--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nowhere in the whole Bible is it even…" description: "\"“Nowhere in the whole Bible is it even intimated that it is God's desire or plan that children must remain outside of the covenant of Grace, and have n..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b4/g-h-gerberding-36625_bible_nowhere-in-the-whole-bible-is-it-even-in_1572395.jpg" --- # Nowhere in the whole Bible is it even intimated that it is… ![“Nowhere in the whole Bible is it even intimated that it is God's desire or plan that children must remain outside of the covenant of Grace, and have no part or lot in the benefits of Christ's redeeming work until they come to years of discretion and can choose for themselves. This modern idea is…” quote by G.H. Gerberding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b4/g-h-gerberding-36625_bible_nowhere-in-the-whole-bible-is-it-even-in_1572395.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b4/g-h-gerberding-36625_bible_nowhere-in-the-whole-bible-is-it-even-in_1572395.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b4/g-h-gerberding-36625_bible_nowhere-in-the-whole-bible-is-it-even-in_1572395.jpg) > ““Nowhere in the whole Bible is it even intimated that it is God's desire or plan that children must remain outside of the covenant of Grace, and have no part or lot in the benefits of Christ's redeeming work until they come to years of discretion and can choose for themselves. This modern idea is utterly foreign and contradictory to all we know of God, of His scheme of redemption, and of His dealings with His people, either in the old or new dispensation.”” [G.H. Gerberding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-gerberding/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that children are included in God's covenant and can benefit from Christ's redemption without waiting for adult discretion. **In simple terms:** Children are part of God's grace from the start. Key Takeaway Recognize God's inclusive plan for all ages. Themes theology grace children covenant inclusion Mood reflective thoughtful Type theological expository When to use this quote - Sunday school teaching - family prayer - church outreach - parental guidance Key Concepts Doctrine of covenant Grace theology Biblical interpretation Questions to Reflect On - How does this perspective affect how we teach faith to children? - What implications does it have for church membership policies? A Different Perspective Some traditions argue for age‑based responsibility, which may conflict with this view. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Benefits Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benefits-christ-5922210/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Covenant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/covenant/) [Covenant Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/covenant-grace-975419/) [God Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-desire/) [Outside Covenant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outside-covenant-5922209/) ## Related quotes > [“Wherever the Lord makes a provision, we are quite sure that there was a need for it. No superfluities clutter the covenant of grace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/wherever-the-lord-makes-a-provision-we-are-quite-sure-that-there-was/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [One may preach a covenant of grace more clearly than another... But when they preach a covenant of works for salvation, that is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hutchinson/one-may-preach-a-covenant-of-grace-more-clearly-than-another-but-when/) [Anne Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hutchinson/) > [Faith from, its essential nature implies the fallen state of man, while it recognizes the principles of the covenant of grace. It is itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gardiner-spring/faith-from-its-essential-nature-implies-the-fallen-state-of-man-while/) [Gardiner Spring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gardiner-spring/) > [“God does not say that He will be our God if we do this or that thing. But He says that He will put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-bavinck/god-does-not-say-that-he-will-be-our-god-if-we-do-this-or-that-thing/) [Herman Bavinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-bavinck/) > [The children of believing parents, at least their next and immediate seed, even of us Gentiles now under the gospel, are included by God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-goodwin/the-children-of-believing-parents-at-least-their-next-and-immediate/) [Thomas Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-goodwin/) > [God knows we have nothing of ourselves, therefore in the covenant of grace he requires no more than he gives, but gives what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sibbes/god-knows-we-have-nothing-of-ourselves-therefore-in-the-covenant-of/) [Richard Sibbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-sibbes/) > [No work nor deed of ours whatsoever, no not faith itself, can be the condition of the covenant of grace properly so called; but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-boston/no-work-nor-deed-of-ours-whatsoever-no-not-faith-itself-can-be-the/) [Thomas Boston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-boston/) > [In the new covenant, God doesn't want us to be blessed when we obey the law and cursed when we fail. Doesn't such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/in-the-new-covenant-god-doesn-t-want-us-to-be-blessed-when-we-obey/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [Hebrews 3:19 tells us why the children of Israel did not enter into the promised land. Their problem was the same thing that keeps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-williams/hebrews-3-19-tells-us-why-the-children-of-israel-did-not-enter-into/) [Brian Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-williams/) > [“Like it or not, because I stand in the covenant of grace, I must mortify my sin. Because I stand in the covenant of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosaria-champagne-butterfield/like-it-or-not-because-i-stand-in-the-covenant-of-grace-i-must/) [Rosaria Champagne Butterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosaria-champagne-butterfield/) > [“God has laid himself under no obligation, by any promise, to keep any natural man out of hell one moment. God certainly has made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/god-has-laid-himself-under-no-obligation-by-any-promise-to-keep-any/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [Guidance, like all God's acts of blessing under the covenant of grace, is a sovereign act. Not merely does God will to guide us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/guidance-like-all-god-s-acts-of-blessing-under-the-covenant-of-grace/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The first grand federalist design...was that of the Bible, most