WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.859 Well, good morning, everyone. 00:00:04.500 --> 00:00:05.820 Again, my name is Keith Knowlton. 00:00:05.900 --> 00:00:07.060 It's a pleasure to be with you this morning. 00:00:07.120 --> 00:00:10.820 If we haven't met, I hope to have the chance to do so after our service this morning. 00:00:11.439 --> 00:00:15.099 As James mentioned, we are continuing our series in the book of Genesis, 00:00:15.220 --> 00:00:16.679 the very first book of the Bible. 00:00:17.300 --> 00:00:19.920 We've been walking bit by bit through this book. 00:00:20.019 --> 00:00:22.219 We've already looked at the creation story, 00:00:22.480 --> 00:00:25.760 the creation of man and woman made in God's image. 00:00:25.760 --> 00:00:30.100 They're placed in the garden with a command to rule over creation. 00:00:30.280 --> 00:00:31.720 They live in fellowship with God. 00:00:32.520 --> 00:00:36.300 But yet, as we saw last week, they end up rebelling against God. 00:00:37.160 --> 00:00:40.840 They are tempted by the serpent, and they eat of the forbidden fruit, 00:00:40.980 --> 00:00:43.160 and sin enters the world. 00:00:44.060 --> 00:00:48.799 And though God promises them soon after their sin that he will rescue them, 00:00:48.840 --> 00:00:53.359 he will send this rescuer sometime in the future to overthrow the evil one, 00:00:53.359 --> 00:00:55.880 we see the immediate effects of the fall, 00:00:56.460 --> 00:01:01.200 brokenness and separation from God being banished outside the garden. 00:01:02.140 --> 00:01:05.439 And so that's where our passage picks up today in Genesis chapter 4, 00:01:05.539 --> 00:01:07.480 this familiar story of Cain and Abel. 00:01:08.159 --> 00:01:10.400 And I wonder if you've ever heard the phrase, 00:01:11.359 --> 00:01:12.519 someone said it to you perhaps, 00:01:12.659 --> 00:01:13.840 welcome to the real world. 00:01:14.640 --> 00:01:17.079 It's one of those phrases that's said with a bit of cynicism, 00:01:17.200 --> 00:01:19.920 a bit of sarcasm, a sarcasm in your voice. 00:01:19.920 --> 00:01:24.019 Perhaps there's a student who recently graduates from uni 00:01:24.019 --> 00:01:26.180 and is looking forward to getting their dream job, 00:01:26.240 --> 00:01:30.000 and they begin work, but then they recognize there's office politics, 00:01:30.579 --> 00:01:35.079 and they have a difficult boss and coworkers that are targeting one another. 00:01:36.060 --> 00:01:38.680 Someone may say, welcome to the real world. 00:01:39.560 --> 00:01:42.700 Or maybe you have a young adult who's ready to branch out on their own. 00:01:42.760 --> 00:01:44.000 They move out of their family's house. 00:01:44.099 --> 00:01:45.359 They find their own flat. 00:01:45.359 --> 00:01:47.760 They're excited for the sense of freedom and independence. 00:01:48.659 --> 00:01:54.780 And then comes rent and council tax and insurance and utilities. 00:01:55.920 --> 00:01:57.140 Welcome to the real world. 00:01:58.159 --> 00:02:02.219 Or maybe it's a newlywed couple that returns from their honeymoon, 00:02:02.620 --> 00:02:04.780 excited about this life of marital bliss. 00:02:05.960 --> 00:02:09.180 And then it's the very next day that they recognize these differing opinions 00:02:09.180 --> 00:02:12.280 in finances and in family and in their future. 00:02:13.420 --> 00:02:14.939 Welcome to the real world. 00:02:16.220 --> 00:02:20.880 We see this, I think, a similar situation in our passage this morning, 00:02:20.980 --> 00:02:22.660 this welcome to the real world moment, 00:02:22.720 --> 00:02:26.340 because we recognize that man had been in paradise in the garden, 00:02:26.840 --> 00:02:31.860 and now they're suddenly confronted with this ongoing effects of sin 00:02:31.860 --> 00:02:33.560 in life outside of Eden. 00:02:34.780 --> 00:02:37.280 And so again, this is a familiar story of Cain and Abel, 00:02:37.320 --> 00:02:38.320 I would think, to most of us, 00:02:38.440 --> 00:02:40.760 but I don't want us to characterize it the wrong way, 00:02:40.759 --> 00:02:44.659 because I think oftentimes we can just look at it as this historical narrative 00:02:44.659 --> 00:02:47.019 about the first murder in human history. 00:02:47.579 --> 00:02:49.560 And we can kind of keep it at arm's length to think, 00:02:49.639 --> 00:02:52.359 well, that doesn't really have anything to do with me and my situation. 00:02:52.359 --> 00:02:57.319 But what I hope that this narrative portrays for us is the picture of the real world 00:02:57.319 --> 00:03:00.299 in which you and I still live, 00:03:00.439 --> 00:03:05.459 in which you and I continue to experience the pervasiveness of sin. 00:03:05.460 --> 00:03:08.640 But also in the midst of this brokenness, 00:03:08.719 --> 00:03:13.040 I hope that we see today that we are not left without the mercy of God. 00:03:14.260 --> 00:03:15.980 And so let's look at our passage. 00:03:16.140 --> 00:03:18.100 This is in page 6 of your church Bible, 00:03:18.560 --> 00:03:20.879 Genesis chapter 4, starting in verse 1. 00:03:20.879 --> 00:03:24.460 Adam made love to his wife Eve, 00:03:24.560 --> 00:03:26.900 and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. 00:03:27.419 --> 00:03:28.060 She said, 00:03:28.199 --> 00:03:30.400 With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man. 00:03:31.319 --> 00:03:33.180 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. 00:03:34.039 --> 00:03:36.560 Now Abel kept flocks and Cain worked the soil. 00:03:37.280 --> 00:03:38.319 In the course of time, 00:03:38.500 --> 00:03:41.400 Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 00:03:42.019 --> 00:03:43.680 But Abel also brought an offering, 00:03:43.939 --> 00:03:46.319 fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. 00:03:46.659 --> 00:03:50.659 The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 00:03:50.659 --> 00:03:52.060 but on Cain and his offering, 00:03:52.180 --> 00:03:53.180 he did not look with favor. 00:03:53.900 --> 00:03:55.159 So Cain was very angry, 00:03:55.620 --> 00:03:57.139 and his face was downcast. 00:03:57.939 --> 00:03:58.979 Then the Lord said to Cain, 00:03:59.060 --> 00:03:59.800 Why are you angry? 00:04:00.359 --> 00:04:01.859 Why is your face downcast? 00:04:02.300 --> 00:04:03.500 If you do what is right, 00:04:03.840 --> 00:04:04.759 will you not be accepted? 00:04:05.439 --> 00:04:06.919 But if you do not do what is right, 00:04:07.099 --> 00:04:08.919 sin is crouching at your door. 00:04:09.639 --> 00:04:10.900 It desires to have you, 00:04:11.479 --> 00:04:12.819 but you must rule over it. 00:04:13.680 --> 00:04:15.319 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, 00:04:15.539 --> 00:04:16.879 Let's go out to the field. 00:04:17.720 --> 00:04:18.759 And while they were in the field, 00:04:18.759 --> 00:04:20.899 Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. 00:04:21.879 --> 00:04:23.099 Then the Lord said to Cain, 00:04:23.319 --> 00:04:24.480 Where is your brother Abel? 00:04:25.240 --> 00:04:26.420 I don't know, he replied. 00:04:26.500 --> 00:04:27.379 Am I my brother's keeper? 