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I am asking you what God told Cain in Genesis 4:6-7.
There is no Old Testament, nor were there Jews, in Genesis 4.
Genesis 4 is the Old Testament
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I am asking you what God told Cain in Genesis 4:6-7.
There is no Old Testament, nor were there Jews, in Genesis 4.
I am asking you what God told Cain in Genesis 4:6-7.
There is no Old Testament, nor were there Jews, in Genesis 4.
Consider my insight after decades of study and preaching on this subject. Jesus in Matthew 5 affirmed the Old Testament law, so what is the solution? Here's mine, which I think can be defended biblically. The external forms of the Old Testament laws have disappeared when Jesus died on the cross. For example, the unclean foods (we need to overcome inner uncleanness), bloody sacrifices (Jesus' perfect sacrifice), and the Sabbath (Jesus' Lord's Day because of his resurrection). The inner meaning of the law continues on. For example, God's Ten Commandments present us with inner principles of preserving life, not taking it ("You shall not murder"); keeping sex only in marriage ("You shall not commit adultery"); and preserving the truth ("You shall not give false testimony").
There was no Old Testament when Abraham was justified by his faith either. So Cain’s requirements for justification were no different than Abraham’s or Noah’s or anyone else’s. If justification came by works then the motivation would be irrelevant but if justification comes by the motivation behind the works then the works themselves are not what justifies us. So then the man who sells all his possessions to feed the poor would be justified by God even without love if justification came by works regardless of the motivation for the works. The thief on the cross didn’t do any works but what he did do is truly repent in his heart and acknowledged Jesus as his Lord and Savior.
There was no Old Testament when Abraham was justified by his faith either. So Cain’s requirements for justification were no different than Abraham’s or Noah’s or anyone else’s. If justification came by works then the motivation would be irrelevant but if justification comes by the motivation behind the works then the works themselves are not what justifies us. So then the man who sells all his possessions to feed the poor would be justified by God even without love if justification came by works regardless of the motivation for the works. The thief on the cross didn’t do any works but what he did do is truly repent in his heart and acknowledged Jesus as his Lord and Savior.
I believe there are two major covenants (i.e. the Old Covenant and the New Covenant) with the Old Covenant having different sub covenants. But we know there are only two major covenants.
“Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.” (Hebrews 10:9).
The first covenant (testament) was established in blood.
“Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.” (Hebrews 9:18).
This first covenant was established in blood when God killed an animal to cover Adam and Eve’s nakedness. Thus began the animal sacrifices (Which pointed to the greater covenant in that Christ would be our Passover Lamb).
In fact, even our Bibles are divided into two covenants (or two testaments).
You would have to say that all bibles are in error if you disagree.
I am simply asking you what did God tell Cain to do in that passage.
I am not asking you to read into that passage
I know, but your wanting me to disregard what has been revealed in the New Testament instead of taking the whole message into consideration. The Old Testament was specifically designed to be a stumbling block for the Jews and Genesis being a part of the Old Testament was part of that stumbling block.
I believe the Old Testament was only a part of God’s plan for salvation and that it was not fully revealed until the New Testament.
You said:I also believe that the blood offerings of animals was still not sufficient to enter Heaven
You said:and the righteous in Sheol were waiting for Christ’s crucifixion before they could enter Heaven. Hence “no one comes to The Father except thru Me”.
I agree.
I agree. The blood of goats and bull never took away sin permanently. It was only a temporary atonement and they had to keep revisiting the same past sins every year with more animal sacrifices. Only Christ’s sacrifice was sufficient to deal with past sin of a person. If new sin is accrued by a person, they need to confess and forsake such sins in order for the atonement to be applied again. For sin is not of the faith.
