A Trio Of Apostates

I. The Way of Cain

A. Way - a continued or habitual course of conduct or pattern of thinking

1. Psalms 1:1 "Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful."

2. Acts 14:16 "Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways."

3. Proverbs 14:12 "There is a way which seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."

B. Genesis 4:1-15

C. 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 speaks."

D. Abel believed God and believed that he was to worship God exactly as God said, by the blood of a sacrificial animal.

E. Cain did not accept this belief but believed that he could be acceptable to God with the work of his own hands because of his hard work and because he worshipped and gave offerings to God.

F. Way of hypocrisy - By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain ? Cain offered but faithlessly

G. Way of Selfishness ? Am I my brother?s keeper?

H. Way of Envy - Genesis 4:5 "But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell."

I. Way of Judgment ? (verse 11) ?Woe? ? a interjection of grief or denunciation.

II. The Error of Balaam

A. Error ? a wandering, a forsaking of the right path

B. 2 Peter 2:15-16 "Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; [16] But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbade the madness of the prophet."

C. Numbers 22:1ff

D. Baalam is an example of a false teacher who becomes worldly seeking possessions, acceptance, and security leads God?s people into sin.

E. Revelation 2:14 "But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication."

F. 1 Peter 5:2 "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;"

III. The Gainsaying of Korah

A. Gainsay ? opposition in act, oppose, antilogia

B. Numbers 16:1-35

C. Numbers 16:3 "And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?"

D. Numbers 16:9-11 "Does it seem but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them? [10] And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also? [11] For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the LORD: and what is Aaron that ye murmur against him?"

E. Way of rejection and rebellion against the God?s appointed authority.

F. Not content with his position he wanted a higher position of leadership.

G. A striking mark of holy ambition is that it elevates Christ and not the ambitious striver.

H. The Christian who is ambitious to be a star disqualifies himself as a leader.

I. Mark 9:35 "And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all."