00:04:28.199 --> 00:04:29.139 The Lord said, 00:04:29.199 --> 00:04:29.839 What have you done? 00:04:30.519 --> 00:04:30.939 Listen. 00:04:31.779 --> 00:04:34.360 Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. 00:04:35.259 --> 00:04:38.519 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, 00:04:38.659 --> 00:04:41.980 which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. 00:04:42.800 --> 00:04:43.939 When you work the ground, 00:04:43.939 --> 00:04:46.100 it will no longer yield its crops for you. 00:04:46.699 --> 00:04:48.699 You will be a restless wanderer on the earth. 00:04:49.879 --> 00:04:50.819 Cain said to the Lord, 00:04:50.920 --> 00:04:52.980 My punishment is more than I can bear. 00:04:53.800 --> 00:04:55.480 Today you are driving me from the land, 00:04:55.540 --> 00:04:57.000 and I will be hidden from your presence. 00:04:57.620 --> 00:04:59.620 I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, 00:04:59.740 --> 00:05:01.399 and whoever finds me will kill me. 00:05:02.399 --> 00:05:03.319 But the Lord said to him, 00:05:03.379 --> 00:05:03.899 Not so. 00:05:04.699 --> 00:05:07.879 Anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over. 00:05:07.879 --> 00:05:10.240 Then the Lord put a mark on Cain, 00:05:10.519 --> 00:05:13.459 so that no one who found him would kill him. 00:05:14.279 --> 00:05:16.519 So Cain went out from the Lord's presence, 00:05:16.860 --> 00:05:18.600 and lived in the land of Nod, 00:05:19.079 --> 00:05:20.060 east of Eden. 00:05:20.920 --> 00:05:22.159 This is the word of God. 00:05:22.279 --> 00:05:23.060 Will you pray with me again? 00:05:27.399 --> 00:05:28.180 Heavenly Father, 00:05:28.399 --> 00:05:31.019 as we turn now to the preaching of your word, 00:05:31.879 --> 00:05:34.620 we do ask that you send your spirit among us, 00:05:34.620 --> 00:05:38.740 that he may prepare our minds to receive your word, 00:05:39.399 --> 00:05:42.740 to move in our hearts to embrace your truth, 00:05:43.360 --> 00:05:45.480 and to strengthen our wills, 00:05:45.720 --> 00:05:47.340 that we may follow in your ways. 00:05:48.100 --> 00:05:50.639 We pray this in the name of our Savior Jesus. 00:05:51.480 --> 00:05:51.800 Amen. 00:05:53.879 --> 00:05:54.860 Now, as I mentioned, 00:05:54.939 --> 00:05:55.819 our passage today, 00:05:55.920 --> 00:05:58.519 we are confronted with this post-fall reality 00:05:58.519 --> 00:06:01.019 of life after Eden. 00:06:01.120 --> 00:06:03.199 This is not a narrative that simply describes 00:06:03.199 --> 00:06:05.479 the environment thousands of years ago. 00:06:05.659 --> 00:06:08.479 It describes our environment here and now, 00:06:08.920 --> 00:06:10.459 the conditions in which we live in. 00:06:11.620 --> 00:06:12.159 And so I wonder, 00:06:12.300 --> 00:06:14.360 after Adam and Eve first sinned, 00:06:14.399 --> 00:06:17.300 how they first thought about sin. 00:06:17.399 --> 00:06:18.860 Obviously, they recognized 00:06:18.860 --> 00:06:20.800 the consequences of sin, 00:06:20.839 --> 00:06:22.099 these external consequences. 00:06:22.279 --> 00:06:23.539 We know that they felt remorse, 00:06:23.719 --> 00:06:25.579 but how did they initially think 00:06:25.579 --> 00:06:28.159 that sin might affect them internally and personally? 00:06:29.159 --> 00:06:30.699 I wonder if they might have had this thought, 00:06:30.800 --> 00:06:32.240 well, yeah, we slipped up, 00:06:32.240 --> 00:06:33.600 but it's not going to happen again. 00:06:33.660 --> 00:06:34.600 Or it might happen again, 00:06:34.660 --> 00:06:36.120 but it's not going to happen all the time. 00:06:36.720 --> 00:06:39.740 Maybe it'll be kind of more of an occasional dealing 00:06:39.740 --> 00:06:41.079 that we have to face. 00:06:42.540 --> 00:06:45.579 But I think they probably woke up very quickly the next day 00:06:45.579 --> 00:06:48.600 and recognized a very different setting. 00:06:49.560 --> 00:06:51.840 Arguments began, selfishness creeped in, 00:06:52.519 --> 00:06:53.800 anger and pride. 00:06:53.800 --> 00:06:57.900 It affected their thoughts and their actions 00:06:57.900 --> 00:06:59.139 and their speech. 00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:00.240 And they realized, oh wait, 00:07:00.780 --> 00:07:02.740 sin has affected everything 00:07:02.740 --> 00:07:04.620 and there's no escaping it. 00:07:05.060 --> 00:07:08.240 And we see how quickly sin grows and expands 00:07:08.240 --> 00:07:09.960 that even in this first chapter 00:07:09.960 --> 00:07:12.680 that records man's life outside of Eden, 00:07:12.780 --> 00:07:13.920 we're faced with murder. 00:07:15.460 --> 00:07:17.639 We only have to go two more chapters in Genesis 00:07:17.639 --> 00:07:20.379 where it says this about God's people, 00:07:20.379 --> 00:07:22.939 that the Lord saw how great the wickedness 00:07:22.939 --> 00:07:24.600 of the human race had become on earth 00:07:24.600 --> 00:07:28.800 and every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart 00:07:28.800 --> 00:07:31.120 was only evil all the time. 00:07:32.120 --> 00:07:33.100 And we think, wow, 00:07:33.620 --> 00:07:35.259 that escalated quickly, right? 00:07:36.259 --> 00:07:37.279 I mean, we look though 00:07:37.279 --> 00:07:39.240 at the Westminster Confession of Faith 00:07:39.240 --> 00:07:41.680 and it gives a similar description of human condition. 00:07:41.680 --> 00:07:43.939 We are utterly indisposed, 00:07:44.439 --> 00:07:47.340 disabled and made opposite to all good 00:07:47.340 --> 00:07:50.699 and wholly inclined to all evil. 00:07:52.199 --> 00:07:54.000 And so that's what I want us to think about today, 00:07:54.079 --> 00:07:55.240 to think about sin 00:07:55.240 --> 00:07:58.399 and its seriousness and its pervasiveness. 00:07:59.180 --> 00:08:00.519 And specifically in this passage, 00:08:00.620 --> 00:08:02.699 I want us to think about the progression of sin 00:08:02.699 --> 00:08:03.600 that we see here 00:08:03.600 --> 00:08:07.879 from conception to confrontation to completion. 00:08:09.040 --> 00:08:10.340 And so those will be the three points 00:08:10.340 --> 00:08:11.000 of this sermon today. 00:08:11.000 --> 00:08:11.939 Sin conceived, 00:08:12.879 --> 00:08:14.100 sin confronted, 00:08:14.399 --> 00:08:15.379 and sin completed. 00:08:16.459 --> 00:08:18.959 So let's consider that first point of sin conceived. 00:08:19.519 --> 00:08:21.100 Now we're introduced to Abel, 00:08:21.339 --> 00:08:22.620 Cain and Abel right off the start. 00:08:23.060 --> 00:08:24.300 Abel, he keeps flocks. 00:08:24.540 --> 00:08:25.699 Cain, he works the soil 00:08:25.699 --> 00:08:28.480 and they both bring these offerings to God. 00:08:28.680 --> 00:08:30.040 Cain brings the fruit of the soil. 00:08:30.199 --> 00:08:31.759 Abel brings the firstborn of his flock 00:08:31.759 --> 00:08:32.840 and these fat portions. 00:08:33.639 --> 00:08:35.340 And I think it's worth noting right off the bat 00:08:35.340 --> 00:08:36.860 that there's this sameness here. 00:08:36.960 --> 00:08:37.559 They're brothers. 00:08:37.919 --> 00:08:39.679 They're both in this act of worship. 00:08:39.679 --> 00:08:41.679 And on the surface, 00:08:41.859 --> 00:08:43.559 it doesn't appear like there's much different. 