Hi Mike,

How did people in Genesis know they were sinning against God when the law wasn’t added until much later? Sin is the transgression of the law, and when there is no law sin is not imputed, but we even see Job offering sacrifices for sin long before the law ever came at Mount Sinai.

Any Thoughts?
M____

Hi M____,

Thank you for your question. It is significant to note what the scriptures actually teach concerning the law of Moses versus the law of God.
Here is what the scriptures actually say concerning the law of Moses:

Gal 3:19  Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; [ and it was] ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

The law of Moses “was added?” To what was the law of Moses added? It was added as a temporary, parenthetical dispensation, to the unchanging spiritual law of love of God. So too, are all laws of men. The law of Moses was a “carnal commandment” for an exceedingly carnal nation.

Heb 7:14  For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe [ the law of] Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
Heb 7:15  And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
Heb 7:16  Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
Heb 7:17  For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Heb 7:18  For there is verily a disannulling of the [ carnal] commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
Heb 7:19  For the law [ of Moses] made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope [ did]; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

So by what law did they offer offerings before Moses. It is clear from the story of Cain and Abel that God had already instructed mankind concerning how to offer offerings. If He had not then He could not have said, “if you do well will you not be received?” to Cain just before Cain killed Abel.

Gen 4:3  And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
Gen 4:4  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:
Gen 4:5  But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

Why would God not have respect to Cain and to Cain’s offering if Cain had not, in some way disobeyed God’s instructions concerning his offering. Cain did not see the need for shedding blood in order to be received by God. Cain had not “done well” because Cain had not honored and obeyed his instructions, and so God says to Cain:

Gen 4:6  And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
Gen 4:7  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him [ sin].
Gen 4:8  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.

“Sin lies at the door” when we don’t “do well.” So Cain did not “do well”, and Cain had “sin at the door,” and yet even here we have the doctrine of universal salvation being taught when we read “You shall rule over him.”
There is no doubt that all that God had taught Adam and Adam’s sons was soon forgotten, and yet Paul tells us this about the period between Adam and Moses and all time with all men who had not been instructed directly of God.

Rom 2:14  For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

I hope this helps you to see what law existed between Adam and Moses. It certainly was not “the law of Christ” which was completely unknown until Christ. This is all dealt with in depth in the paper on iswasandwillbe. com entitled The Law of Moses Versus The Law of The Spirit.

Gal 6:2  Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike