Dad Ernie

Greetings Apo, I left the other topic on the "image of God" because I addressed specific issues and scriptures, even as in this topic and you and Tess refused to address them. I did not continue in that forum also because your attitude is one of high and pious supposed knowledge. Actually you are trying to shove your paradigm down my throat and I did not feel it was worth the effort to convince you "by scripture". You seem to think that Adam's eternal soul did not need Christ - THAT IS HERESY, as you are so fond of saying. I suggest you take a breather and if you are a teacher like you think you are, then perhaps you might show a little more humility in your posts, gently instructing, instead of sitting on your high horse attempting to drown out opposing voices by your supposed head knowledge. A disciple of Christ IS A LEARNER - are you one? Blessings, Dad Ernie

Greetings JckDuboise, Consider: Revelation 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; Revelation 7:13-14 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. A multitude without number. Is Christ going to leave them behind? I think not. Yes, God is a God of second and third and so on chances, but right now we are living in this day of grace. It will continue through the tribulation to Christ's 2nd advent. At that time Christ will send His angels out to gather ALL the elect from the face of the earth. You may want to read Matt 24 carefully. There are so many holes in the pre-trib notion, if you would like to dialogue about it via e-mail, PM me and I will guide you through the scriptures, or you can read them for yourself. Blessings, Dad Ernie

Now that is profound and deep. This thread has taken a positive turn. Thank you brother Ernie. Now if you will? Please explain why for all those interested. I have some idea, yet it seems your take will enlighten and broaden the depths. Greetings Matthitjah, I wish I could take credit for this "profound and deep" statement. But a prior poster already mentioned that man was created to glorify God, I just added what I had heard from the preacher. I agree whole heartedly. Because the Holy Spirit had not been given, Adam could not have pleased God. Jesus was given the Holy Spirit "without measure". After Pentecost, we have received the Holy Spirit by measure, according to the grace God extends to us. Adam was doomed to fall because he was neither perfect, nor had he been "bought with the price of the blood of our Lord Jesus". God never changes and it takes the shedding of innocent blood to cover our sins. Up until the first advent of Christ, the shedding of blood of animals provided a temporary measure whereby the saints of God could continue to commune with Him. But when Jesus descended, he preached to the prisoners held by the law until His time. Adam most assuredly was one of those preached to and I am convinced we shall see him in glory. Blessings, Dad Ernie

Greetings Senerhu, Words mean something, other than just conjecture or what you want them to mean by redefining them. Who do you believe the "tribulation saints" (as some have labeled them) are? If you say that they are those who are given a "second chance" to accept Christ, then you cannot criticize those who believe in "purgatory". Actually purgatory is a place where a person must "fill up" his punishment because Christ's atonement was insufficient. We are told in the scriptures that TODAY is the day of salvation. TODAY is the day between Pentecost and the Lord's 2nd coming at which time He will call His people "out of this world". Are those "tribulation saints" OF CHRIST? Is Christ going to leave ANY of His Saints behind? Doesn't the parable of the 10 virgins tell you Christ is coming FOR ALL His saints? Why then would He leave ANY behind? To make them suffer the torments of the SEALS, because His blood was insufficient? I really think not. Blessings, Dad Ernie

Greetings, I have not departed, but have been watching the dialogue and just letting the Lord lead my heart and thoughts. Yesterday I listened to a sermon on the radio which brought out the purpose of man, which is and has always been "to glorify God". This was the purpose even of Adam, but as has been told, he fell short of it. This capability to sin was intrinsic in him. It was not something new, but he was subject to the "frailties of the flesh", even as we all are. There is no difference. Give Adam a chance to sin, or give us a chance to sin, what happens? Does God have in him the "ability to sin"? Of course not, so where did this ugly serpant rear its ugly head? It certainly was NOT of God. God can do nothing that goes against His perfect will and character. How so with Adam? If Adam, as some would believe, had this capability, again I ask where did it come from? The alternative solution to this is that the Glory of God is found in Christ, and in HIM ALONE. Adam needed Christ just as much as we do today to overcome that fleshly nature with which we and Adam were born. When Apo and Tess can answer this with some amount of reasonability, I will discuss it further. Blessings, Dad Ernie P.S. The preacher went on to discuss the Westminister Chaticism (sp?) and that not glorifying God in all that we do, say and think is sin.

