GreyShark
Technically speaking Noah and his family were saved because of their clean bloodline. Everybody else drowned because of genetic contamination, the whole Nephilim thing. This was done to facilitate the birth of the second Adam and thereby ensure the salvation of humanity, most likely even those who were drowned.
With respect to your right of opinion, these statements are simply not accurate from a hermeneutical standpoint. You’re incorrectly assuming that the word “generations” is made in reference to a bloodline, which has nothing to do with Noah, his family or relationship with God. The word “generations” was used in translation to describe the Hebrew word “dor” which means, an age or a revolution of time. “dor” does not mean “bloodline.”
In your interpretation you believe that Gen 6:9 states, “Noah was a just man, perfect in his bloodline” When what it’s really saying according to the Hebrew text is, “Noah was a just man, perfect in his age” or “period of his life.” God condemned the world because it was living a wicked and ungodly existence, not because it was of the "wrong" bloodline. The word generation/s is also used in Isaiah 53:8, and translated from dor. This is better rendered, in the English Standard Version: “and
as for His generation or,
contemporaries, who considered that He was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?" :thumbsup:
Here is Genesis 6 for those who would like to read it.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=1&chapter=6&version=50
Isaiah 53
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2053;&version=50;
Now, there are other theological debates outside of the clear meaning of “age” such as, was Noah saved by grace alone or was this done because he was described as being a righteous man? Most agree that grace, as we know it is undeserved favor. If it’s believed that Noah found grace because of his “righteousness” then grace is no longer grace. Obviously Noah wasn’t sinless, so Noah’s appeal to God’s grace could be described as Noah making the best use of God’s grace, through his uprightness, thus escaping wrath.
GreyShark
God is in the business of saving souls and it seems people, even Christians, too often forget that. You don't get condemned to hell or the second death for being bad, death is merely the wages of sin. It is more akin to how if you eat a lot of poison you'll die. God is like poison control working to prevent that from happening and has a plan in place so nobody has to die if they don't want to.
I think I see what you’re trying to say, but because of the way it's worded it actually takes on a different meaning. God’s not “in the business of saving souls.” He’s in the business of leading us to the revelation of Himself through nature, conscience and the word, then allows us the choice to accept or reject Him through the mechanism of freewill. Transgression of the law is why we’re condemned and condemnation occurs to those who reject His gift of salvation through Christ. The wages of sin is death but that’s to say that condemnation is not vindictive. God is simply giving people who reject Him what they want in the first place, which is, separation from himself. Without hell, there would be no choice or exercising of freewill. Those who chose to share in relationship with God would end up inheriting a counterfeit heaven while those who chose not a relationship with God would be incarcerated in heaven against their will.
GreyShark
Satan is in the business of trying to stop God from saving humanity which is why he tricked Adam and Eve into eating poison in the first place and then attempted to sabotage the breeding program. Taken on the whole Bible is mostly really about eugenics, culminating with the resurrection and the gift of non-fallen bodies.
Satan is in the business of being in opposition to God’s kingdom. That
isn’t to say that he’s God’s opposite, since Satan is a mere created being, who has been “limited by God” according to Job. Since Satan knows he can’t prevent God from doing anything, he instead attempts to interfere with us having a relationship with God through deception among other tactics.
Here is a decent resource for the nature of angles, Satan, and demons:
http://bible.org/seriespage/survey-bible-doctrine-angels-satan-demons
The Bible is not “mostly really about eugenics, culminating with the resurrection and the gift of non-fallen bodies.” Eugenics has to do with the discouraging of reproduction and/or the elimination of persons who are undesirable according to a certain power group, with the goal of achieving desirable human hereditary traits. It’s the “might makes right” mentality in which a few decide the fates of the weak, apart from any choice of the weak. Given the major differences, I don’t see how eugenics could be compared to the message of the Bible. The ultimate culmination for those who know God isn’t just improved bodies but perfect union and harmony with Him, as it was with Adam before the fall.
This isn’t a religious thread but since I started it, I felt compelled to this one response. Beyond this I’ll have to take it to the underground with you. :)
