How ?

Jesus is the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. It was as good as done before creation. His salvation is timeless. If/when/how God wants to apply it is up to God.

Revelation 13:8
All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Also, Jesus said that no one comes to the Father except through Him. What does that mean, exactly? That mankind -- limited by chronological time -- had to wait until He was born, named Jesus, crucified and rose again? That until He did so, nobody could know the actual name of their Savior and call on that name to be saved?

That's not what it says to me. It says to me the same sort of thing as "No one comes into the house except through the front door." In other words, if it weren't for that door, nobody could get in. Just as if it weren't for Jesus nobody could come to the Father. He is the only way in.

(Okay, my particular house has a couple other doors too, but you get my point, I hope.)

 

Enoch pleased God with his faith. Why God singled out Enoch for this special treatment is God's business.

Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

 

Enoch had faith in God. In the OT, Christ was not the content of saving faith. They did not have that revelation.

 

Hi Pastor Larry;
I say a big A men for that comment
May God Bless You;
Mike

 

Enoch pleased God because the righteousness of Christ was imputed to him by faith alone. The old testament saints were saved by the faith of Christ, "I know that my Redeemer liveth" Job 19:25.

 

The way is through faith. "Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness." Christ made it possible for all those with faith to be saved, so no one could be atoned for a part from Christ's work, but they didn't necessarily have to know his name in order to be saved. They were NOT saved through their knowledge of Christ, but through their faith in God's revelation at that point.

 

And so are New Testament saints, Arminian or Calvinist, convert or otherwise. All are justified by the faith of Christ.

One word. A big difference. God bless you, John. </font>[/QUOTE]Are you trying to say that Christ enter us and has faith for us and that its not our faith at all. Is that honestly your view because of the word "of" here?

 

Not many scholars even on your side hold to this do they? I think its pretty common knowledge that "the faith of Christ" simply refers to the faith He began by his life. For example one may say "that guy hold to the the faith of Mohammed" which would be in reference to the Islamic faith. Plus, you would have to ignore the dozens of verses that do refer to faith as being of men. Here are just a few:

Mat 9:29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
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Luk 8:25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.
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Rom 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
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1Cr 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
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1Cr 15:14 And if Christ be not risen, then [is] our preaching vain, and your faith [is] also vain.
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1Cr 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith [is] vain; ye are yet in your sins.
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2Cr 1:24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.
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2Cr 10:15 Not boasting of things without [our] measure, [that is], of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,
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Eph 1:15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
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Phl 2:17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
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Col 1:4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love [which ye have] to all the saints,
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Col 2:5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
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1Th 1:8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
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1Th 3:2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
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1Th 3:5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
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1Th 3:6 But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also [to see] you:
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1Th 3:7 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:
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1Th 3:10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
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2Th 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
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Jam 1:3 Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
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1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
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1Pe 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, [even] the salvation of [your] souls.
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1Pe 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
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2Pe 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
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Luk 17:5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
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1Jo 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith.
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No. The Jesus of the NT was not known about in Enoch's time. Neither were the books of Acts or Romans. The Messianic prophecies had not yet been fulfilled, nor had the bulk of Messianic prophecies been penned. For that matter, the OT had not yet been penned at the time of Enoch.

 

So why does Christ rebuke men for their lack of faith? Shouldn't he rebuke himself?

 

Just off the top of my head:

Rom. 1:18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

...Matt 23:37; and

John 12: 44 And Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. 45 "Hewho sees Me sees the One who sent Me. 46 "I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness. 47 "If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 "He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. (this may not be a rebuke but it is condemnation for their unbelief, same difference)

I would need to look it up but I also remember Paul rebuking the Jews for their continual refusal to accept his gospel.

But if they do trust Him isn't that God causing them to trust him or is that part of man? Still doesn't work, does it.

I meant that he should rebuke himself for their lack of faith because he is the one who is responsible for having their faith for them.

 

Actually, Jesus does occasionally rebuke some unbelievers for their unbelief. But Jesus tells them plainly why they do not believe. And it has nothing to do with them "deciding of their own free will" not to believe. For example...

43 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God."

When people refuse to love the truth and instead pratice deception, they are simply doing the will of their father, the devil. And notice that it's a willing effort -- the desires of your father (the devil) you want to do. They don't even recognize the truth when they hear it. (And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me?)

He who is of God, on the other hand, hears God's words. Anyone who is reborn from above (of the Spirit) and adopted into God's family is of God. They are born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Jesus also, as you mentioned, occasionally rebukes His own for their lack of faith in what Jesus can do in a particular circumstance or situation.