LESSON VIII.—THE TEST OF OBEDIENCE.
- What does God bring to bear upon all his people?
- Will any be permitted to enter his kingdom who have not learned to stand this test?
- Who were first subjected to this test?
- What was the result?
- What did they lose by their disobedience?
- To what did all men become subject in consequence of the sin of Adam and Eve?
- What is said about this in Rom. 5:12?
- How is sin defined in 1 John 3:4?
- What is the penalty for sin? Rom. 6:23.
- What is the only hope for men in this condition?
- How do we receive eternal life? Rom. 6:23.
- How may we know that the plan of salvation was made known to Adam and his descendants after the fall?
- These sacrifices showed faith in what?
- What confession was implied on the part of those who offered them?
- Were many of the antediluvians saved by the plan of salvation?
- Why not?
- Who was an exception?
- How did he live while surrounded by that exceedingly sinful generation?
- How did God finally release Enoch from this sinful world?
- What encouragement may we receive from Enoch’s life?
- Will any be translated who have not learned to walk with God as did Enoch?
- How do we show that Noah must have taught the moral precepts of God’s law to the antediluvians?
- How did God test Noah’s obedience?
- How did Noah stand the test?
- What evidence have we that his obedience was complete? Gen. 6:9.
God brings to bear upon all his people the test of obedience to his commandments. His subjects must all be loyal, and none will ever be permitted to enter his kingdom who have not learned to stand the test of obedience. Adam and Eve were subjected to this test in the garden of Eden. They did not remain faithful in this hour of trial, but broke God’s command. By so doing, they lost their innocence, the favor of God, their home in paradise, and their right to the tree of life. In consequence of their sin, all men became subject to death. Thus it was that by sin death entered into the world and passed upon all men, for all have sinned. Rom. 5:12. Sin is the transgression of the law, and the wages of sin is death. 1 John 3:4; Rom. 6:23. In this condition there was no hope for man but in the plan of salvation through Christ. So eternal life is the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom. 6:23. We know by the sacrifices they offered that this plan of salvation was made known to Adam and Eve and their descendants after the fall; for by these sacrifices they showed faith in Jesus Christ, the great sacrifice that was to be offered up for the sins of the world. They also showed, by taking the life of the victim offered, that they themselves were guilty, and worthy of death. Not many of the antediluvians were saved by this plan of salvation, because they would not avail themselves of it. Enoch, as we have seen, was an exception; for in the midst of that extremely sinful generation, he walked with God three hundred years. God then released him from a world of sin by translating him. This should encourage us to believe that we can live a godly life, even when surrounded by the gross wickedness of the present time. We may be sure that none will ever be translated who have not learned to walk with God as did Enoch. Noah was a preacher of righteousness. 2 Pet. 2:5; 1 Pet. 3:19, 20. Now righteousness is right doing, and the only perfect standard of right doing is found in the moral precepts of God’s law; so Noah must have taught those precepts to the antediluvians. God tested Noah by telling him to build an ark on dry ground, and to proclaim to the people that the earth was to be destroyed by a flood. For a period of one hundred and twenty years, Noah faithfully followed the instructions which God had given him. His obedience must have been complete; for it is said of him that “Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations.” Gen. 6:9.