throughout the history of mankind ... all the way back to Genesis 4, God has dealt with mankind ... God gives His Word and mankind either receives God's Word or does not receive God's Word.
Case in point – Abel and Cain:
Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
In order for Abel to offer by faith, Abel had to have heard the Word of God ... faith by hearing and hearing by Word of God (Rom 10:17).
In the case of Cain ... Gen 4:3 says in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
From NET Notes:
Heb “And it happened at the end of days.” The clause indicates the passing of a set period of time leading up to offering sacrifices.
God did not have respect to Cain's offering, God saw Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell, God further reached out to Cain ... Cain rejected God's Word, killed Abel, and then complained when God pronounced judgment.
Genesis 4 is the example showing that God gives His Word which is either received or not received by mankind ... and God continuing to reach out, as in the case of Cain ... even after Cain had murdered his brother ... God's faithful witness.
Genesis 4 reveals the blessing of receiving God's Word in faith and the consequence of suppressing the truth in unrighteousness.
Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
.
Well said
“But he answered and said, It is written,
Man shall not
live by bread alone, but
by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
Matthew 4:4 KJV
We either choose this good part like Mary did
“
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me,
hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
John 5:24 KJV
“And she had a sister called
Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: and
Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:39, 41-42 KJV
Apparently Mary chose to listen to Jesus word and Martha was complaining rather than sitting beside her
If we don’t choose his word we’re left in this position
“
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him:
the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”
John 12:48 KJV
He’s never changed he’s always spoken his word to man telling them about good and evil and the results of each and then offers them the choice to live and not die
he doesn’t change
To the very last day of anyone repents and believes the gospel they’ll be saved if they refuse to they won’t be because of thier own choice when given the truth of the information found in the gospel