The apostle Paul made is clear when Jesus comes again, those who are not obeying the gospel of Christ will suffer the vengeance of flaming fire (2thes.1:7-8). We have to be obeying the gospel when Jesus comes in order to be saved (Rom.10:16; 1Pet.4:17-18; 2Thes.1:7-8). Jesus said in his day those who did not believe the gospel and get baptised “shall be damned” (Mk.16:15-16).
Did Adam and his children have to sacrifice after sin entered the world in order to be accept in life-giving righteousness (Heb.11:4). Did Abraham have a sign, seal of imputed righteousness, righteousness the apostle Paul says is “ revealed from faith to faith” in the gospel of Christ (Rom.1:16-17). Was not Moses almost killed (Ex.4:24-26) after the birth of his son for not performing the rite of circumcision, his sign seal of gospel imputed righteousness handed down to him by his forefathers?
The gospel of Christ from the day sin enter the world had to be obeyed. Sacrifice, circumcision, baptism for about 5800 years were signs, seals (2Tim.2:19) of “obedience to the faith” (Rom.1:5, 16:25-26). Given to man by Christ to reveal to different generations different aspects of what the gospel is, says and does for the salvation of man. Paul made it clear that the gospel is not just the man Christ Jesus, its also a specific message (Rom.1:16-17) that has to be preached, believed, received and obeyed “by which also ye are saved” (1Cor.15:1-2). The “everlasting gospel” found in Revelation 14:6-7 has a specific sign, seal of impued righteousness by faith from “faith to faith” for this final generation which must be given in light of what the apostle Paul calls the “truth of the gospel” (Gal.2:5,14; Col.15).
Edmond