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I'm talking about their hardness to or receptivity to the Gospel. Would both groups be the same?

 

Re. Post 40. How do you explain the fact that if Sodom had seen His miracles it would have repented and still been standing. They were exceedingly wicked, but the people Jesus was talking to were more hardened to the Gospel than Sodom would have been.

Why do you suppose?

 

These points are not being disputed. Gods grace is for those who are lost in Adam so that they may be saved in Christ. So your response does not refute what I'm saying

 

One of the purposes of the Law, besides the purpose of preserving Israel as a distinct nation, is to show people they need a Saviour. The Law acts as a catalyst, causing sin to increase and also causing sin to become exceedingly sinful

The Law is the diagnosis of sin. The Gospel is the cure.

As far as your question, yes people had a. Fallen nature before the Law of Moses. BUT where light increases, so does our accountability to God. When light increases and we reject it, our culpability increases. And our hearts become increasingly darkened.

Also remember that with people who do not have the Law of Moses, they still have a Law. See Romans 1-2

 

Yes, sin causes physical death, in infants and others who are incapable of knowing right from wrong, due to them being in Adam, but nowhere does the Bible say God imputes sin to them in the sense of eternal punishment.

But the people who lived before the Mosaic Law did have a law. The Law of their conscience, as referred to in Romans 2.

God judges people according to the light they have received. Ubfortunately, no one passes that test on their own, we All fell short, and we all need Jesus. That's why we are to preach the Gospel to every creature, because no other way of salvation

We are sinners because of the Fall, but no one needs to stay that way. The Grace of God has appeared to all men. Therefore, if anyone does not believe, it is by their choice, not Adams. And if anyone perishes, it is nobodies fault but their own

 

I agree that Paul was referring to Gentiles of His day in Romans 2. But there was unwritten law before the Jews. For example, Abraham said " if fifty righteous people are found (in Sodom)...". Joseph told Potiiphars wife, " how could I do this great evil, and sin against God". Etc

I am not disagreeing with your posts. You and I are in basic agreement. Just adding some bits and pieces here and there

 

They were saved by faith. Everyone who has ever been justified and saved has been justified and saved by faith.

The Law never saved anyone. It was a tool to govern and preserve God's people until the Promised Seed, and also to show people they were/are sinners in need of a Saviour.

Blessings to you

 

They were saved by faith. Abel, Enoch, Noah, etc were saved by faith, and they already had a sacrificial system, ordained by God in Eden, which did not take away sins ( the blood of bulls and goats never did), but pointed forward to Christ ( though they did not fully know and understand)

They had faith in God and this faith manifested itself in obedience to what God had taught them, and God in His forebearance received them, they walked with God, and their sins too were born by Jesus on the cross

Hallelujah

 

Ok

 

It was up to Shem, Ham, and Japheth to pass down the knowledge to their children, who in turn pass it down to their children, down the line. But man ended up corrupting the knowledge and choosing to serve the creature rather than the Creator.

It's just like today. If we don't teach our children, our grandchildren or great grandchildren may grow up in a dark place. And if we dont carry the gospel to the world, many people will not have a preacher to hear.

Nevertheless, they had natural revelation which they suppressed, so they are without excuse. Everyone receives a measure of light that they reject, and the lost will be judged accordingly