WEBVTT

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 I'm so excited to bring God's word to you this morning.

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 It really is a privilege for me.

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 And let me pray before we start.

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 Heavenly Father, we ask that you would illuminate our minds, our hearts,

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 so that your word would land on us with power.

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 That it would accomplish its purposes in our lives.

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 That it would remind us of your steadfast grace throughout human history and throughout our whole lives.

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 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 We skipped around a little bit in our reading.

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 We skipped the genealogies.

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 But that's not because they're unimportant.

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 I'm going to reference them in the sermon.

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 It's just for the sake of time we abbreviated the reading of it.

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 So please do have your Bible open to that because I will mention them.

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 And in his novel, whose title is based on this passage, East of Eden, John Steinbeck writes this through the voice of the narrator.

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 He says,

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 We have only one story.

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 All novels, all poetry, they're all built on the never-ending contest in ourselves of good and evil.

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 And it occurs to me that evil must constantly respawn.

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 While good, while virtue is immortal.

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 Vice has always a new, fresh young face.

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 While virtue is venerable as nothing else in the world is.

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 Exiled from the Garden of Eden, East of Eden, we see this contest of good and evil within humanity.

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 And overall, the picture is really grim.

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 Other ancient Near Eastern worldviews believe in human progress.

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 They think that humans are always improving, heading toward a goal.

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 Old Testament does not believe in progress.

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 Old Testament teaches the ineluctable advance of sin.

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 Humanity just spiraling down farther and farther and farther.

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 That's why Christ has to come to redeem and to rescue humanity.

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 And so here we see evil constantly respawning and dragging humanity down with it.

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 But through it all, we see also God graciously preserving humanity so that we might eventually submit to him and be redeemed by the blood of his son, Jesus Christ.

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 So that's the main point of this passage.

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 We're going to talk first about God's grace toward Cain in chapter 4.

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 And then God's grace toward Seth in chapter 5.

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 And then finally, God's grace toward us in chapter 6.

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 And recall that due to Adam and Eve's sin, God pronounced to the woman in Genesis 3, 16,

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 I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing.

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 In pain you shall bring forth children.

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 Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.

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 So remember, childbearing is not a curse, but the pain in childbearing is.

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 Right?

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 So the husband's, it's just in the same way, husband's headship over his wife is not a curse,

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 but the oppressive rule, his oppressive rule over her is.

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 So with that context in mind, read verse 1.

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 It says,

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 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying,

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 I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.

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 Right?

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 So you can see kind of her boast, her triumph of having conceived a man.

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 And of course, to know someone within the biblical context is euphemism for intercourse.

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 That's why right after that it's followed by a description of children.

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 Now the name Cain is a wordplay that sounds very much like the word gotten.

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 That's why he's named that, because Eve said, I have gotten a man.

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 And then name Abel means breath or vanity.

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 So it's already hinting at the fact that his life will be cut short.

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 Now, verses 2 to 3, we see what happens.

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 Now, Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground.

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 In the course of time, Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground,

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 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions.

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 So both Cain and Abel bring an offering to God that's appropriate to their profession.

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 Right?

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 So there's nothing wrong with their professions themselves.

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 They're bringing an offering that fits what they do as their job.

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 But God only accepts, he only takes delight in Abel's offering.

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 Right?

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 So verses 4 to 5, it says,

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 And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering, he had no regard.

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 And the reason for this, the narrative seems to suggest, is that while Abel offered the firstborn of his flock

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 and of their fat portions, Cain did not offer the firstfruits of his ground, of the ground that he works.

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 And according to Old Testament law, every firstborn male belonged to the Lord.

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 That's because of Passover.

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 Right?

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 God redeemed the firstborn of Israel.

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 So he said they had to pay a redemption price for every firstborn male,

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 and every firstborn animals for sacrifice had to be sacrificed.

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 And in particular, also, God commanded Israelites to offer the fat of the meat

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 because the fat was considered the best part, the choices part of the meat.

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 So you're supposed to offer that in sacrifice, not consume them themselves.

