Please enable Javascript to play audio

Genesis 4:1-8: Cain and Abel

February 12, 2006

Learning from others in the past

Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime (in the Old Testament Scriptures) were written for our learning [or our doctrine or instruction], that we through patience [or endurance] and comfort [or encouragement] of the scriptures might have hope [present tense – lit. “keep on having hope”]

Cain and Abel were brothers

Genesis 4:1-2a And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. 2 And she again bare his brother Abel.

Brothers have the faith

1 Corinthians 6:6 But brother goeth to law with brother (those that have the faith), and that before the unbelievers [or those without faith].

The faith to enter into the kingdom of God

Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Adam lost the dominion of the earth

Genesis 3:23-24 Therefore the LORD God sent him (Adam) out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. 24 So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.

Abel was a prophet

Luke 11:50-51 “That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; 51 From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias…”

The prophets spoke of the restoration of the earth

Acts 3:20-21 And that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets (including Abel) since the world began.

Both brothers worked

Genesis 4:2b “…And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.”

Both brothers brought an offering to the Lord

Genesis 4:3-4a And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof.

Abel’s offering was accepted by the Lord

Genesis 4:4b “…And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering,”

Cain’s offering was rejected by the Lord

Genesis 4:5 but for Cain and his offering He had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.

Cain’s offering did not honour the Lord

Proverbs 3:9 Honour the LORD with thy substance [or wealth], and with the firstfruits of all thine increase [or crops, produce].

Happiness in life is through obedience

John 13:17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

Joy of faith

Philippians 1:25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith

Proverbs 16:20 He who gives heed to the word will prosper, and happy is he who trusts in the LORD (RSV).

Cain went astray by rejecting God’s reproof

Proverbs 10:17 He who heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof goes astray.

Despise not the Lord’s correction

Proverbs 3:11-12 My son, despise [or reject] not the chastening [or correction] of the LORD; neither be weary [detest, resent, or be angry] of his correction [reproof or rebuke]: 12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

The Lord encourages Cain to do well

Genesis 4:6-7 So the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it."

Faith made the difference

Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

So great a cloud of witnesses

Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

Faith is living for future things

Hebrews 11:1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Future promises

Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith (Abel), not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

A better city

Hebrews 13:14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come

A new environment

2 Peter 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Future accountability

2 Corinthians 5:7,10 For we walk by faith, not by sight: 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Cain killed Abel

Genesis 4:8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

Why did Cain kill Abel?

1John 3:11-12 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we (the brethren) should love one another (in the church family). 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew [or murdered] his brother. And wherefore [or why] slew [murder] he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

Prophets spoke the truth

John 8:40 “But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God…”

Prophets exposed the sin of the people

Isaiah 58:1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

Abel was the first martyr

Matthew 23:34-35 Wherefore, behold, I send unto youprophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of themye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: 35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

Are you guilty of murder? Do you hate your brother?

1 John 3:13-15 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 14 We know that we have passed from death unto life (age-lasting), because we love [continually] the brethren. He that loveth not [continually] his brother abideth in death (for the age). 15 Whosoever [my brethren v.13] hateth [continually] his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath ~~eternal~~ age-lasting life abiding [or enduring] in him.

Woe unto them!

Jude 11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

Don’t suffer as a murderer, Christian

1 Peter 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.

Christian killers perish temporarily in the lake of fire

Revelation 21:7-8 He that overcomethshall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in (“a thousand years,” Rev.20:6) the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

The Lord’s desire is that you don’t perish

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

God takes no pleasure in His people perishing

Ezekiel 18:21-23 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. 23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?