Why is requiring physical circumcision for salvation heresy?

[christundivided]

christundivided:

Again. Christ used the "law" as a means to convict those around him. Those around him claimed they keep the law.... but they never did. No one has. No one. The demands of the law are beyond us. The law demanded death of the righteous for the ungodly.

Do you love your neighbor as yourself? Would you love your neighbor if they killed your daughter? Would you love them so much (as yourself) that you would demand they be freed from the penalty of their crime? Would you take the very punishment..... of the very person who murdered your daughter?

This is BEYOND YOU. Yet, this is exactly what Christ did. Even the greatest "law" alluded to the sacrifice of Christ Jesus. He loved man as Himself. He loved man in so much that He took upon Himself the their filth and sicknesses. Their weaknesses. Their debaucheries. Their total putrid nature...... In His OWN body.

Yes, fulfilling God's commands to me perfectly is beyond my, and everyone else's, reach (other than Christ Himself, obviously). But, by Christ, God is transforming me into someone, who once I am in Heaven, will NO LONGER sin. Christ is in the process of transforming me (and all born again believers) to His image, no? And just to be clear, I understand anyone, myself included, could fall into any sin, this side of Glory.

Your moral nature in Christ Jesus is what you're disregarding. The Holy Ghost convicts you when you fail. He leads you. His way is the perfect way. Not some ideas about some by gone laws that Christ hasn't fulfilled.... so we need to keep them.

 

[PR6771]

christundivided:

I asked for a list. Can you provide a detailed list? Would you include the "Sabbath" on your list? Does it fall under Adam and Noah?

I hope you realize that Christ fulfilled the Sabbath perfect. He was our Sabbath. Our Rest. Our Eternal Rest. I no longer look to a day of the week. My true "rest" is in Christ. This is spoken of in detail on Hebrews chapter 4. You can't claim that the Sabbath is an exclusive issue relating to sole Abraham and Moses.....

I think you're being a little picky by claiming commandments in Adam and Noah and not Abraham/Moses.

Although the Sabbath was originally observed by God Himself after the acts of Creation, I am fairly certain it is not commanded to be followed by mankind until Mosaic law, specifically, in Exodus. Nor do I believe there are any recorded instances of mankind observing it until the Exodus from Egypt. I'm sure there are Jewish traditions that state otherwise, but I could care less about their theories of what they believed happened. What Scripture states happened is what I strive to base my beliefs on.

So just when did God sanctify the Sabbath and make it holy..... Under Moses or from the beginning of creation?

Gen 2:3  And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

Right there.

Sanctification generally means "to set apart as holy." Not "to command mankind to observe it as holy." Sanctification by God came then. There is, however, no command to mankind to observe it as such. There is a command to the Jewish people, however, which means I an not under obligation to observe the Sabbath or any modern copycat observance (Sunday, for some Christians; Friday, for Muslims, etc.).

 

[christundivided]

christundivided:

I can't help but abandon any thing else and look to our Lord. How can our voice speak of any other righteousness?

Romans 6 states that we are free from the eternal penalty of sin (the second death). In that sense, we have righteousness, only obtainable through Christ and Him alone. HOWEVER, throughout that same chapter we are commanded to yield our members to righteousness, unto holiness. Not that we are not already eternally holy through Christ, but I can point to any Christian (myself included) and show you ways that that Christian is NOT holy. 1 John teaches we still sin. Romans 6 implies this by admonishing us to yield our members as servants to righteousness unto holiness. I doubt those are the only New Testament passages that teach this idea.

That is righteousness speaking to YOU. Not vise versa....

Are these ways in which we are not holy found in the Adamiac and Noahiac convenant???? or do you have something else in mind?

 

[PR6771]

christundivided:

Again. Christ used the "law" as a means to convict those around him. Those around him claimed they keep the law.... but they never did. No one has. No one. The demands of the law are beyond us. The law demanded death of the righteous for the ungodly.

