INTRODUCTION: Scripture Reading- Genesis 4:1-16
1. Cain committed two horrible crimes.
1) He changed God’s worship to suit himself.
2) He killed (murdered) his brother, Abel.
3) God’s descriptive warning springs to mind, v. 7 “Sin is crouching at your door.” ASV
2. Both of these crimes, that is, sins were crimes of self.
1) He wanted things his own way
2) God’s way was pushed aside.
3) His brother was pushed aside.
3. While the end of Cain’s sins may be the extreme his attitude is seen all too often today.
4. We need to learn from the sin of Cain lest we repeat it
DISCUSSION:
I. CAIN’S PROBLEM WAS SELF.
A. This is the same as saying, “rebellion.”
1. When it came to relationship with God he had to be number one.
2. When it came to relationship with his brother he had to be number one.
B. Let’s state plainly the great, obvious, negative lessons from the text.
1. It is sin to put self before God.
2. It is sin to put self before one’s brother (neighbor).
C. Other examples in the Bible:
1. The case of Korah, Numbers 16:3 men of renown gathered, “And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?”
2. The case of Saul, 1 Sam. 15 Saul and the people were commanded to utterly destroy Agag and the Amelikites. Saul made a decision to spare Agag and some of the animals. God said he regretted setting Saul up as king. Vs. 22 “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”
3. The case of David, 2 Sam. 11. David put his own selfish desires above Uriah the Hittite and took his wife and had him killed on the front lies.
II. CAIN’S SOLUTION WAS LOVE.
A. Do you recognize the pattern of the Lord’s teaching in Matthew 22:36-40?
1. Love God with all your heart…
2. Love neighbor as self.
B. This teaching is far more ancient than the teachings of Jesus. It goes back to the very beginning.
1. It is the positive purpose of the account of Cain’s sin.
2. It is the positive purpose of the account of man’s condition before the flood.
3. It is the positive purpose of the account of Sodom and Gomorrah.
C. Jesus says all the law and prophets hang on these two commands.
D. Perhaps you thought it was a New Testament teaching.
1. Notice Lev. 19:18, 34 “v. 18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD. v. 34 But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.” [I have spoken it, obey it. Vs. “God said it, I believe it, that settles it.”; God said it and that settles it.]
2. Deut. 6:5. “vs. 4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: vs. 5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”
E. If Cain had loved God with all his heart he never would have made the offering he did.
F. If he had loved neighbor as self he never would’ve hated and killed his brother.
III. CAIN’S SOLUTION IS OUR SOLUTION.
A. Cain’s rebellion manifested itself in his worship as it can for many of us.
1. It might begin with putting recreation before worship.
2. It might begin with the thoughts, “But I don’t get anything out of it!”
B. Loving God with one’s whole heart will manifest itself when we seek to know what pleases God and then to do it.
1. There is an implied love for Bible study there.
2. Where will we find innovations in worship if this attitude prevails?
3. Where will we find denominational names?
4. Where will we find “modern day prophecy?”
5. What would our attendance be like?
6. How many volunteers would there be?
7. What would our giving be like?
C. Cain’s rebellion manifested itself in his relationship with his brother as it can for many of us.
1. No one here may ever murder his brother to put self first. We have subtler ways.
a. We can smear his good name.
b. We can discourage him.
c. We can exclude him from fellowship.
d. We can ignore him when he is in need.
e. We can take advantage of his good nature.
f. We can have a laugh at his expense.
g. We can steal from him.
h. We can lead him away from God.
2. There is no doubt that we can be just as sinful as Cain.
D. Loving neighbor as self will manifest itself when we treat others as we want to be treated.
1. We call it the Golden Rule. Matt. 7:12 “But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.” Vs. 13-14 straight gate v. wide gate or narrow way v. broad way.
a. It is the highest standard known to humans.
b. It is the only rule that will counter the sin of Cain upon his brother.
c. The so-called “silver rule” (do not do… etc.) might keep Abel from being dead but it will not counter the hate in Cain’s heart.
2. When we follow the Golden Rule and love neighbor as self where will be…
a. Stealing.
b. Lying.
c. Adultery.
d. Backbiting.
e. Even murder.
All of God’s commands are important but love (agape) is stressed.
I Cor. 13:8-13; Rom. 12:20 “Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.”; John 13:34 “ A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” New (kaheenos- with renewed freshness)
CONCLUSION: Remember the words, “Sin is crouching at your door.”
1. Many will think that this account of the sin of Cain will not apply to them because they have not gone to the extremes of Cain. This thought is folly.
2. Have you learned the lessons of loving God with all your heart? Will it show in your worship?
3. Have you learned the lessons of loving neighbor as self? Will it show in your relationships?
I John 3:11-24
4. Invitation