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006 Purpose in Cain and Abel

Purpose In Cain and Abel

Txt: Gen. 4:1-16

Of Cain and Abel it may be said “Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.” (Luke 18:10.)

Although both enjoyed the same privileges and opportunities, they were far from being alike.

Christian privileges will not in themselves make a Christian.

We have here…

I. Self-will Rejected (v. 5)

“Unto Cain and his offering” God had no respect.

– Cain must be acceptable first himself before his offering can be.

– His offering was rejected, because he himself was guilty.

– Christ was without spot when He offered Himself.

– The way of Cain was his own way (Jude 11).

– Man’s own way is to seek acceptance with God without confessing guilt.

– There is no road this way; both the offerer and the offering are rejected.

II. Faith Accepted (v. 4)

“The Lord hath respect unto Abel and his offering.”

“By faith Abel offered up a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain.” (Hebrews 11:4)

– The offering and the offerer stand stand or fall together.

– When by faith we lay hold upon Christ there is no possibility of rejection, for this offering has been accepted by God, and every believing offerer is is

accepted in Him.

– All that believe are justified from all things.

– Faith in Christ is always acceptable faith.

III. Enmity Manifested (v. 5)

“Cain was wroth.”

– He was religious in appearance, but in heart he was enmity with God.

– He had the form of godliness, but he was a stranger to it’s power.

– Many there are in these days who have gone the way of Cain, content with mere ceremony, while the living substance has never been touched or tasted.

IV. Mercy Revealed (v. 6-7)

“God sais, Why art thou wroth? A sin-offering lieth at thy door.”

– God in mercy points out to Cain that the only way of acceptance as a sinner is through a sin-offering.

– Christ bore our sins in His own body on the tree.

– This sin-offering lies at the door of every sinner.

– What a mercy that the atoning price is so near

V. Righteousness Hated (v. 8)

“Cain slew his brother.”

And wherefore slew he him? (see 1 John 3:12).

– He hated the righteousness of God as seen in his brother.

– The carnal mind of man would rather quench the divine light in bloodshed than acknowledge sin.

– Christ was the Righteousness of God, and men cried,

“Away with this Man” (Luke 23:18).

– They loved darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil (John 3:19).

VI. Wickedness Judged (v. 11)

“Now art thou cursed”.

– The counsel of God with regard to the sin-offering was rejected; now the curse comes.

– What a striking fulfilment of John 3:18.

– Rejecting Christ as the sin-offering means no escape from the wrath and curse of God.

– What think ye of Christ?

VII. Justice Vindicated (v. 13)

“Cain said, Mine iniquity is greater than that it may be forgiven”.

– He acknowledges the justice of his condemnation, yet so hardened is he that he begs not for mercy.

– “There is mercy at the eleventh hour,” say many; but what if your heart becomes so hard that you will not even yield to seek mercy.

– The heart is desperately wicked; don’t trust it.

– False worshippers, remember the doom of Cain.