Chapter 72
Moral Obligation in the
Patriarchal Age
How long has sin reigned?
"He that committeth sin is of the Devil; for the Devil sinneth from the beginning." 1 John 3:8.
What others sinned with Satan?
"God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment." 2 Peter 2:4.
Can there be sin where there is no law?
"Because the law worketh wrath; for where no law is, there is no transgression." Rom. 4:15.
How was the first death brought about?
"And Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him." Gen. 4:8.
What was the difference between the characters of the two men?
"Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous." 1 John 3:12.
NOTE: There must have been a standard by which the characters of the two men were weighed. The standard must have defined the difference between right and wrong, and pointed out man's duty; otherwise it could not be known when one passed from right to wrong, or vice versa.
Did the Lord impute sin to Cain for taking the life of his brother?
"If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door... And he [God] said,"... the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground... now art thou cursed from the earth." Gen. 4:7-11.
In what condition was mankind before the flood?
"The earth also was corrupt before God; and the earth was filled with violence." Gen. 6:11.
What did God purpose to do with the people of that day?
"And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the
earth." Gen. 6:13.
NOTE: Paul says (Rom. 4:15) that it is the law that works wrath. Had there been no moral law before the flood to define what was right and wrong, how would God have been justified in visiting wrath upon those antediluvians?
What was Noah called?
"And spared not the old world, but saved Noah, the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness." 2 Peter 2:5.
Why did the Lord destroy Sodom?
"The men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly." Gen. 13:13.
"We will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord." Gen. 19:13.
By what standard were their deeds weighed?
"And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked; for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds." 2 Peter 2:7, 8.
NOTE: How was it known that their deeds were unlawful, if no law then existed? Unlawful means "contrary to law," or "not permitted by law."
What did Joseph say when he was tempted on a certain point?
"How then, can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" Gen. 39:9.
What did God tell Abraham concerning the Amorites?
"But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again; for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full." Gen. 15:16.
Of what sin were they specially guilty?
"And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the Lord cast out before the children of Israel." 1 Kings 21:26.
Why did the Lord abhor the nations that occupied Canaan before Israel?
"Ye shall therefore keep all My statutes, and all My judgments and do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not out. And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you; for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them." Lev. 20:22, 23.
NOTE: The cause, "they committed all these things," refers to what had been previously forbidden to the Israelites. Among them was adultery (Lev. 20:10); dishonoring parents (verse 9); breaking the Sabbath (19:30); profaning the name of God (verse 12); lying, stealing, etc. (verse 11). This plainly shows that even Gentiles were held amenable to the law, and were abhorred of God for violating it.
Why did God make His promise to the seed of Abraham?
"Because that Abraham obeyed My voice, and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes and My laws." Gen. 26:5.
What will the children of Abraham do?
"Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham." John 8:39.
Who are the children of Abraham?
"And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Gal. 3:29.
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