particularly the Hebrew Scriptures or Old Testament... Biblical thought is federal (from the Latin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-elazar/the-first-grand-federalist-design-was-that-of-the-bible-most/) [Daniel J. Elazar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-elazar/) > [If you don't feel like praying, pray to God to give you the desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-don-t-feel-like-praying-pray-to-god-to-give-you-the-desire/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“it is God’s desire that a clear map of the Divine Love Path becomes freely available to help guide souls through some of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padma-aon-prakasha/it-is-god-s-desire-that-a-clear-map-of-the-divine-love-path-becomes/) [Padma Aon Prakasha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padma-aon-prakasha/) ## More by G.H. Gerberding > [“People are made to realize the uncertainty and unsatisfactoriness of the affairs of this life. By losses, diseases, bereavements, or bitter disappointments, God seeks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-gerberding/people-are-made-to-realize-the-uncertainty-and-unsatisfactoriness-of/) [G.H. Gerberding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-gerberding/) > [“When we come to deal with an institution of His, we dare never expect to fathom or test it by our poor, short-sighted and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-gerberding/when-we-come-to-deal-with-an-institution-of-his-we-dare-never-expect/) [G.H. Gerberding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-gerberding/) > [“Truly it required a divine mind to originate a scheme by which God "could be just and yet justify the ungodly." All the wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-gerberding/truly-it-required-a-divine-mind-to-originate-a-scheme-by-which-god/) [G.H. Gerberding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-gerberding/) > [“In our Lutheran Church, with her deep, significant and inspiring doctrine of this holy Sacrament, with her solemn and searching preparatory service, every such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-gerberding/in-our-lutheran-church-with-her-deep-significant-and-inspiring/) [G.H. Gerberding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-gerberding/) > [“And should any one be ashamed of this public profession and refuse to make it, Jesus clearly tells such an one that of him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-gerberding/and-should-any-one-be-ashamed-of-this-public-profession-and-refuse-to/) [G.H. Gerberding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-gerberding/) > [“Christian parents, if you desire your sons and your daughters to become steadfast and useful members of the Church of Christ, see to it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-gerberding/christian-parents-if-you-desire-your-sons-and-your-daughters-to/) [G.H. Gerberding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-gerberding/) > [“In justification, God imputes or counts over to the sinner the righteousness of Christ. In sanctification, God imparts the righteousness of the new life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-gerberding/in-justification-god-imputes-or-counts-over-to-the-sinner-the/) [G.H. Gerberding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-gerberding/) > [“It would indeed be blasphemy for any man to claim that he had power in himself to forgive sins. If he can have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-gerberding/it-would-indeed-be-blasphemy-for-any-man-to-claim-that-he-had-power/) [G.H. Gerberding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-gerberding/) > [“A true Lutheran pulpit cannot be a sensational pulpit, for discoursing wordly wisdom, philosophy, poetry, or politics. It must expound the Word, and never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-gerberding/a-true-lutheran-pulpit-cannot-be-a-sensational-pulpit-for-discoursing/) [G.H. Gerberding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-gerberding/) > [“We cannot separate the water from the Word. We would not dare to baptize with water without the Word. In the words of Luther,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-gerberding/we-cannot-separate-the-water-from-the-word-we-would-not-dare-to/) [G.H. Gerberding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-gerberding/) > [“Every lesson that does not make sin more hateful and Christ more precious, is in so far, a failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-gerberding/every-lesson-that-does-not-make-sin-more-hateful-and-christ-more/) [G.H. Gerberding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-gerberding/) [Explore all 12 G.H. Gerberding quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-gerberding/) ## More Bible quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/) [Michael Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arnold/) > [When you put your hand on the Bible, you are saying something much stronger than just telling your peers that you're going to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/when-you-put-your-hand-on-the-bible-you-are-saying-something-much/) [Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/) > [“Scripture also teaches that human beings are morally responsible creatures”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-peterson/scripture-also-teaches-that-human-beings-are-morally-responsible/) [Robert A. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-peterson/) > [“The wife of a junior officer cooped up in a horrible canvas partition in steerage for five months wrote: "I had enjoyed much peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-taylor/the-wife-of-a-junior-officer-cooped-up-in-a-horrible-canvas-partition/) [Stephen Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-taylor/) > [O Word of God incarnate . . . It is the golden casket Where gems of truth are stored; It is the heaven-drawn picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walsham-how/o-word-of-god-incarnate-it-is-the-golden-casket-where-gems-of-truth/) [Walsham How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walsham-how/) > [How can I trust that the Bible is reliable?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/how-can-i-trust-that-the-bible-is-reliable/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [Every plant which my heavenly father has not planted with be uprooted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/every-plant-which-my-heavenly-father-has-not-planted-with-be-uprooted/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [Where I come from you're not raised to think on your own. It's not that you're pushed to read the Bible. The Bible is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/where-i-come-from-you-re-not-raised-to-think-on-your-own-it-s-not/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [What comes to mind when you think of heaven? 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