Greetings Vitality, For what it is worth: Having now been through two divorces, 6 kids and 16 grandkids as well as coming from a family of 7, I have experienced some of what everyone goes through. Let me summarize: 1. Let Christ be the husband, whether male or female. I realize men might object to that, but the intimate relationship with Christ must developed BEFORE ANYTHING else. If one does not have this kind of relationship, no other relationship will work. 2. If the pull of the flesh is great and one desires to get married, it is okay, but ONLY after the relationship with Christ is firmly established and doing well. 3. Being unequally yoked with someone usually means one is a Christian and the other is not, but this is not always the case. There are compatibility tests, if the two cannot determine themselves if they are compatible. These are not fool proof, but may offer some guidance. Pre-marriage counseling is always in order, with someone who is trained in these matters. Even two or three counselors might be consulted - making sure they are trustworthy men of God. 4. Give it some time, be patient in a relationship. Satan wants us to RUSH into relationships, whereas, the Lord is sometimes tediously slow. They who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings of eagles. They shall walk and not grow weary, they shall run and not faint. 5. During a getting-acquainted period, let no unclean thought or action enter into it. Both should be dedicated to the Lord and during this time, one should be continuously in prayer over the matter. Perhaps this may just be a growing up period for one or the other or both. Always be ready to remain "just friends". Let God do the choosing. Well, there is probably much more that I could say, but for now, that might get a person off to a good start. Blessings, Dad Ernie

Greetings Azarel Star, Candi gave a wonderful answer. We can be certain it is God if: Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. I have had times when God spoke to my spirit (almost audibly) in a few moments of time. At other times His answer may come in an hour or days. It took Daniel 21 days to hear from God at one time, so if you are sincere and diligent in pursuing God for an answer HE WILL ANSWER. Another favorite verse is: James 1:5-7 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. When God speaks to use, it will NEVER conflict with His revealed Word - the Bible. At times, He has spoken and it may have seemed "out of context" from the scriptures, but as I studied it, it became clear what He was saying to me. When God speaks, He speaks not like the world which most often is confusing, but with it comes a clarity and usually a complete understanding of what He is saying. It all depends upon our own hardness of heart in resisting what He is trying to say because our mind has been trained to think otherwise - like the world. So don't give up, keep seeking Him and He WILL ANSWER. Blessings, Dad Ernie

Greetings Apothanein, In a recent discussion, I seem to recall that you and Tess attempted to prove that Adam, before the fall, were indeed created "perfect" - as you have said that God cannot create anything less than perfect. Now which is it? Tell me, was Christ created in the "likeness of man" (Adam) before the fall or after the fall? If before the fall, what made the difference between Him and Adam? If after the fall, then He too was born with a sinful nature - according to what you are saying. How could Adam have "lived forever"? Do you say "had he not sinned"? I would disagree with this, because there was also a Tree of Life there that he had to eat of which sustained his life. This is why God threw them out of the Garden - lest they eat of the fruit of the Tree of Life and LIVE FOREVER. So the Tree of Life is everything. Without access to the Tree, Adam would surely die. Same with us and Christ, as Christ is the anti-type of the Tree of Life. Blessings, Dad Ernie

Greetings Penfold, I assume you are attending a secular school, am I correct? Even some Christian colleges stray from sound doctrine. You are wise in discerning the very humanistic way in which most of society views psychology. There are many good expositors today that look at society from a "Christian World View". You may want to type in those words in Google and see what you come up with. You have chosen a wonderful field and I pray that God continues to bless you and give you wisdom. Keep the Faith. Blessings, Dad Ernie