00:08:43.639 --> 00:08:45.019 I remember from my childhood, 00:08:45.219 --> 00:08:46.939 you see these images of Cain and Abel. 00:08:47.139 --> 00:08:49.559 And Abel is kind of this innocent boyish figure. 00:08:49.639 --> 00:08:52.439 And you see Cain like this big menacing dark figure. 00:08:52.539 --> 00:08:54.819 I don't think that's what we see right off the bat here. 00:08:54.820 --> 00:08:58.460 They're both engaged in this act of worship. 00:08:58.660 --> 00:09:01.780 And so why is it then that God looks at favor, 00:09:02.180 --> 00:09:04.379 looks at Abel's offering with favor, 00:09:04.620 --> 00:09:05.760 but not Cain's. 00:09:06.780 --> 00:09:08.680 And I think we get our first clue 00:09:08.680 --> 00:09:10.460 by just looking at the offering itself. 00:09:11.260 --> 00:09:13.480 And I don't think it's simply because Cain 00:09:13.480 --> 00:09:16.740 didn't bring an animal as Abel did. 00:09:16.820 --> 00:09:19.100 Remember, this is before the Mosaic law 00:09:19.100 --> 00:09:22.500 where there's instructions about different kinds of offering 00:09:22.500 --> 00:09:24.620 and different kinds of sacrifices. 00:09:25.899 --> 00:09:27.120 We know that Cain was a farmer. 00:09:27.240 --> 00:09:27.940 He grew crops. 00:09:28.059 --> 00:09:29.460 This is what he brought to the Lord. 00:09:29.639 --> 00:09:30.419 But the thing is, 00:09:30.460 --> 00:09:33.159 what we see here is a missing key word in the Hebrew. 00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:36.019 It says that he brought fruit, 00:09:36.279 --> 00:09:39.279 but it doesn't say that he brought his first fruits. 00:09:40.720 --> 00:09:42.779 The first fruits are the yield, 00:09:42.860 --> 00:09:44.320 the first yield of your harvest. 00:09:44.320 --> 00:09:46.260 And they're supposed to recognize, 00:09:46.640 --> 00:09:51.140 it's a recognition that all creation belongs to God. 00:09:52.740 --> 00:09:55.920 And so we get a sense here of Cain's stinginess perhaps, 00:09:56.420 --> 00:09:58.400 that he's holding back his first, 00:09:58.500 --> 00:09:59.900 he's holding back his best. 00:10:00.420 --> 00:10:02.140 He's making offering to God, 00:10:02.200 --> 00:10:04.220 but he's wanting to make sure that he has enough for himself. 00:10:06.460 --> 00:10:09.140 We get a second clue about this offering 00:10:09.140 --> 00:10:11.060 and God's pleasure with Abel. 00:10:11.059 --> 00:10:12.599 We see when we go to the New Testament, 00:10:12.739 --> 00:10:14.399 to the book of Hebrews chapter 11, 00:10:14.979 --> 00:10:16.419 says this in verse four, 00:10:16.519 --> 00:10:21.079 by faith, Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. 00:10:21.959 --> 00:10:24.439 By faith, he was commended as righteous 00:10:24.439 --> 00:10:26.399 when God spoke well of his offering. 00:10:27.399 --> 00:10:28.219 And so we see here, 00:10:28.319 --> 00:10:30.919 it's not simply about the gift that's brought, 00:10:31.159 --> 00:10:33.119 but it's the heart of the giver. 00:10:34.739 --> 00:10:37.059 Abel brought his offering out of faith. 00:10:38.319 --> 00:10:39.639 You may say, well, faith in what? 00:10:39.639 --> 00:10:41.779 Like they literally just got kicked out of the garden. 00:10:42.039 --> 00:10:44.080 Well, remember, when God kicked them out, 00:10:44.179 --> 00:10:45.519 he gave them this promise 00:10:45.519 --> 00:10:46.899 that through the seed of a woman, 00:10:47.000 --> 00:10:50.199 a rescuer would come to crush the head of that serpent. 00:10:50.539 --> 00:10:51.899 A rescuer is going to come. 00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:53.419 Abel didn't know when it was gonna happen, 00:10:53.819 --> 00:10:54.879 how it was gonna happen, 00:10:55.500 --> 00:10:56.600 but he exhibits faith. 00:10:58.399 --> 00:11:00.439 On the other hand, we see Cain's offering. 00:11:00.559 --> 00:11:01.559 He doesn't give this offering 00:11:01.559 --> 00:11:04.480 in response to this promise of salvation. 00:11:04.480 --> 00:11:08.039 In fact, his offering exhibits a lack of faith, 00:11:08.159 --> 00:11:09.259 a lack of trust. 00:11:09.379 --> 00:11:10.980 He's holding back his best. 00:11:12.659 --> 00:11:15.139 And so isn't this how sin often begins in our lives 00:11:15.139 --> 00:11:17.139 with this little lack of faith? 00:11:17.340 --> 00:11:18.639 And perhaps it's small, 00:11:19.700 --> 00:11:21.920 and perhaps it's unnoticeable at first, 00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:25.659 but implicitly, we start to doubt God's goodness. 00:11:26.860 --> 00:11:27.860 Can he be trusted? 00:11:28.940 --> 00:11:30.060 Is his way best? 00:11:30.059 --> 00:11:33.119 And we stop resting on him, 00:11:33.219 --> 00:11:35.599 and we start thinking that our way is better. 00:11:37.359 --> 00:11:39.359 This is what's described in the book of James 00:11:39.359 --> 00:11:40.039 in the New Testament 00:11:40.039 --> 00:11:42.319 when it talks about how sin begins. 00:11:42.439 --> 00:11:44.139 It says each person is tempted 00:11:44.139 --> 00:11:46.019 when they are dragged away 00:11:46.019 --> 00:11:47.919 by their own evil desires and enticed. 00:11:48.059 --> 00:11:50.199 Dragged away from the will of God. 00:11:51.259 --> 00:11:54.099 And then after this desire has conceived, 00:11:54.419 --> 00:11:56.199 it gives birth to sin. 00:11:57.699 --> 00:11:58.399 And so we see here, 00:11:58.399 --> 00:12:00.699 Cain, it's not like he's refusing outright 00:12:00.699 --> 00:12:03.519 to worship God or to give an offering. 00:12:04.179 --> 00:12:05.539 It's not that he denies 00:12:05.539 --> 00:12:06.899 or doesn't believe God exists. 00:12:07.000 --> 00:12:08.279 We see him interacting 00:12:08.279 --> 00:12:10.199 and communicating with God in this passage. 00:12:10.340 --> 00:12:13.100 He's involved in this religious activity, 00:12:13.620 --> 00:12:15.799 but it's not done with a pure heart. 00:12:17.899 --> 00:12:20.279 And so I wonder if we often do the same thing. 00:12:21.620 --> 00:12:22.799 We come to church, 00:12:23.460 --> 00:12:25.340 we're involved in a community group, 00:12:25.340 --> 00:12:28.100 we serve on the welcome team, 00:12:28.259 --> 00:12:29.800 but where is our heart? 00:12:31.019 --> 00:12:32.740 We believe that God exists, 00:12:32.899 --> 00:12:35.820 but do we truly long to be in relationship with him? 00:12:36.519 --> 00:12:38.220 Or are we simply here out of a sense of duty, 00:12:39.220 --> 00:12:40.300 just going through the motions? 00:12:41.580 --> 00:12:44.560 Do we recognize our deep need for him? 00:12:44.559 --> 00:12:47.959 Or do we think that religion 00:12:47.959 --> 00:12:49.139 is just kind of one of those things 00:12:49.139 --> 00:12:50.739 we add to our life's portfolio? 00:12:52.519 --> 00:12:53.419 The reality is, 00:12:53.459 --> 00:12:56.139 is that God sees the condition of our heart. 00:12:56.939 --> 00:12:58.359 And he doesn't desire for us 00:12:58.359 --> 00:13:00.059 just to go through the motions of worship. 00:13:01.500 --> 00:13:02.619 Listen to God what says 00:13:02.619 --> 00:13:04.019 through the prophet Hosea, 00:13:04.099 --> 00:13:04.399 he says, 00:13:04.500 --> 00:13:06.539 I desire mercy, not sacrifice, 00:13:07.639 --> 00:13:09.019 and acknowledgement of God 00:13:09.019 --> 00:13:10.299 rather than burnt offerings. 