A. WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE MARRIAGE OF ADAM AND EVE?
1. Married by God. “The Lord God . . . brought her to the man” (Gen. 2:22).
2. A purpose in life. “Be fruitful and multiple, and replenish the earth, and subdue it” (Gen. 1:28).
3. They were intimate. “They shall be one flesh” (Gen. 2:24).
4. She initiated sin. “When the woman saw . . . she took the fruit and did eat” (Gen. 3:6).
5. She influenced husband. “She . . . gave also to her husband with her, and he did eat” (Gen. 3:8).
6. Adam gave her the name Eve, life-giver. “Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living” (Gen. 3:20).
7. He was responsible. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed to all men” (Rom. 5:12).
B. WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE BIRTH OF CAIN?
1. Normal birth. “Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived and bare Cain” (Gen. 4:1).
2. Name of faith. “She said, I have gotten a man from the Lord” (Gen. 4:1). Name means, “to acquire.”
a. Expected Messiah. “I have gotten a man . . .even the Lord.”
b. Gratitude. “The child came from God.”
C. WHY DID GOD REJECT CAIN?
1. Self-willed. “If thou doest well, shall thou not be accepted?” (Gen. 4:7)
2. Angry at God. “Cain was very wroth” (Gen. 4:5).
3. Refused to obey God. “Sin (offering) lieth at the door” (Gen. 4:7). “Cain . . . his works were evil” (I John 3:12).
4. He murdered his brother. “Slew him” (Gen. 4:8).
5. Lied to God. “I know not” (Gen. 4:9).
6. Ran away. “Cain went out from the presence of the Lord” (Gen. 4:16). “A fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth” (Gen. 4:12).
7. God sought him. God asked him three questions.
D. WHY DID FAITH NOT TRANSFER TO CAIN?
1. Poor example of parents.
2. Lack of instruction by parents. (Silence).
3. Wrong understanding of grace by Cain.
4. Wrong direction of prayer by parents.
E. HOW DID ABEL DO RIGHT?
1. Breath. His name Abel implies a new spirit.
2. Faith. “Abel brought the firstlings of his flock” (Gen. 4:4). “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness, that he was righteous” (Heb. 11:4).
a. Confession of sins.
b. Recognized God as Savior.
c. Claimed a substitute for his punishment.
3. Abel brought a sacrifice more than once. “Firstlings.”
4. Quality. Abel brought first and best.
F. HOW DID FAITH TRANSFER TO ABEL?
1. Parents learned by experience. “Then began men to call upon the name of the Lord” (Gen. 4:26). Next son Seth turned out good.
2. Parent’s example. “Unto Adam also unto his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them” (Gen. 3:21).
3. Records were important. “This is the book of the generations of Adam” (Gen. 5:1).
4. Looked to future. “Ye are come . . . of the living God . . . to the blood of the sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel” (Heb. 12:22, 24).
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God. Please contact me at eltowns@liberty.edu and tell us about your salvation experience so that we can rejoice with you.
