Adam: Saved, or No?

[Guy4God]

A question came up last night and a friend of mine said that some teach that Adam did not obtain salvation and that he may not be in Heaven. He is not mentioned in Hebrews 11 and and a couple of other things. I said, that I do not believe that and that the fact that God Himself slew the first animals and put the skins on Adam and Eve, then nothing is really said after that, so we must default, or infer, that they were covered and will certainly be in Heaven.

That's my take, but I was looking for some other views, or better insights....:scratch

[ImHis]

from www.biblelineministries.com, Dr. Hank Lindstrom
As you inferred, it can be stated that God redeemed Adam
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was adam saved
Answer
Yes. It is pictured in Genesis 3:22 when God clothed Adam and Eve in coats of skins of animals. Adam and Eve attempted to cloth themselves with fig leaves. A picture of man's righteousness. God provided clothing from an innocent animal that had to be slain and it's blood shed. A picture of Christ and His death for us.

[Joel]

It is generally regarded by the Jews, that through oral tradition and recitation... the patriarchs of Old (before the Flood)... knew about God, and perhaps may have even had more 'special visages' of God, being as the revelation of His word was limited in those days. (Thus, 'special revelation').

Regardless, Adam passed on down to his sons the manner in-which to approach God, and that was through the slaying of animals (as was displayed so shockingly to Adam in the Garden... the same animals he named).

We can see through Abel's sacrifice, that this tradition was passed down from Father to son. Cain chose to rebel against the command of the Lord, and selected the 'works of his hands' instead of the obedient, blood sacrifice which was required in those days.

Sadly, inspite of being 'so close' to the original divine plan, chronologically, and via oral tradition (i.e they could plead no ignorance of God's requirements since it was made manifest to the early generations. God gives to all a measure of truth and light.) man still chose to rebel by and large and do it 'his way'.






This is slightly off topic, but it sorta relates in the fact of oral tradition, and Cain and Abel KNOWING where to take their sacrifices, and WHAT to take, and WHEN to take them.... (i.e proving there was oral tradition, IMHO, passed on down faithfully from Adam to his sons)




http://www.askelm.com/doctrine/images/x040301a.gif

Finally, Adam and Eve sinned. They ate of the tree of which they were forbidden. This tree, like the tree of life, was also in the middle of the Garden. But with their partaking of it, God was angry and sent them out of the Garden. Never again could they enter the Garden in this life. “And the Lord God said, ‘Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever’: Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”
Genesis 3:22–24
This episode has some very significant features associated with it. Observe they were expelled East of the Garden. Cherubim (angelic beings — later connected with temple symbolism) were also stationed at the East gate to the Garden with a flaming sword to prevent Adam and Eve from re-entering. 8 (http://www.askelm.com/doctrine/d040301.htm#_ftn8) When this happened, the tree of life became off-limits to them. Their face-to-face contact with God came to an end. The Cherubim guarded the East entrance (the only gate) into the Garden and forbade anyone to enter. We will see in a moment that these features represent precise arrangements found in the later tabernacle and temple.

Cain and Abel


Our first parents were cast out of the Garden — never to re-enter in this life. They still remained, however, in the territory of Eden. It is important to note that the “Garden” and the country of “Eden” were not synonymous. The Garden was in Eden, but the Garden did not represent all Eden. Look at a modern example. My residence is in Pasadena, California. Pasadena is in California, yet not all California is Pasadena. Adam and Eve were simply expelled from the Garden in Eden. They were still able to live in other regions of Eden.

Adam and Eve then had children. The first of which we have record were Cain and Abel. Cain became a tiller of the ground — he raised fruits and vegetables. Abel was a sheepherder (Genesis 4:2). “And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. 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: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the Lord said unto Cain, ‘Why are you wroth? and why is your countenance fallen? If you do well, shall you not be accepted? and if you do not well, sin lies at the door. And unto you shall be his desire, and you shall rule over him.’ And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.”
Genesis 4:3–8
There are three major points to consider in this narrative.

First, both men decided to bring offerings at a set time of the year — on a particular day. The phrase “in process of time,” in Hebrew, means “at the end of days.” It often signified the end of the agricultural (or civil) year (1 Kings 17:7) and was near the beginning of Autumn. Recall that the Israelites were required to appear three times in the year at the temple (Exodus 23:14–17). One of these occasions was “at the end of the year” (verse 16). This was the season of Tabernacles. Cain brought token offerings of his crops “at the end of days.” This shows the brothers must have appeared before God at a precise time near the Autumn of the year. This means they must have been told by God when to bring them.

