Sin Crouches At Our Door

SIN CROUCHES AT OUR DOOR (Outline)

July 16, 2023 – Pentecost 7 – GENESIS 4:3-12

INTRO.: In the middle of our text today our theme jumps out at us. “…sin is crouching at the door…” The Lord God warns believers about the danger of sin. We always need to hear the Lord’s warning that sin is dangerous. Very dangerous. Sin is dangerous because it often starts seemingly innocently. The Bible describes the beginning and end of what sin is and does. “Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin. And sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death” (JAMES 1:15). Desire births sin. It ends in death. SIN CROUCHES AT OUR DOOR. I. Sin desires to destroy. II. We must rule over sin.

I. SIN DESIRES TO DESTROY.

A. Verse 3. Cain brings an offering to the Lord. It is his act of worship. Some fruit of the soil.

1. Verse 4a. Abel also brings an offering. It is the firstborn of his flock. Along with the fat.

2. Cain brought some fruit. Abel brought firstborn, fat (= best). Different offerings.

B. Verses 4b, 5a. The Lord was pleased with Abel’s offering. Not pleased with Cain’s.

1. Verse 5b. Cain was angry. Very angry. Face was downcast. Offered something. Not best.

2. Verse 6. The Lord questioned Cain about his anger. Why? Why downcast?

3. Verse 7a. Lord explained. Do the right thing yields blessing. Bring the best to the Lord.

C. Verse 7b. Now the Lord warned Cain to be careful. Not do good “sin is crouching at the door…”

1. Crouching refers to an animal ready to attack. Pounce on the target.

2. WARNING: “It (sin) has a strong desire for you…” Sin desired to destroy Cain. Danger!

D. The Lord looked differently at the worship offerings brought by these two brothers. Cain brought some fruit of the soil. Abel brought firstborn of flock and fat portions. We look at fat today as not desirable. In biblical times fat portions showed the animal was healthy and fit. Blessed. Abel did not offer a left-over to the Lord. He brought the best. We come to worship. We bring our gifts. We come to hear God’s Word. We know how our hearing can easily be interrupted. The worries and cares of this world creep in. We are distracted. Not paying attention. “Hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: These people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me” (MATTHEW 15:7, 8). Worship is a matter of the heart. Word (seed) planted in heart. Word brings us back to listen.

E. Sin crouches at our door. Satan is ready to attack. Destroy. Our world today does not want to talk about sin. Much less hear that they are sinful. We do not like to be reminded of our evil thoughts. Wicked words. Atrocious actions. Scripture is very clear. Conceived in sin. Born sinful. Life sinful lives. “Every single one has turned back. Altogether they have become rotten. There is no one who does good. There is not even one” (PSALM 53:3). We confess our sinfulness. It is vital to recognize the danger of sin that dwells in our dark hearts. For then, we also see the need for help. Salvation. Savior. Jesus.

F. We want to remember that the world would like to dismiss sin. Too old-fashioned. Outdated. Not relevant in our “everything goes” enlightened day and age. Sadly, many churches have given up the biblical teachings concerning law and gospel. Law shows our sin. Gospel shows our Savior. Our soul needs to hear both. Too many use the phrase “we agree to disagree.” Do not fooled by false prophets. Sin crouches at our door. Sin. “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 JOHN 1:8). Do not be fooled by the father of lies. The false teachings of our world. The world has classified many sins as sicknesses. But where is the cure for these sicknesses. No medicine is able to heal sin-sick souls. Or our old sinful nature wants to do whatever we want. Whenever we want.

SIN CROUCHES AT OUR DOOR. Ready to attack: Sin desires to destroy us.

II. WE MUST RULE OVER SIN.

A. Cain was angry. The Lord knew this. Warned Cain about sin at the door. Strong desire to destroy.

1. Verse 7. “…but you must rule over it.” Cain had faith. Believed in the Lord God.

2. Lord told Cain to rule over sin. Had power to overcome desire. Not give in. Master sin.

B. Verse 8. Sin pounced. Cain did not rule over sin. Killed his brother, Abel. Anger – hatred – murder.

1. Verse 9. “Where is Abel, your brother?” Abel means breath. Where is breath – Abel – brother.