Originally Posted by Darrell C View Post
...which is founded on declaration of faith in the Risen Christ. Christ was without controversy spoken of, yet no man placed their faith in Christ in understanding of the Gospel, because the Gospel had not yet been revealed.
It is written:
Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw [it], and was glad. - John 8:56
So you take this to mean that Abraham saw Christ crucified, placed faith in Him, and was regenerated?
Check the context, my friend, where in view is the fact that the Jews reviling Christ denied that they needed the Messiah.
If you do not see by that how Abraham's expectation of Christ is in view, then perhaps consider...
1 Peter 1:10-12
King James Version (KJV)
10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
That, not to mention the fact that Scripture is clear both implicitly and explicitly that the Gospel of Christ was a Mystery, not yet revealed, the hidden wisdom of God.
You create a conflict in Scripture in making the application you do in ascribing Abraham with knowledge that he was not privy to. That conflicts with Peter's clear statement, as well as Paul's teaching, as well as that evidenced by the actions of the disciples of Christ themselves.
Now you may disagree with me, but Christ makes it clear that the disciples, who thought they believed...didn't:
John 16:29-32
King James Version (KJV)
29 His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.
30 Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.
31 Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?
32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
The disciples were prophesied to abandon Christ. Not one of them believed on Christ. Not one of them followed Christ. Not in the context of the born again Spirit indwelt New Covenant believer. They were not Baptized with the Holy Spirit which is the eternal indwelling which produces regeneration:
Titus 3:4-5
King James Version (KJV)
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
This is how we are saved, my friend, and this was only promise in Adam, Abraham, David, and John the Baptists Day.
Continued...