Greetings Smalcald, Please show us in Genesis where God cursed man AND his progeny with SIN. You will only find that the curse involves death. Babies are born into a death filled life. Dead to God! They have no concept of right or wrong, only what they want whether good or bad. Until trained, a child is guiltless according to the "law". And as has been pointed out, where there is no law, there is no condemnation. But we are born as Adam was (created), frail, because of the flesh and until we learn differently we attempt to fulfill the desires of the flesh. But God wishes that none should perish and when a child learns of the "commandment" then they become responsible for it, just as Adam learned of the commandment and was then held accountable. Because we do not live in the Garden of Eden, walking and talking with God, we are in Adam's boat. Only when the child/adult is born again and receives the Holy Spirit, (which Adam was/did not), there is no power in the flesh to overcome temptation. Blessings, Dad Ernie

Greetings SW, Will you please exegete this verse for me? Romans 2:12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; Please define "perish" for me. Is this a physical or spiritual death? Is it applied at death and the judgment or when the Books are opened and those whose names are not written in it are cast into the Lake of Fire? Thank you, Dad Ernie

Greetings Tess, You post the verse, but you don't understand it. When Adam sinned - death entered into the world and was passed to all his progeny, including us. Physical death or spiritual death? We find that we are "separated from God", and when we are separated from Him, we have NO LIFE in us. This is the case with even newborns. They are born into a life of death, unless revived by the Spirit of God. Sin need not be present to be in this state, for we are not living in the Garden of Eden, nor in the New Heavens and New Earth. We live "spiritually" right now in the Kingdom of God, and there, there is life in the Son. You say that even the unbeliever is created in the image of God, yet, you add the words "the image of God is marred". How can that be? Is God marred? When God looks at Jesus is that reflection Marred? If you are in Christ, God the Father SEES CHRIST. The rest of the world is DEAD to God. He does not hear their prayers, He does not acknowledge them for they are DEAD. Doesn't that make sense to you? Why does anyone die - physically? It is because DEATH reigns in this world, all because of Adam's sin and this death is imposed upon every one of us. NOT that Adam's sin is imposed upon us. Because even a newborn is DEAD to God, until they are born again they cannot be made alive. But you know what? Jesus has been prayin for all those babies since before the foundation of the world and He says: "Suffer the little children to come unto me." So I am not fearful for those babies and children who supposedly have never received Christ, because it is for their own sin they would have died and without the law there is no sin. Blessings, Dad Ernie

Greetings SW, Today, we have the Word of God to reveal to us His commandments, however, it is "spiritual" and we are "unspiritual". It takes being born again in the spirit before we can understand it: 1 Cor 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. So still the best way to receive the Gospel - even "the commandment", this is the way: Romans 10:13-15 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! So the one on one approach is best as shown here: Acts 8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. Acts 8:26-39 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. 27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. 34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. And so it often takes someone else to "explain" the scriptures until one has received the Holy Spirit that will "reveal the truth to them." Hope that answers your question. Blessings, Dad Ernie

Greetings, Just to add a little more: 1 Cor 11:18-19 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. 19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. Now to answer another poster - It is the Holy Spirit's job to reveal Jesus: John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: It took me a long time to become dependent upon the Holy Spirit, mostly because my carnal thoughts would attempt to interpret what He was saying to me. This is still a problem, but as I die daily to self, I lean more and more upon Him. I have met more people who claim they are Christians than I can count. But only a few does my spirit identify with their spirit. There are those on this board (WISDOM for one) with which my spirit clicks. I know that I know WISDOM is a true Christian. But it is the spirit within me that identifies with a "like" spirit. So it is possible to find those with whom you can fully identify with, even when there may be -some- disagreement in some areas. YOD is another good brother in Christ, one whom I can trust and in whom I can identify. The church has not yet been scattered, and whether it be a home church, a small church or a mega-church, one should continue (at this time) to try to find the fellowship with a local body as the Lord will provide. Blessings, Dad Ernie