Do you love your neighbor as yourself? Would you love your neighbor if they killed your daughter? Would you love them so much (as yourself) that you would demand they be freed from the penalty of their crime? Would you take the very punishment..... of the very person who murdered your daughter?

This is BEYOND YOU. Yet, this is exactly what Christ did. Even the greatest "law" alluded to the sacrifice of Christ Jesus. He loved man as Himself. He loved man in so much that He took upon Himself the their filth and sicknesses. Their weaknesses. Their debaucheries. Their total putrid nature...... In His OWN body.

Yes, fulfilling God's commands to me perfectly is beyond my, and everyone else's, reach (other than Christ Himself, obviously). But, by Christ, God is transforming me into someone, who once I am in Heaven, will NO LONGER sin. Christ is in the process of transforming me (and all born again believers) to His image, no? And just to be clear, I understand anyone, myself included, could fall into any sin, this side of Glory.

Your moral nature in Christ Jesus is what you're disregarding. The Holy Ghost convicts you when you fail. He leads you. His way is the perfect way. Not some ideas about some by gone laws that Christ hasn't fulfilled.... so we need to keep them.

Yes, He convicts me- based on what I have read and heard from the applicable commands and doctrine found in His Word.

 

[christundivided]

christundivided:

I asked for a list. Can you provide a detailed list? Would you include the "Sabbath" on your list? Does it fall under Adam and Noah?

I hope you realize that Christ fulfilled the Sabbath perfect. He was our Sabbath. Our Rest. Our Eternal Rest. I no longer look to a day of the week. My true "rest" is in Christ. This is spoken of in detail on Hebrews chapter 4. You can't claim that the Sabbath is an exclusive issue relating to sole Abraham and Moses.....

I think you're being a little picky by claiming commandments in Adam and Noah and not Abraham/Moses.

Although the Sabbath was originally observed by God Himself after the acts of Creation, I am fairly certain it is not commanded to be followed by mankind until Mosaic law, specifically, in Exodus. Nor do I believe there are any recorded instances of mankind observing it until the Exodus from Egypt. I'm sure there are Jewish traditions that state otherwise, but I could care less about their theories of what they believed happened. What Scripture states happened is what I strive to base my beliefs on.

So just when did God sanctify the Sabbath and make it holy..... Under Moses or from the beginning of creation?

Gen 2:3  And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

Right there.

Sanctification generally means "to set apart as holy." Not "to command mankind to observe it as holy." Sanctification by God came then. There is, however, no command to mankind to observe it as such. There is a command to the Jewish people, however, which means I an not under obligation to observe the Sabbath or any modern copycat observance (Sunday, for some Christians; Friday, for Muslims, etc.).

Read Exodus 20 again...

Exo 20:11  For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

It is the same reason give by Moses that Israel should obey the Sabbath..... You're creating a distinction that doesn't exist.

 

[christundivided]

christundivided:

Again. Christ used the "law" as a means to convict those around him. Those around him claimed they keep the law.... but they never did. No one has. No one. The demands of the law are beyond us. The law demanded death of the righteous for the ungodly.

Do you love your neighbor as yourself? Would you love your neighbor if they killed your daughter? Would you love them so much (as yourself) that you would demand they be freed from the penalty of their crime? Would you take the very punishment..... of the very person who murdered your daughter?

This is BEYOND YOU. Yet, this is exactly what Christ did. Even the greatest "law" alluded to the sacrifice of Christ Jesus. He loved man as Himself. He loved man in so much that He took upon Himself the their filth and sicknesses. Their weaknesses. Their debaucheries. Their total putrid nature...... In His OWN body.

Yes, fulfilling God's commands to me perfectly is beyond my, and everyone else's, reach (other than Christ Himself, obviously). But, by Christ, God is transforming me into someone, who once I am in Heaven, will NO LONGER sin. Christ is in the process of transforming me (and all born again believers) to His image, no? And just to be clear, I understand anyone, myself included, could fall into any sin, this side of Glory.

