Results 1 - 8 of 8
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Where did Cains wife come from | Gen 4:17 | Makarios | 106835 | ||
Greetings FreeThinker, You mentioned three points: #1: "One, I see nothing that supports why God did not have to specify murder has a sin to Cain, but then felt it necessary to make it a commandment." #2: "Two, I see nothing that tells how or what to sacrifice to please him." #3: "Third, Kalos made the statement, “(keep in mind, the biblical command against marrying close relatives was not given until thousands of years later during the time of Moses).” Answer to #2: Let us go back to the beginning, when both Cain and Abel brought their offerings before God (Genesis 4:3-4). Abel's offering was accepted by God because it was in every way obediently given according to what God had revealed to them (though the specific instructions of God are not recorded in Genesis). However, Cain's offering was not accepted because he did not follow the divine instruction, just bringing what he wanted to bring: some of his crop. (1) Therefore, what God had revealed to them, Cain did not follow as Abel did. Scripture does not reveal the exact directions of God's instruction; in many places Scripture only focuses on obedience to God without knowing all of the WHY and HOW of a particular instruction. And Abel was obedient to God through faith (Hebrews 11:4). Answer to #1: In Genesis 4:5,6, Cain became angry and hostile towards God, rather than being repentant for his sinful disobedience. He could not kill God to exact his vengeance, but he could kill his brother, whom he was jealous of (1 John 3:12; Jude 11). And then God reminded Cain that if he had obeyed God and offered the animal sacrifices God had required, then his sacrifices would have been acceptable also. It wasn't out of personal preference on God's part, or disdain for Cain's vocation, or the quality of his produce that caused God to reject his sacrifice. It was out of disobedience to Him (1 John 3:12). And then, God told Cain (v.7) that if he chose not to obey His commands, sin (which was ever-present due to the fall of Adam) crouched and waited to pounce like a lion, fulfilling its (sin's) desire to overpower him. (1) And sin, when fully grown, brings forth death (Genesis 4:8; James 1:15). So Cain did indeed sin against God and was punished for it. But you ask: Cain didn't have the Ten Commandments. Therefore, would murder still be considered as sin, since the Law had not yet been given? The Law was given to make us conscious of our sin (Romans 7:7). The Law reveals God's divine standard, and as we compare ourselves to that standard, we can accurately identify our sins, which is the failure to meet that standard. But even though the Law did not come until 430 years after Abraham (Gal. 3:17), "sin" was still identified as "sin" before the law came, since "all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law.." (Romans 2:12). So now you ask: How can we reconcile Romans 7:7, which states that we cannot know about sin unless we have the law, and Romans 2:12, which states that all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law? "For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus." Romans 2:13-16 [ESV] Therefore, in the same way, Abel and Abraham were justified, even though they did not have the law, because they acted in faith towards God. But Cain was not justified, because even after his disobedience towards God, he did not then act in faith. Therefore, this is a small explanation of how we come to the conclusion that there is sin even without the existence of the law, even though the law came into existence to make plain our sin to us so that we may be brought to repentance, instead of continued disobedience, like Cain. Answer to #3: (Keep in mind, the biblical command against marrying close relatives was not given until thousands of years later during the time of Moses.) God did not reveal to the Israelites His special directions concerning marriage until He gave the Law to Moses (Leviticus 18:6-18). Up until that time, relatives were free to marry each other (Genesis 29:15,23-30). But God was setting apart a people that would be holy to Him (Leviticus 20:26), set apart from the world to God alone. And the law forbidding intermarriage within families was a law, along with the Ten Commandments, that would set the people apart as a Holy nation to God. And the Lord would then no longer allow relatives to marry each other, should they claim to be His people. Blessings to you, Makarios |
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2 | Where did Cains wife come from | Gen 4:17 | FreeThinker | 106865 | ||
Thank you for your efforts, Makarios, but I still do not understand how one could know how to do something without first having instructions. It sounds to me like Able brought the best of his labors and Cain brought from his. We do not know if it was the best of his crops or not. If Cain was a tiller of the soil, where was he going to get an animal to offer to God? He would have had to get it from Able and what kind of sacrifice would that be? This makes believing in this very difficult. There are so many questions from just the first few pages! Since you are being kind enough to try to explain this, could you please also look into why 2 Kings 19 is an exact copy of Isaiah 37? Thank you, |