00:13:10.299 --> 00:13:13.339 Have you ever considered 00:13:13.339 --> 00:13:15.679 why a lot of church doors are painted red? 00:13:17.259 --> 00:13:18.399 It's done with a purpose. 00:13:18.559 --> 00:13:21.539 It symbolizes that we enter into the presence of God 00:13:21.539 --> 00:13:23.139 through the blood of Jesus. 00:13:24.219 --> 00:13:25.620 We don't come to worship 00:13:25.620 --> 00:13:28.120 based on the fruit of our own labor. 00:13:28.479 --> 00:13:29.719 We're not trying to come here 00:13:29.719 --> 00:13:31.399 to prove ourselves to God. 00:13:32.379 --> 00:13:34.339 We come into his presence. 00:13:34.500 --> 00:13:36.240 We come to worship as his people, 00:13:36.359 --> 00:13:38.379 to experience the means of grace, 00:13:38.379 --> 00:13:41.820 confident that he will forgive our sins 00:13:41.820 --> 00:13:44.460 and redeem us through the work of Jesus. 00:13:46.639 --> 00:13:47.820 And so for anyone here 00:13:47.820 --> 00:13:49.980 who has sinned grievously this week, 00:13:50.460 --> 00:13:52.980 anyone here who has forgotten God's goodness, 00:13:53.200 --> 00:13:55.259 anyone who has relied on your own strength, 00:13:56.600 --> 00:13:57.679 God welcomes you here. 00:13:58.820 --> 00:14:00.320 And we're glad that you are. 00:14:01.080 --> 00:14:04.340 Because we're invited to come in faith 00:14:04.340 --> 00:14:07.799 recognizing that God freely gives grace to us. 00:14:08.379 --> 00:14:10.679 The old hymn says, 00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:12.539 nothing in my hands I bring, 00:14:12.899 --> 00:14:15.159 simply to the cross I cling. 00:14:17.019 --> 00:14:18.779 And that takes us to our second point. 00:14:19.639 --> 00:14:20.580 Sin confronted. 00:14:22.059 --> 00:14:23.039 Now some of you know that 00:14:23.039 --> 00:14:24.539 before coming to Scotland, 00:14:24.679 --> 00:14:26.000 I practiced law in the States. 00:14:26.860 --> 00:14:28.700 And law school is a little bit different. 00:14:29.179 --> 00:14:29.759 It's set up here. 00:14:29.820 --> 00:14:30.679 We actually were talking about this 00:14:30.679 --> 00:14:31.939 in our community group last week, 00:14:32.019 --> 00:14:33.580 that the teaching is a bit different. 00:14:33.700 --> 00:14:34.899 It's not just you sitting in class 00:14:34.899 --> 00:14:35.679 and are lectured. 00:14:35.679 --> 00:14:38.159 It's a form of what's called the Socratic method. 00:14:38.899 --> 00:14:42.279 It's this dialogue of the professor asking questions 00:14:42.279 --> 00:14:43.879 and the student answering those questions. 00:14:44.919 --> 00:14:45.959 And so when you go to class, 00:14:46.039 --> 00:14:48.079 the professor would likely call on one person. 00:14:48.179 --> 00:14:49.659 You'd have to stand up that student. 00:14:50.039 --> 00:14:51.479 And then the professor may pepper them, 00:14:51.559 --> 00:14:52.120 all class, 00:14:52.439 --> 00:14:53.819 just that one student with questions 00:14:53.819 --> 00:14:54.479 about the reading, 00:14:54.819 --> 00:14:56.199 about the case law that they should know. 00:14:57.459 --> 00:14:59.620 And so maybe he picks on a few people. 00:14:59.699 --> 00:15:00.419 But the point is, 00:15:00.459 --> 00:15:01.419 he's asked these questions 00:15:01.419 --> 00:15:02.879 not because he doesn't know the answer, 00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:04.980 but he's trying to draw out understanding 00:15:04.980 --> 00:15:07.039 to cause the student to think critically 00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:08.399 to come up with the right answers. 00:15:08.919 --> 00:15:10.860 And so I think we see something similar here. 00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:14.000 God comes to Cain and he asks, 00:15:14.120 --> 00:15:14.779 why are you angry? 00:15:15.899 --> 00:15:17.399 Why is your face downcast? 00:15:18.799 --> 00:15:20.200 And God's not asking these questions 00:15:20.200 --> 00:15:21.419 because he doesn't know the answer. 00:15:22.279 --> 00:15:24.600 It's not that God is lacking information here. 00:15:24.679 --> 00:15:26.740 Instead, he's asking these questions 00:15:26.740 --> 00:15:28.320 in order to bring Cain 00:15:28.320 --> 00:15:29.879 to this point of self-reflection 00:15:29.879 --> 00:15:31.700 and understanding 00:15:31.700 --> 00:15:33.720 that he may recognize his own sin. 00:15:35.879 --> 00:15:37.679 And so I think it's worth noting here first 00:15:37.679 --> 00:15:40.059 that we see the tenderness of God. 00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:43.000 So often people outside the church, 00:15:43.080 --> 00:15:44.379 they want to look at the Christian God 00:15:44.379 --> 00:15:47.200 and think he's this judgmental God 00:15:47.200 --> 00:15:47.879 who's looking up, 00:15:47.939 --> 00:15:49.379 just waiting for us to fail 00:15:49.379 --> 00:15:50.740 so he can drop the hammer on us. 00:15:50.879 --> 00:15:52.320 That's not the picture we get here. 00:15:53.360 --> 00:15:55.659 We get a picture of God's patience 00:15:55.659 --> 00:15:57.419 and forbearance. 00:15:58.080 --> 00:15:59.500 Cain is already in sin. 00:15:59.500 --> 00:16:01.620 He's demonstrated this lack of faith. 00:16:01.740 --> 00:16:03.259 He's been jealous toward his brother, 00:16:03.779 --> 00:16:06.100 but God doesn't seek to immediately punish him. 00:16:07.500 --> 00:16:10.279 He seeks to bring about restoration. 00:16:11.580 --> 00:16:15.740 And he does so by this very ominous warning 00:16:15.740 --> 00:16:19.240 that sin is crouching at your door. 00:16:20.980 --> 00:16:22.600 There's another old English version 00:16:22.600 --> 00:16:23.299 translated this way. 00:16:23.379 --> 00:16:23.600 I like it. 00:16:23.620 --> 00:16:26.080 It says sin is lurking at your threshold. 00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:29.860 This crouching verb in the Hebrew, 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:31.720 it describes the way that a predator 00:16:31.720 --> 00:16:33.120 would leap upon its prey. 00:16:33.300 --> 00:16:35.300 It's this readiness to spring. 00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:38.160 It's a language that's echoed 00:16:38.160 --> 00:16:39.940 in 1 Peter 5 where Peter says, 00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:41.940 your enemy, the devil, prowls around 00:16:41.940 --> 00:16:43.080 like a roaring lion, 00:16:43.940 --> 00:16:45.360 seeking whom he may devour. 00:16:46.660 --> 00:16:48.960 And so we've all seen those animal documentaries, right, 00:16:48.960 --> 00:16:49.840 where you have a lion 00:16:49.840 --> 00:16:53.300 who's hunting down its prey slowly 00:16:53.300 --> 00:16:55.139 and stealthily moving through the bush, 00:16:56.560 --> 00:16:58.340 sneaking up on this unassuming prey. 00:16:58.500 --> 00:17:00.200 And it's only to the last minute 00:17:00.200 --> 00:17:01.360 that this animal takes notice, 00:17:01.460 --> 00:17:02.120 but it's too late. 00:17:02.160 --> 00:17:04.140 And the tiger or the lion has pounced 00:17:04.140 --> 00:17:06.720 and overpowered its prey. 00:17:07.220 --> 00:17:10.100 And so do we really view sin this way, 00:17:10.180 --> 00:17:12.160 that it's crouching at your door? 00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:15.140 This is the phrase that kept coming up 00:17:15.140 --> 00:17:16.500 in my study over and over again. 