Your moral nature in Christ Jesus is what you're disregarding. The Holy Ghost convicts you when you fail. He leads you. His way is the perfect way. Not some ideas about some by gone laws that Christ hasn't fulfilled.... so we need to keep them.

Yes, He convicts me- based on what I have read and heard from the applicable commands and doctrine found in His Word.

So you find no convict beyond this? Did you find abortion in those writings?

 

[PR6771]

christundivided:

I can't help but abandon any thing else and look to our Lord. How can our voice speak of any other righteousness?

Romans 6 states that we are free from the eternal penalty of sin (the second death). In that sense, we have righteousness, only obtainable through Christ and Him alone. HOWEVER, throughout that same chapter we are commanded to yield our members to righteousness, unto holiness. Not that we are not already eternally holy through Christ, but I can point to any Christian (myself included) and show you ways that that Christian is NOT holy. 1 John teaches we still sin. Romans 6 implies this by admonishing us to yield our members as servants to righteousness unto holiness. I doubt those are the only New Testament passages that teach this idea.

That is righteousness speaking to YOU. Not vise versa....

Are these ways in which we are not holy found in the Adamiac and Noahiac convenant???? or do you have something else in mind?

They are found in God's commands that are applicable to me found in Scripture. The Adamic and Noahic covenant would be two of them. The list I gave you summarizes my view of the rest of the Old Testament. And from Acts forward, all of the commands given to Christians through the Holy Spirit inspired writers. For the Gospels it's a little more complex, still trying to sort that out, but most of the commands of Christ apply to me, I would think.

 

[FSSL]

As a 45 year old man, if I have not been circumcised yet, I certainly would think twice about praying the sinner's prayer!

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

As a 45 year old man, if I have not been circumcised yet, I certainly would think twice about praying the sinner's prayer!

While drinking alcohol with a NIV in your possession!
That would make you an official heretic...FFF style! 

 

[PR6771]

christundivided:

Again. Christ used the "law" as a means to convict those around him. Those around him claimed they keep the law.... but they never did. No one has. No one. The demands of the law are beyond us. The law demanded death of the righteous for the ungodly.

Do you love your neighbor as yourself? Would you love your neighbor if they killed your daughter? Would you love them so much (as yourself) that you would demand they be freed from the penalty of their crime? Would you take the very punishment..... of the very person who murdered your daughter?

This is BEYOND YOU. Yet, this is exactly what Christ did. Even the greatest "law" alluded to the sacrifice of Christ Jesus. He loved man as Himself. He loved man in so much that He took upon Himself the their filth and sicknesses. Their weaknesses. Their debaucheries. Their total putrid nature...... In His OWN body.

Yes, fulfilling God's commands to me perfectly is beyond my, and everyone else's, reach (other than Christ Himself, obviously). But, by Christ, God is transforming me into someone, who once I am in Heaven, will NO LONGER sin. Christ is in the process of transforming me (and all born again believers) to His image, no? And just to be clear, I understand anyone, myself included, could fall into any sin, this side of Glory.

Your moral nature in Christ Jesus is what you're disregarding. The Holy Ghost convicts you when you fail. He leads you. His way is the perfect way. Not some ideas about some by gone laws that Christ hasn't fulfilled.... so we need to keep them.

Yes, He convicts me- based on what I have read and heard from the applicable commands and doctrine found in His Word.

So you find no convict beyond this? Did you find abortion in those writings?

Violence (harm to living creatures, mankind included), which would include murder of an unborn child, is condemned by God by the Flood. Specifically stated as the reason why God sent the Flood.
There are 2 exceptions God gave immediately after the Flood:
1. Animals (not people) may be eaten for food, without the blood.
2. People may be killed by people for taking the life of another person.

Violence is also condemned, whether it is by Jew or Gentile, throughout the Old and New Testament.

