonderful, glorious place, promised to all who belong to Jesus.

If you have a loved one or friend in Heaven, talk about the comfort and rest they now enjoy, the presence of Jesus, and the joy of their heavenly home. Assure your children that this person is alive with the Lord—not gone, not lost, but forever with Him. After talking about Heaven, add a happy smiley face in the blue center of the flower.

Life’s Journey

With the petals finished and the smiley face in place, talk about life’s journey after salvation. Have your children color the stem and leaves green to show growth in Christ. Explain that everything God creates is meant to grow. Flowers need roots, water, and light; in the same way, we need spiritual growth.

Tell them our growth is in Jesus, who is the Root (Revelation 22:16), the Light (John 1:4; 8:12), and the Living Water (John 4; Jeremiah 17:13). He is the One who makes us grow.

It’s All About Jesus

What a wonderful way to spend an hour on a rainy day—or any day. Have fun with your children and help them come to know Jesus. The Bible is all about Him. Teach your children the joy of reading God’s Word and use age‑appropriate resources to get them started early. For young children, a helpful resource is Big Questions from Little Hearts.

Proverbs 22:6  Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.

It is vital that parents teach their children about Jesus. If moms and dads are not teaching God’s truth, the world will gladly teach its lies.

The Colors of Salvation 

GOLD

We begin with God. If you add the letter “l” (for love) to “God,” you get “gold.” Gold is precious, valuable, and highly desired. In the same way, Jesus is precious, and His promises are precious (1 Peter 2:7). He is deeply desired (Psalm 42:2; 63:1; Philippians 3:10). Gold reminds us of God’s love—more valuable than all the gold in the world. Love is the “gold” of God.

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Gold also points to God’s deity. In ancient times, kings and noblemen were adorned with gold and surrounded by golden objects to display their position and wealth. Solomon’s ivory throne was overlaid with gold (1 Kings 10:18), and God gave precise instructions for the use of gold in the Tabernacle’s furnishings—each piece pointing to Christ and His deity. The Ark of the Covenant was made of acacia wood (His humanity) overlaid with pure gold (His divinity), and the mercy seat and cherubim were made of pure gold (Exodus 25:10–21).

Gold can be misused. Idols and false gods were often made of gold, like the golden calf the Israelites worshiped or the statue in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Yet at Jesus’ birth, one of the wise men rightly presented Him with gold—a gift fit for the King of kings and a testimony to His divine Sonship.

The wealth of this world can never satisfy: Ezekiel 7:19 reminds us that silver and gold cannot deliver in the day of the Lord’s wrath. Instead, our desire should be for the riches of God’s love (1 John 3:16) and the riches of His grace (Ephesians 1:7).

Ezekiel 7:19  …their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD: they [silver and gold] shall not satisfy their souls…
1 John 3:16  By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us…
Ephesians 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.

Black

Black in the Bible often symbolizes suffering and death. It is used for mourning (Job 30:28–30; Jeremiah 14:2), famine (Lamentations 5:10; Revelation 6:5), judgment of sin (Jude 13), and death and the grave (Job 10:21–22). Black absorbs light rather than reflecting it, while God is light (Psalm 104; 1 John 1:5).

Before his fall, Satan was an angel of light. When he sinned, he fell from Heaven and now dwells in darkness, away from God’s light (Luke 10:18). Likewise, Adam was created in light and perfection, in God’s image, guided by the Holy Spirit. When Adam sinned, that light was lost, and death entered. Since Adam, all people are born into the “blackness” of sin.

“There is none righteous… all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:10, 23), and “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

There is none righteous; all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:10, 23)
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

Red

Red represents blood. Life is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11), and Christ’s blood atonement is necessary for our redemption. Jesus’ pure blood paid the penalty for our sins, and by His blood we are washed clean (Revelation 1:5).

Revelation 1:5  And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.

We are not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a spotless Lamb (1 Peter 1:18–19). Through the blood of His cross, He makes peace and reconciles all things to Himself—even those who were once alienated and enemies in their minds (Colossians 1:20–21).