Greetings, Ecumenism today is intended to mean to be "tolerant" and "respect" other religions, even other "gospels". Perhaps the word "ecumenical" ought to be very carefully defined. There are foundational principles given in the Bible which make determining a definition possible, however, among true Christ followers, the word has become a byword of secularism or of those who are liberal in their thinking toward the scriptures. Case in point is the admonition: Galatians 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. That is a pretty strong admonition of the Lord. Yet, we are told that Joseph Smith was visited by the angel Moroni and given a set of golden plates upon which was written essentially a NEW gospel. Yet to talk to any SDA today, they will confess that "Jesus is Lord", yet most have no idea that the Book of Mormon teaches that Jesus was the "brother of Satan". Shall we stand with them in an ecumenical embrace? How about the Jehovah's witnesses who deny that Jesus is God? How about those denominations that allow homosexuality to run rampant in their church, even to the promotion of homosexuals to the pulpit? Shall we embrace them? There are many other scriptures that reveal foundational beliefs of the True Christian. Jesus makes it clear: "By their fruit shall you know them." Judaism is another "religion" that denies that Jesus Christ is Lord and God. Shall we embrace them? I really think not. Yet we are admonished in the scriptures to pray for them and to share the gospel with them, in hopes they may be saved. I can say no less for all the other -so called- religions, for our duty is to be so thoroughly washed by the Word of God, that we should be able to give an answer to all for the hope that is in us. Blessings, Dad Ernie

Greetings, Romans 7:6-11 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. 7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Paul, here, says that before the "law" he was "alive". Was he alive physically or spiritually? Alive to God or dead to God? But when he "understood" the "law", sin taking occasion, slew him. He became aware of his deadness to God. So as a child departs from the womb, does he/she know the law? How ridiculous, of course not. But the child is born in death, he/she is born spiritually dead to God, having been separated from God through the sin of Adam. Did the child sin to receive such separation? Of course not. His death was a result of Adam's sin. But the child must come to a place when they learn of the commandment. Then they are responsible for it and if they continue in that sin, they shall die of their own accord. As it is written: By your own sin shall you die. Blessings, Dad Ernie

Greetings Buck, Have you ever seen a satellite photo? Did you see people walking around on the planet? I don't think so. I read a statistic a while back, that if all the people of the earth were put in one area, each given a 3'X3' square in which to live, they would not fill the area the size of Texas. We are perhaps like large molecules when compared with the size of the earth. Miniscule to the max. The earth would have no ill effect by even every living person that ever lived on this planet to be taken from it in a moment's notice. Does that answer your question? And YES there is a rapture, but not as some believe. Blessings, Dad Ernie

Greetings Keith, Some additional things you may wish to pursue to bolster your foundational understanding of the Lamb's Book of Life: When the Lamb's Book of Life is opened, all whose names are in it, were written in it before the foundation of the world: Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Hebrews 4:3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. Revelation 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. Now, I am also fond of seeking out types and anti-types, or figures and shadows of what was and shall be again. The High Priest of the OT is a "type" of Christ. Christ thus becomes the anti-type of the High Priest. Upon the Ephod of the High Priest was a "breastplate". It was placed over the heart of the High Priest, representing the 12 tribes of Israel - all those who were "chosen" by God to reveal Himself through them. Once a year with lots of blood (again a reference to Christ's shed blood) went in to the Holy of Holies and prayed for the forgiveness of sin of the nation of Israel. He prayed that they be reconciled to God's good graces. This is what Christ has been doing from the very foundation of the world: Hebrews 7:22-28 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. 23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: 24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore. One more thing. I noted above that God's 'WORKS' were completed at the foundation of the world - AND GOD ENTERED INTO HIS REST. After that Christ set about "reconciling" the world to Himself and to the Father. You are correct, God put down His pencil with which to write the names of the saints in the Lamb's Book of Life, but as we note elsewhere, and as you have said, He kept the ERASER. Blessings, Dad Ernie

