After Adam sinned he still lived over 900 years. During those 900 years of Adam's life you can be sure that the Creation truth was taught. God as Creator was known. The fact that man forfeited a life with God for a life with the father of lies, Satan, was known. The truth was told to all successive generations. God as a reality was known. The flood took place 1600 some years after creation. During that time, again, you can know for a fact that the knowledge of God was known. We like to imagine that man was left Godless after they sinned and that's why man became so bad they needed to be destroyed by a flood, that's not the truth. God has never left mankind. The truth is God told man that there was a redemption plan BEFORE they were banned from the Garden of Eden, they had the hope of a future redemption before they left God's presence! You can be sure this was shared intimately with all successive generations. And then after the flood you know the truth of Noah was spoken and shared along with Creation's truth, and Man's Fall truth, and the Promised Redemption truth. These truths were not lost sight of, not at all. Mankind KNEW the truth, and just like you and I, all of mankind has to decide what they'll do with the truth that is available for all to know. We know most of all mankind chose to disregard the truth and the result was almost complete annihilation, they KNEW the truth and chose to ignore it in favor of their self-serving lusts. After the Flood mankind's descent into self-serving didn't take long. Still today mankind's self-serving reigns supreme. God help us all! We know the TRUTH just as Adam knew the truth, as Noah knew the truth, as Abraham knew the truth… we know the TRUTH. May our faith be that of Abraham, may our faith be helped by our Savior! All through His amazing love! All in His name, the name Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior! Amen!
'CHAPTER IV. STEPS OF THE FAITH OF ABRAHAM
"And Abram believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness." Gen. 15:6.
At first glance it might be thought one of the simplest things imaginable to believe the Lord; indeed, it might seem to be a proposition too monstrous to be entertained for a moment, that any people would not believe God. Nevertheless it is true that firm, unwavering belief in the word of God is very rare in the world.
Ever since Satan instilled a spirit of distrust into the heart of the mother of our race, and led her to question the righteousness of God in defining her duties and her privileges, the human family have constantly manifested that same distrust, have ever developed that same spirit of rebellion against the word and appointments of God. And so deeply is this spirit inwoven into our natures that, while we stand astonished at the fact of this rebelliousness in the race, we ourselves live in the very atmosphere of rebellion, and our hearts are moved and our lives are fashioned by distrust.
When we consider the words of the apostle, that he that believeth not the record that God hath given, hath made him a liar (1 John 5:10), it looks every way just that God should require faith on the part of his creatures. And it seems strange that the self same ones who question the propriety of God's exacting faith in his word, consider it a grievous offense, worthy of all condemnation, for any to charge them with being liars. As if their names and their reputation were more worthy of respect than the name and word of the Most High! But it is suggested that the Creator is so high, so exalted in his majesty and power, that we may well consider it unworthy of him, beneath his dignity, to exact belief and worship of feeble mortals. But his majesty and power, his exalted position as Governor and Judge of all, are the considerations that make it necessary that his creatures should have faith in him, and should worship him. The more exalted the Governor, the more extensive his government, the greater injury is done to the peace and welfare of his citizens if his authority is denied.
When men refuse to worship God, it is because they desire either to exalt themselves in rebellion, or to transfer their allegiance to some object utterly unworthy of their esteem.
Whatever may be the motive, its tendency is to anarchy--to the destruction of order and the rights of the people. All that God requires to the maintaining of his own honor and authority is for the
security of justice and the welfare of his creatures.
There was a time when all the people of the earth had the knowledge of God. From the creation to the flood was one thousand six hundred and fifty-five years; of this period Adam lived nine hundred and thirty years, and until one hundred and twenty-six years before the birth of Noah. During this time lived Enoch--one of the most godly men that ever dwelt upon the earth, which shows that there were sincere and faithful worshipers of God in that age. Noah lived three hundred and fifty years after the flood, and Shem, his son, lived until Abraham was about one hundred and fifty years old; or, till about seventy-five years after Abraham was called into the land of Canaan. These things show how easily was the knowledge of God, and of the fact of creation, preserved for several thousands of years. Besides this knowledge being transmitted from a father unto his sons' sons, unto many generations, God was continually revealing himself unto his servants by visions, by dreams, by the visits of angels, etc.
The flood did not come, and the Lord did not confound the language of the people, because of their ignorance. They did not sin ignorantly. These calamities befell them because, as Paul said, "They did not like to retain God in their knowledge," and, "When they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful." Rom. 1:28, 21.
While almost the whole world were turning away from God, Abraham stood as a bright example, a very pattern of faith, reverently listening to every word that God spoke to him. In this respect he has scarcely been equaled in any age.
But faith is far more than mere consent; more than the easy acceptance of the statement of a fact. It is taking the word of God as an obedient and affectionate child takes the word of a loving father. It is the hearty acquiescence in the word of God, in every action and feeling. Such was the faith of Abraham. It was active and efficient in its operation. "Faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect." James 2:22.
While it is a truth clearly revealed that the blood of Christ cleanses from all unrighteousness, and it alone can cleanse from sin, it must also be true that we are justified by faith alone "for the remission of sins that are past." Rom. 3:24-28. Over past sins our future actions can have no influence. But not so in the formation of Christian character; not so in reference to our final salvation. Faith in the blood of Christ removes sin, and saves from its curse; obedience to the moral rule of right prevents sin. Inasmuch as Jesus came to save his people from their sins (Matt. 1:21), he came to put away sin (Heb. 9:26), it is evident that prevention as well as cure is incorporated into the gospel plan of salvation.'
To be continued…
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