Genesis 4

Genesis 4

IntroductionGen 3Root of sin

Gen 4Fruit of sin

Genesis 4

Sin Condition● Not just ptomaine poisoning● Disbelief and disobedience● Man turned away from God● Brought judgement upon his race● We all have this sin nature

Genesis 4

Birth of CainGen 4:1Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, "With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man."

Birth of Cain● A & E didn't anticipate long struggle● If Eve expected Cain to be Messiah● Cain was not the One● Cain was a murderer● No savior at all● Long time before Savior comes

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Long Struggle● Minimum 6000 year struggle so far● Christ vs. Satan● Seed of woman vs. seed of serpent

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Birth of AbelGen 4:2Later she gave birth to his brother

Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain

worked the soil.

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Cain's OfferingGen 4:3In the course of time Cain brought

some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD.

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Cain's Offering● In the course of time● Probably meaning on the Sabbath● Brought: to an appointed place● Place of worship● How did they know this?

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By RevelationHeb 11:4By faith Abel offered God a better

sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

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By FaithRom 10:17Faith comes from hearing the message,

and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

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Abel's Offering● Must have been by revelation● God must have told him● Abel obeyed, came by faith● Cain did not come by faith

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Genesis 4

Abel's Offering● Nothing wrong with Cain's fruit● Probably best selection of garden● But not by faith

Abel's OfferingGen 4:4-5But Abel brought fat portions from

some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor.

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Abel's OfferingGen 4:4-5 So Cain was very angry, and his face

was downcast.

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Cain's Failing● What was wrong with what Cain did?● Jude 1:11: Gone the way of Cain● What is the way of Cain?

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Cain's Failing● Offering not by faith● Came on his own● Denied that human nature is evil● Did not offer blood sacrifice● Sacrifice pointing to Redeemer

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Cain's Failing● Denied man was separated from God● Acted like everything was all right● Liberalism does this today● “Universal fatherhood of God”● “Universal brotherhood of man”

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Cain's Failing● Things are not all right with us● We are not born children of God● We must be born again (John 3:3)● Man is separated from God● Cain refused to recognize that

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Cain's Failing● Man cannot offer works to God● Cain thought that he could

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Cain's FailingTitus 3:5He saved us, not because of righteous

things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit ...

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Cain's Failing● Not from an alcoholic grandfather● Cain didn't even have a grandfather● He & Abel had same background● Same heredity● Same environment

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Cain's Failing● Abel's good not from grandmother● Difference was in the offering● Actions resulting from attitudes

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The Right Attitude● No Christian better than others● All Christians are sinners saved● All need a sacrifice● Someone to take our place● Someone to die for each of us

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The Right AttitudeRom 3:25God presented Him as a sacrifice of

atonement, through faith in his blood.

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Genesis 4

The Wrong AttitudeRom 10:3Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.

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The Wrong Attitude● Joining a church just to be member● Salvation not via membership● Salvation not via doing good● Attempting to make oneself

acceptable to God

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God's Righteousness● Comes to us from Him● Not the other way around

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God's RighteousnessRom 4:25He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

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God's Righteousness● He was raised for our

righteousness● He was the One Who took our

place

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God's Righteousness2 Cor 5:21God made Him Who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

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God's RighteousnessPhilippians 3:8-9 ...that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ --

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God's RighteousnessPhilippians 3:8-9the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.

Genesis 4

References●J. Vernon McGee Commentary