JesusistheChrist said:
Was Abel saved?
How?
Was Enoch saved?
How?
Was Abraham saved?
How?
Etc., etc., etc.
They all had faith in Christ and that was long before the New Testament was written.
That is an assumption that you cannot prove. Better to build doctrine on what the bible says, rather than what it doesn't say.
Hi, Phil.
I saw your comment a few days ago, but I didn't bother responding to it then because I've seriously been considering deleting my account here because of the unprofitableness of posting here in that most people here don't seem to be the least bit interested in what the scriptures actually teach. In fact, I just logged on with the intent of deleting my account and then I saw your "Word of God" thread and after reading what you posted therein I thought that I'd make one more attempt to reason with somebody here according to the scriptures to see if anything good potentially comes of the same. Anyhow, I've "assumed" nothing and what I've stated is actually taught in scripture.
Galatians chapter 3
[6] Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
[7] Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
[8] And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
[9] So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
[10] For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
[11] But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
[12] And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
[13] Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
[14] That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
[15] Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
[16] Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
[17] And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
[18] For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
[19] Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
[20] Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
[21] Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
[22] But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
[23] But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
[24] Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
[25] But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
[26] For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
[27] For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
[28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
[29] And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
The Apostle Paul whom you spoke so highly of in your "Word of God" thread said that "Abraham believed God and it was accounted unto him for righteousness" (vs. 6) and here is what Paul was referring to:
Genesis chapter 15
[1] After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
[2] And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
[3] And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.
[4] And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
[5] And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
[6] And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
How, exactly, did Abraham "believe in the LORD" here? Well, he "believed in the LORD" in that he believed in what was spoken in relation to his "seed", SINGULAR, and that "seed" IS CHRIST, even as we just read:
Galatians chapter 3
[16] Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
[17] And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
[18] For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
[19] Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Yes, JESUS CHRIST is the SINGULAR "seed" of Abraham (vs. 16) that the LORD promised him way back in Genesis chapter 15 and when God promised the same He actually "confirmed the covenant IN CHRIST" (vs. 17) in that JESUS CHRIST is "the seed Who should come to Whom the promise was made" (vs. 19). Furthermore, Paul said that God "preached before THE GOSPEL unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed" (Galatians 3:8). What "gospel" did God preach to Abraham if the not "the gospel" according to faith in JESUS CHRIST? For crying out loud, Phil, Abraham was called by Paul "the father of all them that believe" (Romans 4:11) and "the father of us all" (Romans 4:16) and Paul explained exactly what he meant by that when he said:
Galatians chapter 3
[26] For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
[27] For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
[28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
[29] And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Are we to believe, Phil, that we're "children of God BY FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS" and therefore a part of "Abraham's seed", but that Abraham himself wasn't "saved by faith in Christ" as I originally said and as you consequently labeled it "an assumption" which the Bible doesn't actually say/teach? Who do you think that Abraham ate with here, Phil:
Genesis chapter 18
[1] And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
[2] And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,
[3] And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:
[4] Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
[5] And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.
[6] And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.
[7] And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetch a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.
[8] And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.
???
The LORD/Lord Whom Abraham bowed himself before and ate with was THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. Jesus said:
John chapter 8
[56] Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
[57] Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
[58] Jesus said unto them, Verily,verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
Yes, Jesus said that "Abraham rejoiced to see His day and he saw it and was glad", but you call what I wrote in relation to the same "an assumption".
Anyhow, I've barely scratched the surface with what I could say in relation to Abraham's saving faith in Christ and I could equally present support for my comments in regard to Abel and Enoch as well, but let's first see how this is received...if it's received at all. Again, I'm tired of taking the time to repeatedly present thorough scriptural backing for my comments only to see the same ignored or cast away as garbage time and time again by different forum members here. If people aren't interested in what the scriptures actually teach on this forum, then I'll simply spend my time and efforts elsewhere.
Anyhow, Abraham had saving faith in Christ...just as I said that he did...and so did Abel and Enoch, too.