Hi JohnnyB,
About Muslims, because Jesus Christ is one of their prophets, I believe they have a bigger difficulty to overcome than a religion which does not name Jesus Christ. They also have respect to Mary, His mother, and that only adds to their burden when refusing to accept Him as 'that Prophet' of whom Moses spoke, rather than Mohammed.
Think about this. We are on a Christian website, and there are Christians here who do not really believe that on the cross Jesus Christ destroyed the power of the devil through His death. They have barely heard of 'victory over sin' as something to be contended with in this life on a daily basis. Maybe there is hope for some Muslims, but my feeling is that those who really want to know 'the truth' - whether in churches or mosques - will seek Him until they find Him. I strongly believe that a person 'knows' when they have heard from God, or met the Lord, and it is not a matter of guesswork. It changes them dynamically, like the blind man in John 9. They have enough common sense to know what is out of the ordinary, and whether what has happened to them is different from their previous experience.
I would like to offer you some ideas about how to think about the issues you brought up. It requires some lateral thinking, as well as some 5D (five dimensional) thinking. The fourth dimension is time. The fifth dimension is eternity. (Okay?) What Episkopos has shared is true as far as it goes, but there is a timeline running from Genesis during which God increases His revelation during successive eras, while expecting humanity to keep a hold of what it received from the preceding generation. (I hope that makes sense.)
[Imho, a useful study you could do, is to sit down with a roll of paper, and make yourself a timeline beginning at Adam, all the way to Abraham. You will notice that Adam died during the lifetime of Noah's father, and Methuselah didn't die until a year before the Flood. Then, after a bit more work, you'll discover that Noah lived pretty much up to the time of Abraham's birth. His sons were still living when Abraham was called by God to leave Ur. I may sound as if I'm rambling here, but, I want you to think about the psychological implications to 'society', of living either in the time of Adam, or, the time of Noah. In the passing, make a note of who Elam was, and relate that to Job's sacrifices.]
Genesis 3:21
Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
Genesis 4:4
And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof.
And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
Genesis 26:5
Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
There are other places in the OT where individuals offer a sacrifice to God. The Gentiles were in relationship with Him, and although scripture doesn't tell us exactly how, it seems to follow from the shedding of blood in the garden of Eden, which were recognised from ancient times to have real meaning. Particularly where a covenant was made between two men, such as that their families would not fight each other any more, it was unthinkable to break the terms of the agreement. In other words, there was real honour at a level which has all but disappeared from our 'world'. Sacrifices to God were understood to have real meaning, and God expected them to be made as a response to His continuing grace towards them while they were profoundly alienated from Him through sin.
Idolatry, also, is always present, Gen 3:6, as it is a natural outworking of the sinful nature. John 3:20
The law of Moses was very specific to the children of Israel who had come out of Egypt, but we see from the beginning of the Hebrew epistle that God was already judging each generation within its own time - even of those people who were in the closest relationship with Him. Yet within the law of Moses, from the very beginning, there is provision for Gentiles to be joined permanently to Israel though certain rituals. They are still regarded as strangers depending on various factors, but in some cases they are assimilated into Israel after a certain number of generations. God Himself did not force Gentiles to stay separate from Israel, (but the genealogies of Israelite families was important until Jesus Christ came, so all prophecy about Him was fulfilled) and thus they could enjoy the same blessings as Israel.
They moved from one sacrificial system to another. That's why Romans 2:16 is of interest, and, why I was asking Episkopos to say more about what defines righteousness down the ages. 2 Peter 3:9. Because, while Israelites were dying under the law of Moses, Gentiles who remained Gentiles, were also dying, and we learn from Paul that Jesus Christ is going to judge them/us all.
Paul makes a big deal in Ephesians 2, of the difference made by Christ's death on the cross, to the relationship of the Gentiles to God, but there are other verses in the NT of interest, such as Acts 17:24 - 30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men every where to repent. Acts 17:31. (Eph 2:4)
Reflecting on the law of Moses-
Hebrews 9:22
And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Hebrews 10:4
For [it is] not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
I feel I've come to the end of what I want to say right now, but I trust you have food for Bible study, and extra-biblical study, towards the answers to your questions.
Hi JohnnyB,
Johnny, I'm not sure that the law of God which is written on our hearts by the circumcison of Christ, is the same as the 'work of the law' which Paul says may (back then) have been written in the Gentiles' hearts (in Romans 2). Just saying. Not sure it's the same. Not sure which 'standard' is in view - the law of Moses, or ... ?
Hi Episkopos,
I don't think God changed His word, but if you're referring to Ezekiel 18, He was speaking to Israelites.
Do you think this applied to Gentiles as well?
