Death Row Series

Intro:

1. Frank Sinatra theme song was "My Way" and that is the story of mankind. Because Adam and Eve sang "I did it My Way" instead of "Have Thine own way" in the garden - death is now a certainty for all mankind.

As Harry Houdini the famous escape artist, said before his last disappearing act, "I'm tired of fighting. I guess this thing is going to get me." The "this thing" that's going to get us all is death.

Even "Old blue eyes" is not "old closed eyes" as Frank Sinatra lay dying, his last words to his wife was, "I'm losin."

2. Genesis 5 is one long obituary, a clear proof that the wages of sin is death. But death is also a door way - an entrance either to Life with God or Life separated eternally from God.

3. One Death, Two Destinies.

Trans: I could not help but think of Augustine's work, The City of God. which sees the human race divided into two groups:

"Two cities formed by two loves: earthly, by the love of self, even to the contempt of God; and the heavenly, by the love of God, even to the contempt of self."

We have before us two lines - that of Cain and that of Seth. The line of Cain theme song is "My Way." While the line of Seth, believing the promise of Gen. 3:15 sings "Have Thine own way Lord."

I. FIRST, THE OBITUARY OF ADAM. 5:1-5

A. His Likeness. 1-2

1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day when God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. 2 He created them male and female, and He blessed them and named them Man in the day when they were created - we looked at this in Gen. 2:26.

B. His Legacy. 3-4

3 When Adam had lived one hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth. 4 Then the days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years, and he had other sons and daughters - Seth was created in Adam's marred image, now fallen because of his sin.

What will he be remembered for? Rom. 5:12 [looked at this]

C. His Longevity. 5

So all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years - fallen man can only live so long!

President Woodrow Wilson experienced the devastation of World War I, he suffered a stroke which severely weakened him, 3 years after leaving office he died. His last words were, "The machinery is worn out." The outward man is perishing, this bodies simple wear out.

D. His Loss of life.

and he died - God's promises always come to past. The Devil's lie, "Surely you shall not die" is now clearly exposed.

Trans: Adam's obituary will become humanities obituary - all through chapter 5 we read, "and he died..."

Reminds me of two baseball players who loved playing baseball. They made an agreement that whoever died first, would seek to communicate with the other, as to whether, there was baseball in heaven.

The day came and one of them died, and sure enough he appeared to his friend in a dream. He said, "I have good news and bad news. The good news is that there is baseball in heaven. The bad news is, your scheduled to pitch tomorrow!" Heb. 9:27

II. FINALLY, THE ANCESTRY OF SETH. 5:6-32

A. The Repetition.

Seed lived...begot...and died.

Death is a fact of life - we never know when or how but it will come to all of us.

Gen. John Sedgwick, was a commander of the Army of the Potomac who was a relentless optimist. At the Battle of the Wilderness the troops were diving for cover from a Confederate sharpshooter.

Gen. John stood up boldly, and said, "They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist...." He caught a bulled in the face and dropped dead.

B. The Exception. 21-24

1. The Promise.

a. Promises are given to those who experience Regeneration.

21 Enoch lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Methuselah. 22 Then Enoch walked with God... - you cannot walk with God unless you are first born into God's family. IF YOU HAVE A CHILD WHO IS WALKING, IT IS A CERTAINTY THAT HE WAS FIRST BORN!

God has many wonderful promises - but they are only for those who are born-again. Those who have gone from being In Adam to being In Christ.

"For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God." 2 Corinthians 1:20 (NIV)