Second, they also must have been told where to bring them because they “brought” their offerings to one altar.

Third, they were no doubt told what to bring. God would hardly have been angry with Cain unless he brought offerings not sanctioned by God.
This is similar to what happened with the later Israelites in regard to the temple. They were told when, where, and what to bring to the temple. All sacrificial offerings could only be presented at the sanctuary. Under no circumstances was any other location allowed (Deuteronomy 16:5–6, 11, 16). With Cain and Abel, the same factors are in evidence. Back at that time, they went to the area where they knew God had been dwelling — He was a resident of the Garden. They built their altar as close to God as possible near the East entrance (the gate or door) to the Garden.
When the proper time came they both offered their gifts, waving them in sacrificial praise to God whom they believed to be in the Garden. God then issued His approval of Abel's offering, but He was displeased with Cain’s offering. The older brother no doubt had been told to bring a lamb or goat, but Cain offered fruit and vegetables. God was not pleased and Cain’s countenance fell. God then answered: “Why is your countenance fallen? If you do well , shall you not be accepted? And if you do not well, sin [a sin offering] lies at the door.”
[I]Genesis 4:6–7
Many people for generations have stumbled over the meaning of this verse. Yet it is quite clear what is meant if one understands that temple language is being used. God was really being merciful to Cain. The mercy was this: If Cain would repent and still bring the proper offering (“if you do well”), then he would be accepted; but if he did not do so, then “sin [a sin offering] lies at the door.” This “sin” was a sin-offering. God said that He would provide a sin-offering which would lie “at the door.” What was this door?




The Gate of the Garden, the Door of the Temple


The matter becomes understandable once this “door” is identified. The word in Hebrew is pehthagh and refers in other parts of the Old Testament to the entrance of any tent (Genesis 18:1), but more particularly to the “door of the tabernacle” (Exodus 29:4), or the “door of the temple” (Ezekiel 8:7, 16), or “the door of the east gate of the Lord’s house” (Ezekiel 10:19).
In the case of Cain and Abel, they constructed their altar at the East gate of the Garden just in front of the Cherubim which guarded its entrance (Genesis 3:24). God was indicating to Cain that he still had a chance to obtain a proper offering and offer it. Cain, on the other hand, was a tiller of the ground. He had no lamb to give unless he got one from his brother. God understood the problem, so He added further: “if you do not well” (even if Cain was unable to obtain the proper animal sacrifice) God would have a sin-offering to lie “at the door” of the Garden where the altar was located.

This doesn't necessarily rectify Adam, but it does at least, IMHO, show he was faithful in passing down the instructions that God ordered unto him. It is highly probable then that Adam too complied faithfully and followed after the Lord.... perhaps with the hope of restoring or being restored to the former communion and paradise he retained in his earliest memory.


http://www.askelm.com/doctrine/d040301.htm

[Jany]

My take is that he was saved also; by the "skin of his teeth" ( no pun intended), but, yes <><

[Guy4God]

Nice graphic Joel...I thought of the temple right away...Question: Do you think that the 2 cheribim gaurding the Garden of Eden might be named Jachin and Boaz? (I Kings 7:21)

[Neen273]

1Cr 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [was made] a quickening spirit.

I have to doubt that God could make Adam an effective comparison to/picture of Christ if he ended up in hell. =)

[Beth O]

A question came up last night and a friend of mine said that some teach that Adam did not obtain salvation and that he may not be in Heaven. He is not mentioned in Hebrews 11 and and a couple of other things. I said, that I do not believe that and that the fact that God Himself slew the first animals and put the skins on Adam and Eve, then nothing is really said after that, so we must default, or infer, that they were covered and will certainly be in Heaven.

That's my take, but I was looking for some other views, or better insights....:scratch

My Pastor describes Adam as the first believer in God Almighty. He was made by God after the creation of the Heavens and the Earth, animals,etc... He believed God was the creator without proof that it was Him that did the creating. When Adam and Eve sinned this effected their fellowship with God. They still believed God. Always it is salvation by grace through faith alone. Once saved always saved.