Greetings, I agree with Cardcaptor, with an EMPHATIC NO! We are each responsible for our own sin. What we inherited from Adam was death and separation from God. Please read Genesis again. Death was passed to the progeny of Adam - not his sin. Yes we were formed in the iniquities of OUR FATHER, but his sin was NOT passed on to his progeny. This has to do with the "image of God" in which he created man. Every man is created "in the image" of God. So that when God looks into a mirror, He sees His reflection, it is not marred, as some seem to think. In the mirror, God sees Christ, who redeemed us from death, and took our sin in his own body to die to it, so that now we might also die to sin and live for Christ. We who know Christ as personal savior and redeemer are hidden IN CHRIST when God looks in that mirror. Blessings, Dad Ernie

Greetings, Just my 2c: 2 Corinthians 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation) Hebrews 3:7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, James 4:13-14 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. It is so unfortunate that so many do not realize that Jesus said: Luke 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? Today IS THE DAY OF SALVATION, for who knows what tomorrow may bring? Blessings, Dad Ernie

Greetings, The following will be the attitude/spirit of those who go through the Great Tribulation: Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Blessings, Dad Ernie

Greetings Jack Duboise, When you consider exactly what the seal is that is placed on the 144,000 (supposedly) you will find that the "seal" is the Holy Spirit. I won't provide the numerous scriptures which reveal this, but then we continue: Revelation 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; Revelation 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. These multitudes are ALSO sealed, else they would never had their robes washed. John is seeing a panorama of ALL that will GO THROUGH THE GREAT TRIBULATION, as noted in 7:14. There are many conjectures as to when the 7 seals are opened. But it is pretty accepted that they occur before the return of the Lord, which is at the end of the GREAT TRIBULATION. So just who is it that goes in a pre-trib rapture? Blessings, Dad Ernie

Greetings, There are those who believe that the Two Witnesses in Revelation are either Moses, Enoch or Elijah - REINCARNATED, as especially in the case of Moses, who actually died. As pointed out, this teaching is heresy. Blessings, Dad Ernie

Greetings Nana, You have been enlightened by the Holy Spirit to see this. You still may glean much if you continue to search out all there is about the Lamb's Book of Life. One very interesting thing I found was that a "type" of this Book is given to us in the form of the "Breastplate" worn by the High Priest in ancient Israel. It typifies the "heart of Christ", which as you know was "slain from the foundation of the world". Once a year the High Priest went into the Holy of Holies and pleaded the case for ALL God's people (designated by the stones on the Breastplate for each of the 12 tribes), so that every year all the people were prayed for. Well, our High Priest sits at the right hand of the Father and ever intercedes to the Father on our behalf. He does not do it just once a year, nor does he have to shed blood before entering in - He is ALREADY THERE! So we know that God wishes that NONE SHOULD PERISH. Guess who has been praying for you and me and every soul since the foundation of the world? But we also find that there is a thief that has come in and planted tares. We know that there are -some- who have never been written in that Book. We also know that God rested on the 7th day. All the souls that would ever be born were known to Him before that time. All those souls Jesus has been praying for since the beginning. They were ALL written IN HIS HEART in the beginning. But as I said, there are some who were never written on His heart for the enemy has sowed that seed. So the Book was written from the foundation of the world. BUT we find in the last book of the Bible that -some- whose names were written in that Book (the heart of Jesus) that shall have their name erased because they came to reject Christ, because they loved their sin more than they did Him. Well, that's my 2c. Keep studying. Blessings, Dad Ernie P.S. Have you wondered where babies or the unborn go when they die? Guess what? Jesus was already interceding for them! So as He said: "Suffer the little children to come unto me."

Greetings David from New Bern, Consider: John 20:27-29 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. Matthew 8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Does that help? Blessings, Dad Ernie