 

[christundivided]

christundivided:

Again. Christ used the "law" as a means to convict those around him. Those around him claimed they keep the law.... but they never did. No one has. No one. The demands of the law are beyond us. The law demanded death of the righteous for the ungodly.

Do you love your neighbor as yourself? Would you love your neighbor if they killed your daughter? Would you love them so much (as yourself) that you would demand they be freed from the penalty of their crime? Would you take the very punishment..... of the very person who murdered your daughter?

This is BEYOND YOU. Yet, this is exactly what Christ did. Even the greatest "law" alluded to the sacrifice of Christ Jesus. He loved man as Himself. He loved man in so much that He took upon Himself the their filth and sicknesses. Their weaknesses. Their debaucheries. Their total putrid nature...... In His OWN body.

Yes, fulfilling God's commands to me perfectly is beyond my, and everyone else's, reach (other than Christ Himself, obviously). But, by Christ, God is transforming me into someone, who once I am in Heaven, will NO LONGER sin. Christ is in the process of transforming me (and all born again believers) to His image, no? And just to be clear, I understand anyone, myself included, could fall into any sin, this side of Glory.

Your moral nature in Christ Jesus is what you're disregarding. The Holy Ghost convicts you when you fail. He leads you. His way is the perfect way. Not some ideas about some by gone laws that Christ hasn't fulfilled.... so we need to keep them.

Yes, He convicts me- based on what I have read and heard from the applicable commands and doctrine found in His Word.

So you find no convict beyond this? Did you find abortion in those writings?

Violence (harm to living creatures, mankind included), which would include murder of an unborn child, is condemned by God by the Flood. Specifically stated as the reason why Good sent the Flood.
There are 2 exceptions God gave immediately after the Flood:
1. Animals (not people) may be eaten for food, without the blood.
2. People may be killed by people for taking the life of another person.

Violence is also condemned, whether it is by Jew or Gentile, throughout the Old and New Testament.

I didn't you about violence. I asked you about abortion? You're interrupting that abortion is violent.

 

[PR6771]

christundivided:

I asked for a list. Can you provide a detailed list? Would you include the "Sabbath" on your list? Does it fall under Adam and Noah?

I hope you realize that Christ fulfilled the Sabbath perfect. He was our Sabbath. Our Rest. Our Eternal Rest. I no longer look to a day of the week. My true "rest" is in Christ. This is spoken of in detail on Hebrews chapter 4. You can't claim that the Sabbath is an exclusive issue relating to sole Abraham and Moses.....

I think you're being a little picky by claiming commandments in Adam and Noah and not Abraham/Moses.

Although the Sabbath was originally observed by God Himself after the acts of Creation, I am fairly certain it is not commanded to be followed by mankind until Mosaic law, specifically, in Exodus. Nor do I believe there are any recorded instances of mankind observing it until the Exodus from Egypt. I'm sure there are Jewish traditions that state otherwise, but I could care less about their theories of what they believed happened. What Scripture states happened is what I strive to base my beliefs on.

So just when did God sanctify the Sabbath and make it holy..... Under Moses or from the beginning of creation?

Gen 2:3  And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

Right there.

Sanctification generally means "to set apart as holy." Not "to command mankind to observe it as holy." Sanctification by God came then. There is, however, no command to mankind to observe it as such. There is a command to the Jewish people, however, which means I an not under obligation to observe the Sabbath or any modern copycat observance (Sunday, for some Christians; Friday, for Muslims, etc.).

Read Exodus 20 again...

Exo 20:11  For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

It is the same reason give by Moses that Israel should obey the Sabbath..... You're creating a distinction that doesn't exist.

Yes it is the reason. Just like the reason for commands to give animal sacrifices is supported by the Lord's sacrifice for Adam and Eve, Noah's sacrifices, Abraham's sacrifices, etc.
But the distinction I point out is the distinction of Scripture itself. Commands for both animal sacrifice and Sabbath observance are not given until Exodus. Just because people did sacrifices before, doesn't mean it was a command. It would be a worse assumption to assume God commanded something when it's not recorded than to assume He didn't command it when it is not recorded. The first assumption is adding to God's Word, the second is merely taking the Scripture literally.