00:17:16.600 --> 00:17:18.240 It really was haunting me this week 00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:19.560 because I realized how often 00:17:19.560 --> 00:17:21.800 I personally fail to acknowledge 00:17:21.800 --> 00:17:23.200 the opportunity for sin 00:17:23.200 --> 00:17:25.180 in every aspect of my life. 00:17:26.900 --> 00:17:29.640 Sin is always ready to attack. 00:17:31.180 --> 00:17:32.740 In your interactions with your family, 00:17:33.960 --> 00:17:35.519 every time you pick up your phone, 00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:38.160 every time your mind wanders, 00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:41.220 every time you sit at your desk at work, 00:17:41.220 --> 00:17:42.740 every interaction you have 00:17:42.740 --> 00:17:44.880 with coworkers and classmates, 00:17:45.860 --> 00:17:47.680 every time you're by yourself at home, 00:17:47.860 --> 00:17:50.120 sin is ready to pounce. 00:17:52.519 --> 00:17:54.440 And so how are we encouraged to respond? 00:17:55.500 --> 00:17:57.200 The New Testament has descriptive words 00:17:57.200 --> 00:17:58.120 throughout that says, 00:17:58.360 --> 00:17:59.759 how do we confront our sin? 00:18:00.360 --> 00:18:01.400 It says we resist, 00:18:01.799 --> 00:18:02.579 we fight, 00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:03.600 we flee, 00:18:03.860 --> 00:18:04.539 we struggle, 00:18:04.660 --> 00:18:05.640 we put to death. 00:18:06.940 --> 00:18:10.259 We cannot address our sin passively. 00:18:10.259 --> 00:18:13.000 We are engaged in this spiritual combat 00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:15.039 empowered by the Holy Spirit. 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:16.579 And so we do this 00:18:16.579 --> 00:18:18.700 because of the second part of God's warning 00:18:18.700 --> 00:18:19.599 that we see in our passage. 00:18:19.720 --> 00:18:21.059 It's so important because it says 00:18:21.059 --> 00:18:23.819 that sin desires to have you. 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:27.460 When a lion attacks an antelope, 00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:29.680 it's not simply looking to tear off one leg 00:18:29.680 --> 00:18:31.099 and then let it hop away with three. 00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:33.019 It wants to kill the animal. 00:18:33.160 --> 00:18:35.039 It wants to consume it whole. 00:18:36.839 --> 00:18:38.779 Likewise, sin is not looking to affect 00:18:38.779 --> 00:18:39.740 just part of us. 00:18:40.839 --> 00:18:42.019 It doesn't want to attack 00:18:42.019 --> 00:18:42.980 and then retreat. 00:18:43.099 --> 00:18:43.920 There's no truce 00:18:43.920 --> 00:18:45.980 in our battle against sin. 00:18:46.079 --> 00:18:48.639 It wants to fully overpower us. 00:18:50.279 --> 00:18:51.700 And so it's not content 00:18:51.700 --> 00:18:54.119 to allow you to just have a few arguments 00:18:54.119 --> 00:18:54.779 with your spouse. 00:18:54.879 --> 00:18:56.039 It wants to destroy your marriage. 00:18:57.460 --> 00:18:59.940 It's not content to just interfere 00:18:59.940 --> 00:19:01.200 with some of your thought life. 00:19:01.279 --> 00:19:02.119 It wants to ruin it 00:19:02.119 --> 00:19:04.700 with lust and anger and pride. 00:19:04.700 --> 00:19:07.319 Sin doesn't want to steal 00:19:07.319 --> 00:19:08.980 just a few minutes of your day. 00:19:09.340 --> 00:19:10.519 It wants to make you destroy 00:19:10.519 --> 00:19:11.319 your productivity 00:19:11.319 --> 00:19:13.340 through idle scrolling, 00:19:14.380 --> 00:19:16.519 through being distracted 00:19:16.519 --> 00:19:17.620 from anything other 00:19:17.620 --> 00:19:20.500 than Christ and his kingdom. 00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:23.460 And so what we see in this story, though, 00:19:23.500 --> 00:19:24.259 is that destruction, 00:19:24.420 --> 00:19:25.779 it doesn't come all at once. 00:19:25.819 --> 00:19:27.380 It's not like Cain woke up one day 00:19:27.380 --> 00:19:28.220 and just decided, 00:19:28.340 --> 00:19:29.920 I'm going to go murder my brother. 00:19:31.059 --> 00:19:31.819 We see that sin 00:19:31.819 --> 00:19:33.579 has this gradual effect. 00:19:33.659 --> 00:19:34.359 So think about maybe 00:19:34.359 --> 00:19:35.899 how it played out in Cain's life. 00:19:36.759 --> 00:19:38.200 He's farming after the fall. 00:19:38.299 --> 00:19:39.279 He has no heavy equipment. 00:19:39.460 --> 00:19:40.519 He probably has little help. 00:19:40.619 --> 00:19:42.240 It's hard to even bring 00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:44.139 enough produce to survive. 00:19:45.220 --> 00:19:46.720 And so maybe he's a little disgruntled 00:19:46.720 --> 00:19:47.980 even from the beginning 00:19:47.980 --> 00:19:48.759 that God has put him 00:19:48.759 --> 00:19:49.539 in this situation. 00:19:51.259 --> 00:19:53.960 And so he brings some of his fruit, 00:19:54.079 --> 00:19:56.359 his produce to offer to God, 00:19:56.419 --> 00:19:57.279 but it's not his best. 00:19:57.399 --> 00:19:58.259 He needs to make sure 00:19:58.259 --> 00:19:59.859 he has enough for himself to eat. 00:19:59.859 --> 00:20:02.019 And God's not pleased with this, 00:20:02.059 --> 00:20:03.219 so he's a little upset 00:20:03.219 --> 00:20:04.299 that all this hard work 00:20:04.299 --> 00:20:06.519 is going overlooked by God. 00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:07.379 And he begins jealous 00:20:07.379 --> 00:20:08.399 because God is pleased 00:20:08.399 --> 00:20:09.019 with his brother. 00:20:09.179 --> 00:20:10.639 And so maybe he exchanges 00:20:10.639 --> 00:20:12.639 some words with his brother Abel 00:20:12.639 --> 00:20:13.299 over time, 00:20:14.399 --> 00:20:16.059 begins to get angry 00:20:16.059 --> 00:20:17.459 rather than just jealous, 00:20:17.579 --> 00:20:19.259 and that anger finally turns to hatred, 00:20:19.399 --> 00:20:20.279 and this hatred then 00:20:20.279 --> 00:20:21.740 proceeds to murder. 00:20:23.699 --> 00:20:24.979 It's really a wonderful book 00:20:24.979 --> 00:20:25.859 that creatively illustrates 00:20:26.579 --> 00:20:28.419 the tactics of the devil. 00:20:28.420 --> 00:20:29.620 It's the Screwtape Letters 00:20:29.620 --> 00:20:30.519 by C.S. Lewis. 00:20:31.720 --> 00:20:32.580 And in there we have 00:20:32.580 --> 00:20:34.900 this senior demon Screwtape 00:20:34.900 --> 00:20:36.660 who's writing these letters 00:20:36.660 --> 00:20:38.000 to his nephew demon, 00:20:38.860 --> 00:20:39.680 and he's explaining 00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:41.660 how to effectively tempt the human 00:20:41.660 --> 00:20:42.940 that he's responsible for. 00:20:44.140 --> 00:20:45.060 And he makes a point 00:20:45.060 --> 00:20:46.460 to say that it's not 00:20:46.460 --> 00:20:48.620 through dramatic evil events 00:20:48.620 --> 00:20:49.720 that you tempt someone, 00:20:49.880 --> 00:20:51.180 but through quiet, 00:20:51.500 --> 00:20:52.960 gradual manipulation. 