What principle of worship did Cain manifest?
(Genesis 4-5; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 9:22; 11:4) Blog Apr. 10-16, 2022
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: In the beginning God created a perfect world and placed in it his crowing work, mankind. To humanity he gave dominion, individuality, and responsibility. Their obedience was to be proved by one simple test: a forbidden fruit. As the federal representative of the entire human race, Adam chose to eat what God had prohibited. Through this single act he brought guilt and corruption to all his offspring. But God provided a Substitute for his sin and through faith in Jesus, the Lamb of God, all may find freedom from condemnation and help to resist Satan’s temptations.
Two offerings
1. What must happen for Adam and Eve not to die the day they ate the forbidden fruit? The sentence of death must be carried out for God to remain just & Adam & Eve not to die (Gen. 2:16-17).
2. How was the death sentence carried out for Adam and Eve? The Son of God stepped in between the guilty & the Offended, taking on himself the sentence of death as illustrated in the slaying of innocent animals to clothe Adam & Eve from the shame of their sin (Gen. 3:21; 2 Cor. 5:21; Rev. 13:8).
3. Why weren’t the fig-leaf garments made by Adam and Eve sufficient to cover their shame? Sins can be forgiven only by “the shedding of blood.” Nothing man can do or offer apart from blood will cover his shame (Heb. 9:22).
4. How would Adam and Eve’s children have known that there is no remission of sins without the shedding of blood? Adam would have taught his children the story of the fall & why the flaming sword kept them from returning to Eden, & what was required in order to approach God (Gen. 3:24).
5. To approach God as sinners what must Cain and Abel bring to the Lord? Before God can accept our gifts of thanks our persons must first be accepted. Cain & Abel must first present a perfect substitute & a blood sacrifice to be accepted by God. Then having been accepted (justified), they can offer their thank offerings to God (Gen. 4:3-7; Rom. 5:1; Heb. 11:6).
6. How does a person feel and react when they are guilty? Since guilt is unbearable, people become afraid, blame others, & sometimes resort to violence rather than admitting their guilt (Gen. 3:10-14; 4:8; Mic. 7:9).
7. In what ways was Cain partially obedient to God? Cain came at the proper time, making a proper altar, & offering something to God, but not in faith in a substitute (Gen. 4:3).
Two Directions
8. Why was Cain angry and downcast? Cain was angry and downcast because God did not accept him nor his good deeds (Gen. 4:5).
9. When God spoke to Cain what remedy did he offer for Cain’s anger? God told Cain that if he offered the sacrifice that pointed to Jesus he would be accepted (Gen. 4:6-7).
10. When sin desires to rule in our lives, how should we respond? As God told Cain, we should not let sin rule in our lives but rather crucify it (Gen. 4:7; Rom. 6:12-13; 8:13).
11. By what means was Abel and his sacrifice accepted by God? It was by faith in the future sacrifice of Jesus that Abel & his offering were accepted by God (Gen. 4:4; Heb. 11:4).
12. What reason does John give for why Cain killed his brother? John says that Cain killed his brother “because his own works were evil, & his brother’s righteous” (1 John 3:12).
13. What did Cain mean when he said he would be hidden from God’s face? To be hidden from God’s face means to not have God’s smile of grace & mercy: to be forsaken of God (Gen. 4:14; Psa. 27:9; 67:1; Num. 6:25).
14. How does Cain acknowledge that the penalty for murder is death? When God granted Cain exile rather than death for murder, Cain said “every one that findeth me shall slay me” thus acknowledging that death was the rightful penalty for murder (Gen. 4:14; 9:6; Ex. 20:13).
Two Lessons
15. What very important lesson do the two offerings in Genesis 4 teach? Cain’s offering teaches us that acceptance with God (justification) cannot be received by our good deeds. Abel’s offering teaches that God will justify us & accept our offering if we present the life & death of his dear Son to him (Gen. 4:3; Rom. 3:20; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8-9; Tit. 3:5).
16. What principle of worship did Cain manifest? Cain represents those who worship God in a way of their own choosing while neglecting God’s prescribed way to worship him (Gen. 4:3; John 4:24; Phil. 3:3).
17. What principle of salvation did Cain manifest? Cain manifested the principle that man can depend upon his own merits and righteousness for salvation (Gen. 4:3; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8-9; Tit. 3:5).
18. What two brash statements made by Cain’s descendant Lamech indicate his actions and attitude? Lamech boasted that he killed a young man in order to have two wives & taunted God about his curse on Cain (Gen. 4:19-24).
19. What child was born to Adam and Eve whom they hoped was the promised seed after Abel’s death? When Adam & Eve were 130 years old, Seth became Eve’s new hope of a Saviour after Cain slew Abel (Gen. 4:25; 5:3).