 

[PR6771]

christundivided:

Again. Christ used the "law" as a means to convict those around him. Those around him claimed they keep the law.... but they never did. No one has. No one. The demands of the law are beyond us. The law demanded death of the righteous for the ungodly.

Do you love your neighbor as yourself? Would you love your neighbor if they killed your daughter? Would you love them so much (as yourself) that you would demand they be freed from the penalty of their crime? Would you take the very punishment..... of the very person who murdered your daughter?

This is BEYOND YOU. Yet, this is exactly what Christ did. Even the greatest "law" alluded to the sacrifice of Christ Jesus. He loved man as Himself. He loved man in so much that He took upon Himself the their filth and sicknesses. Their weaknesses. Their debaucheries. Their total putrid nature...... In His OWN body.

Yes, fulfilling God's commands to me perfectly is beyond my, and everyone else's, reach (other than Christ Himself, obviously). But, by Christ, God is transforming me into someone, who once I am in Heaven, will NO LONGER sin. Christ is in the process of transforming me (and all born again believers) to His image, no? And just to be clear, I understand anyone, myself included, could fall into any sin, this side of Glory.

Your moral nature in Christ Jesus is what you're disregarding. The Holy Ghost convicts you when you fail. He leads you. His way is the perfect way. Not some ideas about some by gone laws that Christ hasn't fulfilled.... so we need to keep them.

Yes, He convicts me- based on what I have read and heard from the applicable commands and doctrine found in His Word.

So you find no convict beyond this? Did you find abortion in those writings?

Violence (harm to living creatures, mankind included), which would include murder of an unborn child, is condemned by God by the Flood. Specifically stated as the reason why Good sent the Flood.
There are 2 exceptions God gave immediately after the Flood:
1. Animals (not people) may be eaten for food, without the blood.
2. People may be killed by people for taking the life of another person.

Violence is also condemned, whether it is by Jew or Gentile, throughout the Old and New Testament.

I didn't you about violence. I asked you about abortion? You're interrupting that abortion is violent.

Taking a life is always violent. Whether it be by tearing their limbs apart, injecting saline fluid into their spinal chord, or giving them a drug that destroys their brain, heart, or physical connection to their mother.

 

[christundivided]

christundivided:

I asked for a list. Can you provide a detailed list? Would you include the "Sabbath" on your list? Does it fall under Adam and Noah?

I hope you realize that Christ fulfilled the Sabbath perfect. He was our Sabbath. Our Rest. Our Eternal Rest. I no longer look to a day of the week. My true "rest" is in Christ. This is spoken of in detail on Hebrews chapter 4. You can't claim that the Sabbath is an exclusive issue relating to sole Abraham and Moses.....

I think you're being a little picky by claiming commandments in Adam and Noah and not Abraham/Moses.

Although the Sabbath was originally observed by God Himself after the acts of Creation, I am fairly certain it is not commanded to be followed by mankind until Mosaic law, specifically, in Exodus. Nor do I believe there are any recorded instances of mankind observing it until the Exodus from Egypt. I'm sure there are Jewish traditions that state otherwise, but I could care less about their theories of what they believed happened. What Scripture states happened is what I strive to base my beliefs on.

So just when did God sanctify the Sabbath and make it holy..... Under Moses or from the beginning of creation?

Gen 2:3  And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

Right there.

Sanctification generally means "to set apart as holy." Not "to command mankind to observe it as holy." Sanctification by God came then. There is, however, no command to mankind to observe it as such. There is a command to the Jewish people, however, which means I an not under obligation to observe the Sabbath or any modern copycat observance (Sunday, for some Christians; Friday, for Muslims, etc.).

Read Exodus 20 again...