00:20:54.820 --> 00:20:55.740 He says this, 00:20:55.740 --> 00:20:56.059 he says, 00:20:56.120 --> 00:20:57.539 the safest road to hell 00:20:57.539 --> 00:20:59.339 is the gradual one. 00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:01.500 The gentle slope, 00:21:02.299 --> 00:21:03.599 soft underfoot, 00:21:04.039 --> 00:21:06.240 without sudden turns, 00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:07.920 without milestones, 00:21:08.420 --> 00:21:09.900 and without signposts. 00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:12.079 And so throughout the book, 00:21:12.160 --> 00:21:14.099 Screwtape is repeatedly encouraging 00:21:14.099 --> 00:21:16.539 that you make these sinful habits 00:21:16.539 --> 00:21:18.539 feel normal and harmless. 00:21:18.539 --> 00:21:20.659 And so the goal 00:21:20.659 --> 00:21:22.079 is not dramatic rebellion, 00:21:22.599 --> 00:21:24.379 it's spiritual numbness 00:21:24.379 --> 00:21:26.200 that ultimately destroys 00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:26.940 the whole person. 00:21:28.420 --> 00:21:29.839 And so this is the process 00:21:29.839 --> 00:21:30.940 that works in each one 00:21:30.940 --> 00:21:31.519 of our lives. 00:21:31.639 --> 00:21:32.319 It's subtle, 00:21:32.559 --> 00:21:33.180 it's quiet, 00:21:33.319 --> 00:21:33.839 and so therefore, 00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:35.299 often we let our guards down. 00:21:36.139 --> 00:21:37.339 How often do we address 00:21:37.339 --> 00:21:38.259 sin in our lives? 00:21:39.299 --> 00:21:39.680 Oftentimes, 00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:41.000 we want to justify it. 00:21:41.039 --> 00:21:41.799 We want to validate 00:21:41.799 --> 00:21:42.879 our actions based 00:21:42.879 --> 00:21:43.920 on our circumstances. 00:21:44.759 --> 00:21:46.059 Why cheated on the exam? 00:21:46.119 --> 00:21:46.920 Because everyone else 00:21:46.920 --> 00:21:48.000 was cheating on the exam. 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:48.740 I didn't want to be 00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:49.400 at a disadvantage. 00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:51.759 I was holding a grudge 00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:52.759 because you don't know 00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:53.839 what that person did to me 00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:55.259 and they're not even sorry for it. 00:21:56.920 --> 00:21:58.759 I spoke angry to my kids 00:21:58.759 --> 00:22:00.539 because they just won't listen to me 00:22:00.539 --> 00:22:01.960 and they're disobedient all the time. 00:22:03.259 --> 00:22:04.859 I was rude to my spouse 00:22:04.859 --> 00:22:06.599 because my spouse was rude to me. 00:22:07.319 --> 00:22:08.799 I was ruthless at work 00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:09.920 because that's the only way 00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:11.140 that I'm ever going to get a promotion. 00:22:13.740 --> 00:22:14.140 Similarly, 00:22:14.440 --> 00:22:16.099 in addition to justifying, 00:22:16.180 --> 00:22:17.259 oftentimes we try to minimize 00:22:17.259 --> 00:22:18.019 our faith, right? 00:22:18.059 --> 00:22:18.720 Think it's not really 00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:19.500 that big of a deal. 00:22:19.660 --> 00:22:20.480 Well, it was just 00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:21.720 a bit of lust. 00:22:21.799 --> 00:22:22.680 It's not like I cheated 00:22:22.680 --> 00:22:23.460 on my spouse. 00:22:23.539 --> 00:22:24.579 It was just a bit of gossip. 00:22:24.640 --> 00:22:25.559 I don't do it all the time. 00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:28.420 I may work more than I should, 00:22:28.519 --> 00:22:29.379 but look at that other guy. 00:22:29.579 --> 00:22:30.379 He's with his family 00:22:30.379 --> 00:22:31.259 far less than I am. 00:22:34.259 --> 00:22:35.339 I think worst of all, 00:22:35.440 --> 00:22:37.220 we often try to hide our sin. 00:22:38.599 --> 00:22:39.839 We know that it's wrong. 00:22:39.839 --> 00:22:42.579 We know that it's destroying us, 00:22:43.299 --> 00:22:44.839 but we try to conceal it. 00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:47.679 We try to make and deal with it 00:22:47.679 --> 00:22:48.179 on our own. 00:22:48.259 --> 00:22:49.779 We don't want to ruin our reputation. 00:22:49.939 --> 00:22:51.480 We don't want to have to ask for help 00:22:51.480 --> 00:22:52.539 or accountability, 00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:54.799 and so we wallow in the sense 00:22:54.799 --> 00:22:56.240 of guilt and shame. 00:22:57.519 --> 00:22:58.500 And when we do that, 00:22:58.559 --> 00:23:00.419 that often spirals into a cycle 00:23:00.419 --> 00:23:02.379 of more sin and more shame, 00:23:02.379 --> 00:23:03.439 and we get to the point of thinking, 00:23:03.599 --> 00:23:04.759 God would never forgive me 00:23:04.759 --> 00:23:05.439 for what I've done. 00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:08.980 But look again about how God 00:23:08.980 --> 00:23:10.200 responds to Cain here. 00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:11.940 He gently warns him. 00:23:13.259 --> 00:23:15.360 He urges him to acknowledge his sin, 00:23:15.420 --> 00:23:16.380 that he's been minimizing 00:23:16.380 --> 00:23:18.820 and justifying and concealing. 00:23:21.360 --> 00:23:22.120 And we need to recognize 00:23:22.120 --> 00:23:22.799 that even today, 00:23:22.920 --> 00:23:24.380 God continues to work 00:23:24.380 --> 00:23:25.360 in the lives of his people 00:23:25.360 --> 00:23:25.820 in this way. 00:23:25.920 --> 00:23:26.680 Through his spirit, 00:23:26.980 --> 00:23:27.920 he confronts, 00:23:28.120 --> 00:23:29.180 and he convicts, 00:23:29.180 --> 00:23:30.460 and he encourages us. 00:23:31.980 --> 00:23:33.039 And so do we recognize 00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:35.639 that this is God's mercy toward us, 00:23:36.299 --> 00:23:38.799 that we feel guilty for our sins. 00:23:38.839 --> 00:23:40.599 Not that it leads to self-loathing, 00:23:40.859 --> 00:23:42.039 but that it leads to repentance, 00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:44.639 so that we can be enabled, 00:23:44.839 --> 00:23:47.119 as God encourages Cain here, 00:23:47.180 --> 00:23:48.740 to rule over our sin 00:23:48.740 --> 00:23:50.259 rather than it rule over us. 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:53.139 Every Sunday here 00:23:53.139 --> 00:23:54.339 in our worship together, 00:23:54.460 --> 00:23:55.680 we try to incorporate 00:23:55.680 --> 00:23:56.720 a prayer of confession. 00:23:57.879 --> 00:23:59.659 It's a way of acknowledging corporately 00:23:59.659 --> 00:24:01.700 that we fall short of God's glory. 