All those people groups had the same ancestors as the rest. If they
decided to throw away their knowledge of God, then God would let them.
But, he has not left himself without witness. There is a book called
"Eternity in their Hearts" which is about ancient cultures and their
religions. You will be surprised to see how much of a testimony God
actually had. Further, God says that those who seek Him will find Him.
He will respond to any and all within the bounds of their knowledge
and lead them to Himself. Jeremiah says that God wants all to come
to repentance. This was as true before the flood as it is now. So,
If they obeyed God, and sought for Him, and lived by what He taught
them, they would no doubt be treated as the Jews. Remember, the flood
came 1600 years after creation. Adam lived over 900 of those years,
so it isn't like nobody knew what to do. They could go to Adam and ask.
Noah was 600 years old at the flood and the Bible says he preached as well.
So, there is only a 100 year gap here between Adam and Noah. It is not
very likely that no one was alive during those 100 years who knew God.
Salvation before the flood was based solely on obedience to whatever
sacrificial law God had instantiated as evidenced by Cain and Abel.
Salvation after the flood and before the Jewish law was instituted
was based on obedience to the same law, with the additions that God
declared to Noah.
I any event, it was all based on obedience to whatever God had
dictated.
Remember also that before Christ's completed work, they did not have
salvation as we know it. People did not go to heaven immediately
because the price had not yet been paid for sin. This is why the
story of the rich man and Lazarus is so interesting. It records
a temporary place called Abraham's Bosom where the righteous went,
but it was not heaven. Salvation, before Christ, was not procured,
but eagerly awaited, but still available to all who wanted it.
There are no Biblical records I can think of, nor any external ones
either, that I can think of, but this is the most reasonable way
I can conceive to answer your question that is consistent with
the stuff I do know. I could be wrong, I could be right. This
is just my best understanding. If anyone has any scriptures, I
would be interested.
White Buffalo
Ernie wrote:
>
> Guys, thanks for the answer, but I'm still quite confused.
> Now, what about salvation for the ppl BEFORE Christ was born and was NOT
> within the Jewsih community and the LAW?
> History tells us the Egyptians, Chinese, Indians and Chaldeans already had a
> civilization then and the population could total up to easily a few million.
> Did THEY go to hell with no chance of redemption?
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Edward Christiansen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2000 1:56 AM
> Subject: Re: [RR] Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2000 23:30:58 +0800
>
> > 1. God gave us a brain and he expects us to use it. God was known
> > to Adam, and therefore Adam had the responsibility of communicating
> > this knowledge to his progeny. Whether or not he tried to do this,
> > by the time of Noah people were only evil, continually. As evidenced
> > by the killing of animals for Adam & Eve's first clothing and Cain &
> > Abel's sacrifices, a system that included animal sacrifice as a
> temporary
> > measure to deal with sin was in place and known. These people were
> > responsible for what they did.
> >
> > 2. After the flood, again we have Noah sacrificing animals, so the
> knowledge
> > was still there. He was responsible for transmitting this knowledge
> > to his descendants, which he did. But again, man decided to do his
> own
> > thing.
> >
> > 3. Finally, Jesus was sacrificed for sin. Hebrews declares there is now
> > no longer any sacrifice for sin, indicating that the long time of
> > temporary measures vias animal sacrifice were now over.
> >
> > 4. Thus, the folks who lived befire Christ were obligated to go with the
> > system they had, in obedience to God. Most did not. Man doesn't
> > change all that much as evidenced by the fact that so many reject
> > God's permanent provision for dealing with sin.
> >
> > White Buffalo
> >
> > > Ernie wrote:
> > >
> > > i think this is a silly question coz i've never heard
> > > >anyone, christian or non christian ask it.
> > > >Jesus, our salvation was born almost 10000 years after
> > > >Adam appeared. What abt the salvation of the ppl born
> > > >BEFORE Jesus?
> > > >
> > > >Enlightenment needed
> > > >Thanks.
>
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