Exo 20:11  For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

It is the same reason give by Moses that Israel should obey the Sabbath..... You're creating a distinction that doesn't exist.

Yes it is the reason. Just like the reason for commands to give animal sacrifices is supported by the Lord's sacrifice for Adam and Eve, Noah's sacrifices, Abraham's sacrifices, etc.
But the distinction I point out is the distinction of Scripture itself. Commands for both animal sacrifice and Sabbath observance are not given until Exodus. Just because people did sacrifices before, doesn't mean it was a command. It would be a worse assumption to assume God commanded something when it's not recorded than to assume He didn't command it when it is not recorded. The first assumption is adding to God's Word, the second is merely taking the Scripture literally.

So those before Moses and Noah....... didn't have any moral commandments to follow?

Have you ever heard of Enoch?

 

[PR6771]

christundivided:

So those before Moses and Noah....... didn't have any moral commandments to follow?

Have you ever heard of Enoch?

It was said that he pleased God and preached against the ungodliness of his day.

I'm sure they had morals to obey. They may or may not have been written down (if not, then they were oral morals... that's a tongue twister...). Regardless, what we have in Scripture is all that is meant for us. Speculation on how God directed them has very little Scripture to go on. The Holy Spirit strove with men, it is said. Probably weren't supposed to eat meat of any kind, definitely weren't supposed to kill another human, were supposed to spread out and fill the earth (which they may very well have done- the later Babel- builders were the ones guilty of not obeying that command), were supposed to have dominion over the earth and its creatures, had to work hard for a living, weren't supposed to commit fornication or adultery... I'm sure I'm forgetting something...

With their 900-some-years life spans, they probably didn't need to worry about writing something down. Just go ask the guy, or his grandson. There weren't that many generations before the Flood, and the population probably was nowhere near what it is today. Probably in the thousands or tens of thousands worldwide. Let's be overly generous and say the Flood was a whole 3000 years after Creation. That's less than the total lifespans of 4 people. Then assuming it's been 3,000-4,000 years since the Flood, and let's be generous and give an average lifespan of 80 for those years, and we have a number of years that is about as much as the total lifespan of 37-50 people. And population has grown exponentially, too, so it didn't get off to much of a start (compared to now) before being wiped out by the Flood.

 

[christundivided]

christundivided:

I asked for a list. Can you provide a detailed list? Would you include the "Sabbath" on your list? Does it fall under Adam and Noah?

This is gonna be a long post, but here goes-

Genesis 1:26-30

Do you eat every herb or seed that bears fruit upon the earth?

Genesis 2:15-17 would apply had mankind not fallen and had access to the Garden of Eden revoked (see Genesis 3:22-24)

I think you're missing the big picture in these verses.... Do you realize that God placed a man in the middle of Garden and told him to eat anything he wanted except for the fruit of one tree?

Now... I'm not trying to be sacrilegious here.... But you really need to think about this. While God did not cause man to sin.... He did produce the environment in which man chose to sin. I wonder if God had already made a plans for this event when it happened?

So even though God gave the command. It wasn't something He knew man would follow.

Genesis 2:24

Not everyone gets married and not everyone should. You should reconsider making these verses "an island unto themselves".

Genesis 3:16-19

These are natural decrees and laws God Himself declared. They can't help but be obeyed.

Genesis 6:3 I believe is merely stating the time until the Flood would be sent

Why include this?

Genesis 6:15-22 includes reasons why God brought the Flood and specific commands and explanations to Noah only, although verse 18 makes clear who would be spared with Noah (and presumably be under the covenant also)

Why include this? This has no long term influence on anyone today.

In another thread I have outlined portions of Genesis 8 and 9 that are commands to all mankind and the reasons why

I'm not going to go looking for it. Link it here.

Genesis 11:6-9 explains why God separated the original tongue of mankind into multiple different ones, and I think would be a command for mankind to inhabit all areas of earth that we are capable of (I don't think anyone is proposing all mankind relocate to one area of the earth, at this point, so I don't think there's anyone disagreeing with this instruction currently)

God bridged this gap with the giving of "tongues" at Pentecost.