00:24:01.700 --> 00:24:03.400 And hopefully, 00:24:03.559 --> 00:24:04.700 this is a personal practice 00:24:04.700 --> 00:24:05.819 for each one of us, 00:24:06.360 --> 00:24:07.779 that we're willing and ready 00:24:07.779 --> 00:24:09.559 to confess our known sins, 00:24:09.720 --> 00:24:11.720 but also to ask God 00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:13.500 to convict us of hidden sins 00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:15.500 that we either ignore 00:24:15.500 --> 00:24:16.819 or overlook in our lives. 00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:19.240 That we can pray 00:24:19.240 --> 00:24:20.319 like the psalmist prays 00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:21.279 in Psalm 139, 00:24:21.420 --> 00:24:22.539 Search me, O God, 00:24:22.680 --> 00:24:24.000 and know my heart, 00:24:24.299 --> 00:24:25.140 know my thoughts, 00:24:25.259 --> 00:24:27.000 see if there is any wicked way in me. 00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:30.400 And so may we let 00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:32.420 God's kind confrontation 00:24:32.420 --> 00:24:34.420 lead us to repentance, 00:24:35.019 --> 00:24:36.799 that we may be vigilant 00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:38.779 in our fight against sin. 00:24:40.200 --> 00:24:41.339 And that brings us then 00:24:41.339 --> 00:24:42.400 to our final point, 00:24:42.539 --> 00:24:43.380 sin completed. 00:24:45.220 --> 00:24:46.119 You ever had the opportunity 00:24:46.119 --> 00:24:46.640 to tell someone, 00:24:46.740 --> 00:24:47.440 I told you so? 00:24:48.359 --> 00:24:49.440 Or maybe someone said that 00:24:49.440 --> 00:24:50.059 to you before? 00:24:50.799 --> 00:24:51.460 I feel like this is 00:24:51.460 --> 00:24:52.500 a daily occurrence 00:24:52.500 --> 00:24:54.839 in the lives of parents 00:24:54.839 --> 00:24:56.059 when they see their kids 00:24:56.059 --> 00:24:57.039 fighting or doing 00:24:57.039 --> 00:24:58.019 something questionable. 00:24:58.480 --> 00:24:59.400 Someone's going to get hurt, 00:24:59.480 --> 00:25:00.359 there's going to be tears. 00:25:01.559 --> 00:25:02.599 Then within minutes, 00:25:03.299 --> 00:25:03.980 there are tears 00:25:03.980 --> 00:25:05.079 and someone's upset. 00:25:05.900 --> 00:25:06.079 And it says, 00:25:06.140 --> 00:25:06.740 I told you so. 00:25:07.160 --> 00:25:07.900 I warned you. 00:25:08.200 --> 00:25:09.420 We see that with the same thing here. 00:25:09.539 --> 00:25:10.180 Cain was warned. 00:25:10.259 --> 00:25:10.900 He didn't listen. 00:25:11.420 --> 00:25:11.599 It says, 00:25:11.640 --> 00:25:13.099 I told you so moment for God. 00:25:14.099 --> 00:25:14.900 We could have predicted 00:25:14.900 --> 00:25:16.140 something bad was going to happen. 00:25:17.579 --> 00:25:18.680 It says in verse 6, 00:25:18.759 --> 00:25:20.299 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, 00:25:20.359 --> 00:25:21.359 let's go out to the field 00:25:21.359 --> 00:25:23.240 and while they were in the field, 00:25:23.399 --> 00:25:24.659 Cain attacked his brother Abel 00:25:24.659 --> 00:25:25.219 and killed him. 00:25:26.919 --> 00:25:27.319 And again, 00:25:27.419 --> 00:25:28.759 God comes to Cain 00:25:28.759 --> 00:25:29.699 the same way that he came 00:25:29.699 --> 00:25:30.759 to Adam and Eve 00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:31.679 after they sinned 00:25:31.679 --> 00:25:32.379 and he asked them, 00:25:32.459 --> 00:25:33.059 where's your brother? 00:25:34.539 --> 00:25:36.439 But instead of confessing his sin 00:25:36.439 --> 00:25:38.119 like Adam and Eve did, 00:25:38.859 --> 00:25:39.959 he tries to deny it. 00:25:39.979 --> 00:25:40.879 He tries to cover it up. 00:25:40.879 --> 00:25:41.899 Am I my brother's keeper? 00:25:43.799 --> 00:25:45.059 And so we see this cycle 00:25:45.059 --> 00:25:46.139 of unrepentant sin 00:25:46.139 --> 00:25:47.679 leads to unrepentant sin 00:25:47.679 --> 00:25:49.659 which leads to unrepentant sin. 00:25:49.660 --> 00:25:52.759 And so God punishes Cain. 00:25:53.620 --> 00:25:55.019 No longer will he be able 00:25:55.019 --> 00:25:55.700 to grow crops. 00:25:55.820 --> 00:25:57.100 He will be a restless wanderer 00:25:57.100 --> 00:25:58.300 in perpetual exile. 00:25:59.900 --> 00:26:00.380 And sadly, 00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:01.019 even now, 00:26:01.100 --> 00:26:02.080 we don't see Cain 00:26:02.080 --> 00:26:03.080 with repentant heart. 00:26:03.240 --> 00:26:05.200 We don't see any sign of remorse. 00:26:05.400 --> 00:26:06.820 He's simply bemoaning 00:26:06.820 --> 00:26:07.460 the punishment. 00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:10.220 He's full of self-pity, 00:26:10.380 --> 00:26:11.240 full of resentment. 00:26:11.460 --> 00:26:12.360 He thinks this punishment 00:26:12.360 --> 00:26:14.000 is more than he can bear. 00:26:15.180 --> 00:26:16.060 In his mind, 00:26:16.100 --> 00:26:17.740 being cast out of God's presence, 00:26:17.860 --> 00:26:19.100 being taken away from land, 00:26:19.099 --> 00:26:20.419 it's a death sentence to him. 00:26:21.719 --> 00:26:23.079 But even in the midst 00:26:23.079 --> 00:26:24.819 of Cain's ongoing rebellion, 00:26:25.319 --> 00:26:27.000 we see really something 00:26:27.000 --> 00:26:27.839 incredible here. 00:26:28.879 --> 00:26:30.039 And it's God's mercy 00:26:30.039 --> 00:26:32.659 accompanies his justice. 00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:35.159 And he places a mark 00:26:35.159 --> 00:26:36.679 on Cain so that no one 00:26:36.679 --> 00:26:37.539 who found him 00:26:37.539 --> 00:26:38.719 would kill him. 00:26:40.139 --> 00:26:41.119 We need to recognize 00:26:41.119 --> 00:26:41.959 that God would have been 00:26:41.959 --> 00:26:43.279 fully within his right 00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:44.819 to strike Cain down. 00:26:44.819 --> 00:26:46.639 In fact, 00:26:46.679 --> 00:26:47.460 in the Mosaic Law 00:26:47.460 --> 00:26:48.319 that comes later, 00:26:48.539 --> 00:26:49.579 it prescribes 00:26:49.579 --> 00:26:50.500 this death penalty 00:26:50.500 --> 00:26:51.039 for someone 00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:51.819 who intentionally 00:26:51.819 --> 00:26:52.879 murders somebody else. 00:26:54.200 --> 00:26:54.599 But yet, 00:26:54.659 --> 00:26:55.480 God chooses 00:26:55.480 --> 00:26:56.319 to show mercy. 00:26:58.079 --> 00:26:59.279 The late theologian, 00:26:59.359 --> 00:26:59.960 Meredith Klein, 00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:00.980 he notes in his commentary 00:27:00.980 --> 00:27:01.779 on this passage, 00:27:02.639 --> 00:27:02.919 he says, 00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:03.919 God's concern 00:27:03.919 --> 00:27:04.759 for the innocent 00:27:04.759 --> 00:27:06.460 is matched only 00:27:06.460 --> 00:27:07.379 by his care 00:27:07.379 --> 00:27:08.439 for the sinner. 