Genesis 4:1-16

Genesis 4 reveals the depth of our curse and the depth of God’s mercy. It will show us that we are all capable of doing greater sin than we could ever imagine but that God is capable of extending greater grace than we could ever deserve. What makes the difference is whether we follow the way of Cain which leads to sin and death or the way of Christ which leads to new life.

Outline

  • First, the way of Cain leads to sin (4:1-7)
    • The way of Abel satisfies God
    • The way of Cain sins against God
  • Second, the way of Cain leads to death (4:8-12)
  • Third, the way of Christ leads to new life (4:13-16)
    • The way of Cain leads to remorse but the way of Christ leads to repentance (4:13-14a)
    • The way of Cain can mark you with mercy for a moment but the way of Christ marks you with mercy for eternity (4:14b-16)

Christ Connections

  • While Cain marks out a path of sin and death that we all live in, Jesus offers a new path towards righteousness and life that we are able to follow.
  • God marks Cain as an act of mercy so he will be spared from some of the consequences of his actions. This marking of mercy is fulfilled in Christ, who’s blood marks us so that we receive mercy for eternity.
  • How can we reject the way of Cain and pursue the way of Christ? We can reject the way of Cain and pursue the way of Christ by embracing Jesus, who is the new and better Abel (Hebrews 12:24)
    • Jesus is the new and better Abel whose blood cries out from the ground as he becomes the curse of sin so that he might reverse the curse of sin.
    • Jesus is the new and better Abel who was the offspring of the woman who crushes the head of the serpent instead of being crushed by the offspring of the serpent
    • Jesus is the new and better Abel as a good shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep to offer a blood sacrifice that God regards once and for all.

Applications

  • We are tempted to think “I’ve never killed anyone” when reading this passage. Yet, Christ extends the law in Matt. 5:22 to show that anger leads to the same judgment as Cain.
  • Everyone of us is apart from God and like Cain, blood cries out against us because we respond in rebellion instead of repentance. The same judgment of wandering the earth in exile awaits us apart from Christ.