As Paul points out, through inspiration of the Holy Spirit, some promises of the Abrahamic covenant are directed to all nations, but the requirement of circumcision is not. There are some Old Testament passages (in both the Law and Prophets) where the LORD speaks to all nations (heathen/Gentiles), but most of the Law and Prophets are written to the nation of Israel, and so would not apply to Gentiles.
Are you wanting more details on these passages or others?

Sure. Tell me what promises of the Abrahamic covenant don't apply to those in Christ? I thought I had all things that partain to life and Godliness through the knowledge of Jesus Christ? I'nm surprised to learn that I'm missing something.

 

[christundivided]

christundivided:

So those before Moses and Noah....... didn't have any moral commandments to follow?

Have you ever heard of Enoch?

It was said that he pleased God and preached against the ungodliness of his day.

You're purposely ignore what Jude wrote about Enoch.... Enoch preached about the coming Christ. Do you know what the word "Lord" means? He even said that he would come with 10,000s of his saints. Do you know what a "saint" is??? Do you realize that the word "saint" or "saints" does not appear till Deut 32:2????

You should realize that just because it doesn't.... Doesn't mean they didn't exist. Make an application.

I'm sure they had morals to obey. They may or may not have been written down (if not, then they were oral morals... that's a tongue twister...). Regardless, what we have in Scripture is all that is meant for us. Speculation on how God directed them has very little Scripture to go on. The Holy Spirit strove with men, it is said. Probably weren't supposed to eat meat of any kind, definitely weren't supposed to kill another human, were supposed to spread out and fill the earth (which they may very well have done- the later Babel- builders were the ones guilty of not obeying that command), were supposed to have dominion over the earth and its creatures, had to work hard for a living, weren't supposed to commit fornication or adultery... I'm sure I'm forgetting something...

I suppose you're adding to Acts 21:25???? Why is that?

With their 900-some-years life spans, they probably didn't need to worry about writing something down. Just go ask the guy, or his grandson. There weren't that many generations before the Flood, and the population probably was nowhere near what it is today. Probably in the thousands or tens of thousands worldwide. Let's be overly generous and say the Flood was a whole 3000 years after Creation. That's less than the total lifespans of 4 people. Then assuming it's been 3,000-4,000 years since the Flood, and let's be generous and give an average lifespan of 80 for those years, and we have a number of years that is about as much as the total lifespan of 37-50 people. And population has grown exponentially, too, so it didn't get off to much of a start (compared to now) before being wiped out by the Flood.

Enoch is considered to be the first prophet and he obviously wrote down his prophecy. What has survived of such is suspect to say the least..... but don't say he didn't write things down. Adam himself lived to the time of Enoch. Thus, the written words of Enoch and the oral tradition of the elders of mankind (even Adam himself) played a large role in subsequent generations.

 

[PR6771]

For Genesis 8 & 9-

Paragraph 1: The eight (Noah, wife, 3 sons, and 3 sons' wives) are commanded in 8:15-17.

Paragraph 2: All present and future earth-dwelling mankind is addressed in 8:21-22

Paragraph 3: The four (Noah and 3 sons) are commanded, warned, and promised multiple times in 9:1-7

Paragraph 4: The four (Noah and 3 sons), all seed descended from them, all ark creatures, and all present and future earth-dwelling flesh is promised in 9:8-11

Paragraph 5 and 6: Noah and all ark creatures and all of his and their descendants, for perpetuity, are promised in 9:12-17

Important to me is that paragraph 3 also applies to all descendants of Noah, in perpetuity. If the Blood-consuming Requirement does not apply to us today, then neither does the Flesh-consuming Allowance itself. Which means we revert to the Herb-etc-consuming Allowance given to Adam and Eve. In other words, if we are not bound to the requirements of paragraph 3, we are also not given its allowances.