Greetings all, and thank you so much for your posts. They've definately shed some light on what's going through my mind. I don't have time to address everything I'd like to right now, but for starters, here goes:
I especially liked the point about after Adam was kicked out of the garden, and before the Mosaic Laws, man was left to his own understanding as to how to conduct himself.
Psm. 81:12 So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, to walk in their own counsels.
Psm.49:20 Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.
Psm.73:22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee
Acts 14:16 who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways.
Mic 4:5 For all people walk each in the name of his god, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God Forever and ever.
Amazing how I'm getting answers in this thread to questions I raised in other threads. It's all coming together for me now so beautifully. I listed the following citations, but only typed out the parts which are really grabbing my attention (otherwise I'd be typing out most of Romans) I'm amazed at how the eyes of my understanding are beginning to see the truth so clearly. Deep things of God. Wow. Scriptures are coming alive.
Rom 3:25b;5:12-21 because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,...Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned - For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come...Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life...Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
At the time of reckoning in Gen.3:14-19 God said to the serpent "YOU are cursed..." then to the woman (as yet unnamed by Adam until vs.20) "...greatly multiply your sorrow & conception...in pain...desire for your husband, he shall rule over you" and then to Adam "cursed is the ground for your sake...in toil...sweat of your face you shall eat..." It isn't until after Cain kills Able that God curses the individual in Gen.4:11 "YOU are cursed from the earth..." The punishment fits the crimes, getting worse each time (except for the serpent). It isn't until Gen.4:26 that men then began to call on the name of the Lord, approximately 235 yrs after the time Adam and Eve were kicked out of the garden till the generation of Enosh. After his generation we find many generations but only hear of Enoch walking with God, and he was not??? (condemned, or death did not reign over him) for God took him. Finally Noah shows up and finds grace in the eyes of God, unlike the rest of his generation. It is apparent that the spirit of God was present back in the days of old. I guess death reigned and man leaned on his own understanding and was like the beasts that perish, except for the few and the chosen who walked with God, and called on his name, and were saved in the ark. Oh how history repeats itself. So many types in the scriptures.
So much to learn, so little time. Lord willing we'll talk more later. Thanks again to all. Sorry I couldn't go more into details.
Your Brother in Christ,
Greg