CAIN
& ABEL
-
Good vs. Evil -
Notice
- God's prophecy of a solution for sin in Gen. 3:15
Gen.
4:1-4 These sacrifices upon stone altars signaled the beginning of
God's plan
to redeem man from sin.
Eph.
3:8-11 God's eternal
purpose.
Thus,
the sacrifice of innocent
blood
for the guilty
had its beginning:
Lev.
17:11 "For
the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you
upon the
altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that
makes
atonement for the soul."
Heb.
9:22 "According
to the law almost all things are purged with blood, and without
shedding of blood there is no remission."
This
all pointed to the promise of the perfect
sacrifice in Christ:
Heb.
10:1-7 However "it is impossible that the blood of bulls &
goats could
take away sins."
Heb.
9:13-15 Pointing to a Perfect Sacrifice to redeem sins committed under
the old law.
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Gen.
4:5-8 Sin continued first
with profaned worship - then
murder.
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We
are familiar with:
Heb.
11:4 "By
faith Abel offered to God a more excellent
sacrifice
than Cain, through which he obtained
witness
that he was righteous, God testifying of
his
gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks."
Rom.
10:17 "So
then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the
word of God."
Jn.
4:24 "God
is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship
in spirit and truth."
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Let's
look at men's reaction
to those with whom they disagree religiously
Thus
began the war between righteous
men & wicked
men.
1
Jn. 3:10-15 Children of God v/s
children of the devil.
The
cause
for conflict = Righteousness v/s
wickedness
Jealousy
- Hatred
Mt.
10:5-6, 16-22 Jesus' limited commission - sheep among wolves Zealous
- Ignorance
Jn.
16:1-4 Jesus warns - Some will think they serve God in killing you.
Acts
26:9-11 Paul was one who once believed this - Later
(Rom.
10:1-3)
False
Witnesses - Dishonest
Acts
6:8-ff, Example
- Stephen contended for the faith. None could resist.
Acts
7:51-ff Stephen was killed for his righteousness.
Envious
Detractors - Violent
Acts
13:44-51 Example
- Paul at Antioch.
Jews
persecuted & kicked out of town.
Acts
14:1-6 Example
- Paul at Iconium.
Violent
attempt to stone them.
Acts
14:19-20 Example
- Paul at Lystra.
Paul
stoned & thought to be dead.
Secretive
- Deceptive - Exploitive
2
Pet. 2:1-3 False teachers who secretly bring in destructive
heresies.
Subtle
- Flattering - Cunning
Jude
warns of the wicked who creep in to draw away the righteous:
Jude
3-11, 16-19 "Woe to them for they have gone in the way of
Cain..."
Acts
20:27-31 Paul issues the same warning to Ephesus. Watch out!!!
CONCLUSION
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Gen.
4:9-10 Cain's lack of responsibility - Abel's blood cries for
justice.
Jude
14-15 "Now
Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also,
saying, 'Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, (15)
to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them
of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly
way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have
spoken
against Him."
Invitation
Mt.
13:36-43 Jesus explains the parable of the tares - Justice
in the end
Rev.
20:11-ff The final judgment - Good & evil forever separated.