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3 | Where did Cains wife come from | Gen 4:17 | Mommapbs | 106871 | ||
Free Thinker - I'd just like to jump in here for a moment . . . as humans, we often learn by example. Also, we demonstrate that learning when we imitate the actions of others. Recall the response of God when Adam and Eve first sinned. Blood was shed to clothe the first couple. (Gen 3:21) An example was set, (the possibility for learning was established) one that Abel chose to follow. So it is today - we all have a choice: God's Way or our way. "There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death." Proverbs 16:25 May God bless you from His Word. mommapbs PS: A while back you said you would read "Evidence that Demands a Verdict." I'm wondering if you followed through on this? |
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4 | Where did Cains wife come from | Gen 4:17 | kalos | 106873 | ||
Mommapbs: Excellent point about blood being shed to clothe Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:21). Your answer goes right to the heart of the matter. I don't much care for it when people question the justice of God, as if God owes them an explanation for what He has done in the past. God is not much in the business of answering questions that begin with the word "Why." I suppose if one is looking to discredit God or the Bible, that person will never be satisfied with answers. Mommapbs, thank you for your many fine postings. It's a pleasure to read your Questions, Notes and Answers. Peace, kalos |
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5 | Where did Cains wife come from | Gen 4:17 | FreeThinker | 106884 | ||
If there is a God, then he made me the way I am. I always ask "why?" I have nothing to gain by trying to prove God does not exist, and I have everything to gain if I find that he does exist. And again; he made me the way I am, so I will continue to question everything until I get the answers that suit me. I doubt very much that a God that could make the whole cosmos would be so trifle as dislike me becasue I ask why! You know though, I get that alot. If you ask why then you must be out to disprove God. Cattle don't ask questions, they just walk up the ramp to be slaughtered. |
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6 | Where did Cains wife come from | Gen 4:17 | Mommapbs | 106888 | ||
FreeThinker - keep asking why, but don't challenge the sovereignty of God in the process! He made you as you are for a reason, HIS. Don't miss what He has in store for you. He made you with a heart to know and seek Him, but the way that YOU choose to walk will determine YOUR destiny. " . . .know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever." 1 Chron. 29:9 mommapbs PS: You STILL haven't responded to my question. Why? |
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7 | Where did Cains wife come from | Gen 4:17 | FreeThinker | 107028 | ||
Sorry about not answering faster. There are several reasons. One, I am a single parent, so I have very little time to spend here. Two, I get to the page with your question and it says I have to login. So I login and lose the page I was on. I finally find it, and it says I have to login again. I must be doing something terribly wrong here, but I have yet to figure it out. Third, I am dyslexic and it takes forever to write a simple paragraph. Forth, I take it you believe in this book a great deal. I did not find it very interesting or very compelling. Sorry. I do not except the Bible as a reference that the Bible is accurate, that is one problem. | ||||||
8 | Where did Cains wife come from | Gen 4:17 | Hank | 107031 | ||
Free Thinker: You say that you don't accept the Bible as an accurate reference, and conclude that that is one problem. ..... Indeed it is "one problem" of great magnitude. It may, in fact, be your core problem around which all your other spiritual problems revolve. Do you know what or who influenced you to doubt the truth of Scripture? Have you actually ever sat down and read the Bible from cover to cover and formed your own conclusions about Scripture, or are you following the erroneous opinions of others who claim to know it all? Try "The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict" by Josh McDowell and the writings of C. S. Lewis, especially "Mere Christianity", "Surprised by Joy" and "The Screwtape Letters." Both of these men, both McDowell and Lewis, once were skeptics of the first water. They reveal in their books how they came to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. I hope that you will follow in their footsteps, my friend. Eternity is a mighty long time to regret that one made a terribly wrong choice. --Hank | ||||||