I believe faithful saints who die today still go to Abraham’s Bosom in the heart of the Earth or Sheol (i.e. the realm of the dead). I believe that after the Rapture takes place, the dead in Christ will rise first (out of Sheol), and then they which are alive will be caught up together to meet the Lord in the clouds. Then they shall forever be with the Lord. These Raptured saints will be in Heaven for 1,000 years until after the Judgment and the New Earth appears. Then they will receive new flesh and blood bodies to be with the Lord Jesus for all eternity.
Is the gospel more than 1 Corinthians 15:1-4?
Update:
The mystery to this question has now been resolved.
Check out post #25 why I think this is not the case involving certain verses.
And check out my post #36 and post #48 to see why I think there are other verses that gives a few more details about the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.
Note: I now consider 1 Corinthians 15:5-8, 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, 1 Corinthians 15:51-57, Galatians 3:8, and Acts of the Apostles 20:24 also a part of the gospel.
If Jesus is the Kingdom, how will He dwell there?I believe the “kingdom of God" is Jesus Christ (Which can include the body of Christ). The gospel (good news) of the kingdom is Jesus.
His commandments are about love.Jesus says if you love me, keep my commandments (John 14:15). So Jesus defines love as obedience. So I respectfully disagree.
What about setting the captives free? Is that part of the gospel and what does it mean?
Romans 10:1-4 says nothing about water baptism and in verse 4, we read - "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes."Those Jews were lost, Romans 10:1 because they would not obey the gospel, the refused to be water baptized in the name of Jesus Christ per Acts 2:38.
In Romans 10:16, we read - But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?” We obey the gospel by choosing to believe the gospel by trusting in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ as the ALL-sufficient means of our salvation. (Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4)The "remnant" of Jews that Paul says were saved were the ones that did obey the gospel by submitting to water baptism.
Again, we obey the gospel by choosing to believe the gospel. (Romans 1:16; 10:16) This is the act of obedience that saves. We are not saved by works. (Romans 4:5-6; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:9 etc..). Don't confuse salvation through faith (rightly understood) in Christ alone - "faith that trusts in Jesus Christ alone for salvation and not in works" with James "faith only" - empty profession of faith that merely "claims" to be genuine, but demonstrates by the lack of works that it's dead. (James 2:14-26)2 Thessalonians 1:8 the gospel must be obeyed for one not to be lost. The fact obedience must take place eliminates Luther's idea of justification by faith only.
Just acknowledging that the death, burial and resurrection of Christ "happened" is not the obedient act of choosing to believe the gospel. Even the demons believe it "happened." We must also trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ as the ALL-sufficient means of our salvation. That is what it means to believe the gospel (Romans 1:16) and that is the act of obedience that saves. (Romans 10:16)Just a 'mental acknowledgement' of Christ's death burial and resurrection is not obedience.
Water baptism is a "work of righteousness" (Matthew 3:13-15; Titus 3:5) which "follows" believing in Christ unto salvation. (Acts 10:43-47)Acts 2:38 does not command men to "mentally acknowledge" Christ's death burial and resurrection but to carry it out in water baptism.
When Hebrews says the first covenant was dedicated with blood, it tells us what it's talking about:I believe there are two major covenants (i.e. the Old Covenant and the New Covenant) with the Old Covenant having different sub covenants. But we know there are only two major covenants.
“Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.” (Hebrews 10:9).
The first covenant (testament) was established in blood.
“Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.” (Hebrews 9:18).
This first covenant was established in blood when God killed an animal to cover Adam and Eve’s nakedness. Thus began the animal sacrifices (Which pointed to the greater covenant in that Christ would be our Passover Lamb).
In fact, even our Bibles are divided into two covenants (or two testaments).
You would have to say that all bibles are in error if you disagree.
We have the Four Gospel accounts, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, which includes not only Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, but also all the instruction by Lord Jesus and the Apostles, on how the Passion of Christ pertains to us as regards our salvation - through the obedience to Christ that comes from faith.
You said:Matthew 24:10-15 (NIV)
10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
You said:1 Peter 4:17-19 (NIV) 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” 19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
If Jesus is the Kingdom, how will He dwell there?