How were people saved before Jesus died for our sins-

Since the fall of man, the basis of salvation has always been the death of Christ. No one, either prior to the cross or since the cross, would ever be saved without that one pivotal event in the history of the world. Christ‘s death paid the penalty for past sins of Old Testament saints and future sins of New Testament saints.

The requirement for salvation has always been faith. The object of one’s faith for salvation has always been God. The psalmist wrote, Blessed are all who take refuge in him (Psalm 2:12). Genesis 15:6 tells us that Abraham believed God and that was enough for God to credit it to him for righteousness (see also Romans 4:3-8). The OldTestament sacrificial system did not take away sin, as Hebrews 10:1-10 clearly teaches. It did, however, point to the day when the Son of God would shed His blood for the sinful human race.

What has changed through the ages is the content of a believer’s faith. God‘s requirement of what must be believed is based on the amount of revelation He has given mankind up to that time. This is called progressive revelation. Adam believed the promise God gave in Genesis 3:15 that the Seed of the woman would conquer Satan. Adam believed Him, demonstrated by the name he gave Eve (v. 20) and the Lord indicated His acceptance immediately by covering them with coats of skin (v. 21). At that point that is all Adam knew, but he believed it.

Cain's Wife

Where did Cain's wife come from if there were only 3 people on the earth after Abel's death?

It seems that this is one of those subjects that have perplexed individuals for ages; Christians because there is no one definitive verse that clearly states who she was and agnostics who view this supposed omission as an alibi to “wrest the scriptures to their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:16). However, if we compare scripture with scripture we can identify Cain’s wife with some simple biblical deduction and a little sound reasoning.

Some have suggested that there could have been other humans not begotten from Adam and Eve’s union around at this time but this simply cannot be true for Genesis 3:20 states that Eve was the, “mother of all living.” According to the Biblical record, we also know that they were the only created human beings (Genesis 2:7, 22). Therefore, any humans that existed at that time had to be born from their union. This then leaves us with only one plausible explanation as to the identity of Cain’s bride; it must have been his sister.

The Bible doesn’t mention them having any daughters until Genesis 5:4 but obviously Eve was bearing them at or near the same time as Cain and Abel for in Genesis 4:17 Cain is said to already have a wife. In addition, common sense dictates that these daughters had to be born near or around the same time as the sons or else there would have been no way for the human species to procreate. With the Lord’s command for Adam and Eve, “to be fruitful and multiply,” (Genesis 1:28) and with their long life expectancy it was possible (if not probable) that Eve was able to bear more children (quintuplets, sextuplets, etc.) and at a faster rate then is possible for women presently. This would make the most sense in light of Genesis 3:16 where the Lord told Eve, “I will greatly multiply…thy conception.” Note that the first time Cain is said to know his wife that there is already enough of a population existing for him to establish and name a city after his firstborn son Enoch (Genesis 4:17).

As to the problem with Cain marrying his sister this can be answered once again by searching the scriptures instead of relying upon our preconceived prejudices. At this time in the Bible it was permissible for a man to marry a sister or first cousin for in Genesis 20:12 Abraham is said to have married his sister Sarah. It was not until the Law was given to Moses (see Leviticus 18:6-17, 20:17) that the marrying of blood relatives was forbidden. An interesting side note to this study is that a New Testament wife (1 Corinthians 9:15) and the bride of Jesus Christ (Song of Solomon 2:2, 4:9) are both referred to as a sister.

Jeff Newman

http://www.learnthebible.org/cains-wife.html

A Mother’s Tears

Scripture Passage: Genesis 3:16; Proverbs 10:1; Luke 2:34-35

1. 
   

INTRODUCTION: The sorrow of childbirth is often exceeded by the sorrows of seeing the needs of your child and toiling over their wellbeing. A mother’s lot is often defined by her tears.

1. FOR THE CHILD NOT BORN
1. Sarah (Genesis 16:1-5)
2. Hannah (1Samuel 1:1-10)
2. FOR THE CHILD THAT DIES
1. Bathsheba (2Samuel 12:15-18
   )
2. Naomi (Ruth 1:1-5, 19-21)
3. FOR CHILDREN AT ODDS
1. Rebekah (Genesis 25:21-23)
2. Eve (Genesis 4:8-10)
4. FOR THE CHILD THAT SUFFERS
1. Syro-Phenician Woman (Matthew 15:21-28)
2. Mary (Luke 2:33-35)
5. FOR THE CHILD THAT STRAYS
1. Eve (Genesis 4:1-7)
2. Prodigal Son’s Mother (Luke 15:11-13)
3. The Heaviness of Heart (Proverbs 10:1
   )

CONCLUSION: The godly mother has many tears, but God keeps those tears in His bottle. Psalm 56:8-9 states, “Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book? When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.” Will you cry unto Him and know that He is with you?

David Reagan

http://www.learnthebible.org

Q: What does April Fools’ Day mean for Christians?

A: April Fools’ Day is here, and while it is not a national holiday, many people around the world celebrate the day with practical jokes. The bounds of social pressure confine most tricks to the good-natured and harmless, and most of us use the day to innocently have a good time with our friends.

History and literature offer a number of tidbits relating to the day, with Chaucer’s “The Nun’s Priest’s Tale” in Canterbury Tales being a fourteenth-century contributor.

God hates lying. Why? The serpent’s deception of Eve led to mankind’s rebellion, which brought a curse upon the world God created. The result was untold suffering to those He had made in His image. The serpent deceived Eve into doubting God’s goodness and then lied as he accused God of being a liar. Man was made in God’s image. God cannot lie (Numbers 23:19). Therefore, man was designed to be truthful, not deceptive.

gotquestions  http://www.answersingenesis.org/e-mail/archive/answersweekly/2012/0407.html

Did Adam name all the animals in one day?

We always need to read carefully and not add our own ideas into the Bible. For example, some people claim that Adam couldn’t have possibly named all the living creatures in one day, so they think the creation of Eve, which occurred after this event, had to take place later.

However, Genesis 2:20 says, “Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field.” It doesn’t say anything about his naming sea creatures or creeping things.

Also, “all cattle,” and “every beast of the field” (Genesis 2:20) may not mean the same thing as every “beast of the earth” (Genesis 1:24); it was probably a smaller set that represented all types of beasts of the earth.

Adam only named the animals God brought to him, and besides, he had most of the day to do it. Before the Fall, Adam’s brain was perfect, so he shouldn’t have had problems coming up with names. It has been estimated that only a few hours would be needed to name the animals.

http://www.answersingenesis.org/