Intro:
- In Genesis 1 we have Christ in Creation
- In Genesis 2 we have Christ in Marriage
- In Genesis 3 we have Christ the Messiah Foretold
- In Genesis 4 we have Christ Believed
I. The Birth of Cain v. 1-2
- Liberal scholars hold that much of Genesis is not meant by God to be literal
- By them “Adam” is just a generalized word for man
- And “Cain” is just a general word for life
- But Eve says “ I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord”
- Eve knowing the promise of God, and the fact that Cain was her first born assumed this was the promised Messianic seed spoken of in 3:15
- Abraham, who took things in his own hands to produce a Messianic seed, thought his first born was in fact the same thing.
- The birth of Cain is where we see Christ in this passage
II. The Sin of Cain v. 3-7
- The issue was over the offering
- It has been suggested by some theologians that God took issue with Cain because it was not a blood sacrifice
- There is no indication from scripture that this is the issue
- The word “offering” is a generic form of the word and is used throughout the OT for both blood offerings and non-blood offerings
- It is used with regard to the thank offering where either flour or oil is prepared with frankincense in Leviticus 2:1
- Since it is used in both occasions and God does not indicate that which offering was needed we can then understand scripture to mean the offering term was used in a broad or generic sense.
- We can also look for something else to be the issue.
- Hebrews 11: 4 says that Abel’s offering was more acceptable because of his faith involved in the offering.
- Hebrews 12:28 says we are to offer worship that is acceptable with reverence and awe
- Cain attempted worship that was none of those.
- And then refused to repent v. 7
- Sin gets in the way of worship and we are to rule over sin
III. The Judgment of Cain 8-16
- God for a second time came to the sinner for restoration as He did with Adam and Eve
- God sent His Son and by that came to the sinner for restoration when man ran, hid, and did not pursue Him.
- Rom 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
- There is the doctrine of Total Depravity that holds to the idea that man cannot on his own pursue after God.
- Man must be first pursued by God and convicted by Him.
- Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes,….
- Then we understand not everyone will receive the gospel
- Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
- Rom 1:21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
- Rom 1:22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
- Rom 1:23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
- Rom 1:24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,
- Rom 1:25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
- Joh 1:12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
- Joh 1:13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
- Mat_7:13 "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
- Cain never actually came to God as a true worshipper
- Churches are full of those who are of Cain
- Just as there are churches full of those who are of Able
- There are those who are considered wheat in the gospels and there are those who are considered weeds
- That is why Jesus says Matthew 13 that at judgment He will divide the wheat and the weeds
- And He will look them in the eye and say Mat 7:23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness
- Some will want to believe that they are ok with God not willing to check their wrong and ungodly motives for worship
- And just as Cain’s judgment was “Greater than he could bear”
- We will face an even greater judgment
- Cains anger v. 5