1 Peter 1:18-19  For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But [redeemed] with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

Colossians 1:20-21  And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

Purple 

Purple represents kingship. Because purple dye was costly in ancient times, it became a symbol of high status, nobility, and royalty (Judges 8:26; Esther 8:15). Scripture uses purple to picture wealth, prosperity, and luxury (Exodus 28:5; Ezekiel 27:7; Proverbs 31:22; Song of Solomon 3:10; 7:5; Luke 16:19; Acts 16:14; Revelation 17:4; 18:12, 16).

Purple reminds us of Jesus, the King of kings, who reigns forever and rules in the hearts of His people (Romans 15:12; 1 Timothy 1:17; Revelation 19:16). It is formed by combining red and blue—His shed blood (red) and His heavenly dwelling place (blue). Forgiven by His blood, we will one day enter Heaven and see our King in all His splendor.

Romans 15:12  And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
1 Timothy 1:17  Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 19:16  And he [Jesus] hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

White

White represents righteousness and purity. It reflects light and is unstained, reminding us of Christ’s perfect righteousness. When a sinner comes to Him in faith, He washes them clean.

Isaiah 1:18 says, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Jesus makes us “white as snow” by giving us His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). From there, we are set on a path of growing in faith—the stem from which the flower of our Christian life grows and blooms.

Blue

Blue points us to Heaven. It is the color of the sky and reminds us of the heavenly realm. Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the seventy elders saw under God’s feet a pavement like sapphire, “as it were the body of heaven in his clearness” (Exodus 24:10).

Exodus 24:10  And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.

Sapphire’s beautiful blue reflects not only the sky we see, but the “heaven of heavens” beyond (Nehemiah 9:6).

Nehemiah 9:6  Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.

Blue in the flower’s center is a reminder that our final home is with Jesus in Heaven.

Green

Green represents growing and blooming where God has planted us. It pictures a Christian life that bears good fruit and finds rest in Christ. A green plant or tree is healthy, alive, and fruitful, while a brown or withered one signals dying.

Growing and Fruitful

Scripture uses green to describe spiritual growth and fruitfulness (Jeremiah 11:16; 17:8; Hosea 14:8). Growth and fruit come as we live for Christ, follow His will, and rest in His peace. Green also pictures life and rest: “I am like a green olive tree in the house of God” (Psalm 52:8), and “He makes me to lie down in green pastures… He restores my soul” (Psalm 23:2–3)

Jeremiah 11:16  The LORD called your name, Green Olive Tree, Lovely and of Good Fruit. With the noise of a great tumult He has kindled fire on it, And its branches are broken.
Jeremiah 17:8  For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
Hosea 14:8  “Ephraim shall say, ‘What have I to do anymore with idols?’ I have heard and observed him. I am like a green cypress tree; Your fruit is found in Me.”
Psalm 52:8  But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.
Psalm 23:2-3  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Finding More Symbolism that Points to Jesus

The Bible offers many examples of colors that point to Jesus. One beautiful example is the Tabernacle gate. Exodus 27:16 describes a hanging of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen:

Exodus 27:16  And for the gate of the court shall be an hanging of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework: and their pillars shall be four, and their sockets four.

• Blue points to Heaven, where Jesus dwells.
• Purple points to the One who would come as Messiah, the King of the Jews
• Scarlet (red) points to His blood atonement for the sins of man.
• White (fine linen) points to the Righteous One and the righteousness He gives to all who come to Him in faith.

This gate was the one entrance into the court of the Tabernacle. Beyond it lay the Holy Place, with golden furnishings, and beyond that the Holy of Holies with the golden Ark and the very presence of God. In the same way, Jesus is our one Door. Through Him alone we enter God’s presence.

I am the door:
by me if any man enter in,
he shall be saved,
and shall go in and out,
and find pasture.
(John 10:9)

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Download the coloring page here: The Colors of Salvation

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What are the Colors of Sin, Sorry, and Saved? (Teaching Children About Salvation)