00:27:08.440 --> 00:27:12.340 And so if God cares 00:27:12.340 --> 00:27:13.640 for an unrepentant 00:27:13.640 --> 00:27:14.759 murderer like Cain, 00:27:15.720 --> 00:27:16.840 how much more 00:27:16.840 --> 00:27:17.320 does he care 00:27:17.320 --> 00:27:18.000 for you and me 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:19.740 who come to him 00:27:19.740 --> 00:27:20.840 in faith and repentance? 00:27:22.860 --> 00:27:23.640 We've spoken 00:27:23.640 --> 00:27:24.539 these last few weeks 00:27:24.539 --> 00:27:25.380 about how Jesus 00:27:25.380 --> 00:27:27.220 serves as a second Adam. 00:27:27.860 --> 00:27:28.860 Adam wasn't able 00:27:28.860 --> 00:27:29.920 to perfectly fulfill 00:27:29.920 --> 00:27:30.279 the law, 00:27:30.400 --> 00:27:31.220 but Jesus came 00:27:31.220 --> 00:27:32.259 in perfect obedience 00:27:32.259 --> 00:27:33.860 and did what Adam couldn't. 00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:35.799 But we see 00:27:35.799 --> 00:27:36.440 in this passage 00:27:36.440 --> 00:27:37.700 that Jesus also came 00:27:37.700 --> 00:27:38.640 as a second Abel. 00:27:40.120 --> 00:27:41.360 Because just as 00:27:41.360 --> 00:27:42.880 this shepherd Abel, 00:27:43.779 --> 00:27:45.059 his blood was shed 00:27:45.059 --> 00:27:46.440 by his hypocrite brother 00:27:46.440 --> 00:27:48.140 who is offering, 00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:49.440 who is giving 00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:50.620 these offerings to God 00:27:50.620 --> 00:27:51.900 in false worship, 00:27:53.400 --> 00:27:54.279 we too see 00:27:54.279 --> 00:27:55.360 our good shepherd, 00:27:55.620 --> 00:27:55.920 Jesus. 00:27:57.080 --> 00:27:58.299 His blood was shed 00:27:58.299 --> 00:27:58.920 on the cross 00:27:58.920 --> 00:28:00.340 by Jewish religious leaders 00:28:00.340 --> 00:28:01.340 who Jesus personally 00:28:01.340 --> 00:28:02.299 called hypocrites, 00:28:03.019 --> 00:28:04.120 who said they were 00:28:04.120 --> 00:28:05.340 clean on the outside 00:28:05.340 --> 00:28:06.400 but full of greed 00:28:06.400 --> 00:28:07.220 and indulgence 00:28:07.220 --> 00:28:07.900 on the inside, 00:28:08.460 --> 00:28:10.100 whose jealousy 00:28:10.100 --> 00:28:11.299 led to hatred 00:28:11.299 --> 00:28:12.700 and hatred 00:28:12.700 --> 00:28:13.200 to murder. 00:28:14.960 --> 00:28:15.539 And so while 00:28:15.539 --> 00:28:16.480 Abel's blood 00:28:16.480 --> 00:28:17.039 cries out 00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:17.799 for justice, 00:28:17.940 --> 00:28:18.500 we see something 00:28:18.500 --> 00:28:19.059 different 00:28:19.059 --> 00:28:20.380 in the blood 00:28:20.380 --> 00:28:20.839 of Jesus. 00:28:21.059 --> 00:28:21.900 In Hebrews 12, 00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:23.180 24 it says this, 00:28:24.220 --> 00:28:24.480 it says, 00:28:24.600 --> 00:28:25.680 we come to Jesus 00:28:25.680 --> 00:28:26.480 the mediator 00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:27.240 of a new covenant 00:28:27.240 --> 00:28:29.039 and to the sprinkled 00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:30.180 blood that speaks 00:28:30.180 --> 00:28:31.160 a better word 00:28:31.160 --> 00:28:31.720 than the blood 00:28:31.720 --> 00:28:32.160 of Abel. 00:28:34.200 --> 00:28:34.900 Abel's blood 00:28:34.900 --> 00:28:35.700 speaks of judgment. 00:28:35.700 --> 00:28:37.860 Jesus' blood 00:28:37.860 --> 00:28:38.700 speaks of grace. 00:28:40.500 --> 00:28:41.299 And so this should 00:28:41.299 --> 00:28:42.100 be an incredible 00:28:42.100 --> 00:28:43.559 word of encouragement 00:28:43.559 --> 00:28:44.620 and hope 00:28:44.620 --> 00:28:45.720 and comfort to us 00:28:45.720 --> 00:28:47.600 because this is 00:28:47.600 --> 00:28:48.519 the real world 00:28:48.519 --> 00:28:49.580 in which we live, 00:28:49.819 --> 00:28:50.440 that there's not 00:28:50.440 --> 00:28:51.580 an inch of creation 00:28:51.580 --> 00:28:52.200 that hasn't been 00:28:52.200 --> 00:28:53.640 affected by the curse 00:28:53.640 --> 00:28:54.059 of sin, 00:28:54.120 --> 00:28:55.539 but we have a loving God 00:28:55.539 --> 00:28:56.680 who fulfilled 00:28:56.680 --> 00:28:57.380 his promise 00:28:57.380 --> 00:28:58.559 to send a rescuer 00:28:58.559 --> 00:28:59.500 through the seed 00:28:59.500 --> 00:28:59.840 of woman 00:28:59.840 --> 00:29:00.700 to be the perfect 00:29:00.700 --> 00:29:01.440 sacrifice, 00:29:01.440 --> 00:29:03.779 to redeem us 00:29:03.779 --> 00:29:05.080 from our sins, 00:29:05.180 --> 00:29:06.200 to restore us 00:29:06.200 --> 00:29:07.420 into perfect relationship 00:29:07.420 --> 00:29:08.000 with God. 00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:11.340 And so if you're here today 00:29:11.340 --> 00:29:11.940 and you've never 00:29:11.940 --> 00:29:13.019 placed your trust 00:29:13.019 --> 00:29:14.759 in Christ, 00:29:16.420 --> 00:29:17.440 the invitation 00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:18.320 is for you 00:29:18.320 --> 00:29:19.519 to come forward 00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:20.440 in simple faith 00:29:20.440 --> 00:29:21.539 just like Abel did 00:29:21.539 --> 00:29:23.000 because you're not 00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:23.680 too far 00:29:23.680 --> 00:29:24.680 from God's mercy. 00:29:24.680 --> 00:29:27.060 You don't have to 00:29:27.060 --> 00:29:28.259 get your life 00:29:28.259 --> 00:29:28.740 in order 00:29:28.740 --> 00:29:29.299 and straighten 00:29:29.299 --> 00:29:30.019 your ways up 00:29:30.019 --> 00:29:30.759 to think that God 00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:31.340 will accept you. 00:29:31.460 --> 00:29:32.240 Come in your sin, 00:29:32.360 --> 00:29:33.259 come in your shame 00:29:33.259 --> 00:29:36.120 and heed God's warning 00:29:36.120 --> 00:29:38.259 that judgment 00:29:38.259 --> 00:29:39.299 is coming for those 00:29:39.299 --> 00:29:40.220 who do not repent 00:29:40.220 --> 00:29:42.960 but his mercy 00:29:42.960 --> 00:29:44.039 is extended 00:29:44.039 --> 00:29:44.740 to those who put 00:29:44.740 --> 00:29:45.580 their faith in Christ. 00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:48.580 For those of us 00:29:48.580 --> 00:29:49.480 who are in Christ, 00:29:50.779 --> 00:29:51.560 maybe we remember 00:29:51.560 --> 00:29:52.779 just how formidable 00:29:52.779 --> 00:29:53.900 of an enemy 00:29:53.900 --> 00:29:54.560 we face. 00:29:55.580 --> 00:29:56.360 That sin 00:29:56.360 --> 00:29:57.779 is ever crouching 00:29:57.779 --> 00:29:58.440 at your door. 00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:01.259 And so may we be 00:30:01.259 --> 00:30:01.940 ever vigilant, 00:30:02.940 --> 00:30:04.500 not trying to justify 00:30:04.500 --> 00:30:06.279 or conceal our sin 00:30:06.279 --> 00:30:08.500 but being welcome 00:30:08.500 --> 00:30:09.340 to welcome 00:30:09.340 --> 00:30:10.799 God's gentle confrontation 00:30:10.799 --> 00:30:13.080 that we may be 00:30:13.080 --> 00:30:14.000 trusting in him 00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:15.539 that he's ready 00:30:15.539 --> 00:30:16.080 to forgive 00:30:16.080 --> 00:30:17.820 and ready to restore. 00:30:19.120 --> 00:30:19.460 Amen.