Did Jesus Redeem Mankind? — Page 83
83 corollary of the above statement is that "if thou carest to become righteous thou canst and the gate to virtue is ever open to thee if thou wouldst but wish to enter it. " And similarly the words would mean: "The opportunity to become a favourite of Lord God and His elect is there only if thou wouldst avail of it. ". This is indeed much further than where salvation takes. . It is evident that men were accepted by God the Almighty till that period through their deeds and not through atonement and man could win Divine approbation through repentence after he had sinned. The two conclusions point out that every individual can become righteous and every man can become a favourite of God the Great. If it were not so, there would be no point in addressing Cain in the words: "If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted. And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. ” (3) It is further said, "And if thou doest not, sin lieth at the door. " Christianity says that the seed of sin was sown in the heart of man after Adam committed sin. This in fact makes sin hereditary. But the Bible avers that sin did not enter the heart of man but that it "lieth at the door" of his house. . It means it does not inhere in the heart of man but invades it from outside. The Bible thus does not hold that the seed of sin was sown in the heart of man after Adam sinned, but that it "lieth" at the door of every man. In other words, sin is an external thing and not an hereditary element forming part of the constitution of man. (4) It is again said: "and thou shalt rule over him. ". It is addressed to Cain. When God bids him to do a certain thing, it is evident that it is a practical possibility. . We do not ask a small child in an affectionate manner, unless