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 And so notice, that's exactly what Abel does.

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 He brings the firstborn with their fat portions.

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 Similarly, the firstfruits of all produce was required to be offered up to the Lord.

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 So in Numbers 18, 12 to 14, it talks about this.

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 In Deuteronomy 26, 2, it says,

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 You shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground which you harvest from your land that the Lord your God is giving you.

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 Right?

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 And the point of this is to recognize that all that we have comes from God.

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 So you're harvesting from the land that the Lord your God gave you.

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 So the first of it should come to the Lord.

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 It belongs to the Lord.

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 So Exodus 23, 29, it says,

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 The best of the firstfruits of your ground you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God.

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 So, of course, it makes sense if you think about it, right?

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 You bring the cream of the crop, you know, not the crumbs to the king when you come to the king.

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 But you bring, you know, the firstfruits, not the leftovers to the king, right?

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 So the question to ask when it comes to worship, when it comes to offering to God is not what can we spare, but what can we sacrifice, right?

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 And that's the heart behind David.

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 When he brings an offering to God in 2 Samuel 24, 24, he says,

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 I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that costs me nothing, right?

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 The costlier the offering, right, the more suitable it is for the purpose of expressing the preciousness of the one to whom we bring the offering.

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 And in fact, that's embedded in the word sacrifice itself, right?

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 See, it's a sacrifice, right?

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 It's not spare change.

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 It's sacrifice, something that's costly to us that we bring to him.

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 And so we see the half-heartedness of Cain's offering when it says he doesn't even, doesn't bring the firstfruits, but he just brings some of the fruit of the ground.

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 That's why when the author of Hebrews mentions this tale, Hebrews 11 to 4, he says,

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 By faith, Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts.

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 So this is something, of course, is very applicable to us, right?

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 And this is one of the reasons why, as a church, we don't pass the offering basket during the service.

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 There's nothing wrong with that, per se, and it's okay that other churches do it.

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 It's just that we think that it might prompt people to give out of guilt or out of a sense of obligation, as opposed to giving freely.

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 Because God's not honored by that, right?

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 God doesn't even accept Abel's sacrifice.

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 He brought the sacrifice, but God doesn't even accept it, right?

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 It's not like God is hungry and he needs sacrifices to feed on.

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 It's not that he's poor, that he needs our money to sustain his church.

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 He owns everything in the world.

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 He can provide for his church if he wants to.

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 So our desire is that our church, we can honor God by bringing our gifts to him freely.

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 Honor him with the sacrifices we bring because we are willing to make the sacrifice in order to make God look precious,

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 to affirm him and to worship him.

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 So at this point, then, Cain should have realized what he had done wrong.

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 And what he should have done was to acknowledge his wrong ways and then correct it.

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 But instead, he becomes sullen and despondent.

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 He says he hung his head.

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 He says, Cain was very angry and his face fell, verse 5.

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 But God graciously reaches out to him, verses 6 to 7.

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 The Lord said to Cain,

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 Why are you angry?

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 And why has your face fallen?

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 If you do well, will you not be accepted?

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 And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door.

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 His desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.

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 God gives Cain an opportunity to repent, and God gives him also a serious warning.

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 Remember, this language is almost exactly like Genesis 3.16, what God has said to Eve in his pronouncement of the curse.

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 That your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.

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 So in a similar way, just as the woman, as a result of the fall, the wife, will seek to have her way with the husband to control her.

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 But instead, the husband will oppress her and rule over her.

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 In this case, sin desires to have its way with Cain, to possess him, to control him.

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 Yet he must rule over it.

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 And the key difference, of course, is that while God's pronouncement to Eve is descriptive, that's what, in fact, is going to happen.

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 But his pronouncement here to Cain is prescriptive.

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 It's what he needs to do.

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 He needs to rule over sin.

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 He must master it.

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 And verse 7 is a really, really helpful and insightful description of sin.

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 Look at how graphic it is.

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 Read it with me.

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 Sin is crouching at the door.

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 Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.

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 The word crouch means to lie in wait, right, about to pounce.

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 It means to lurk.

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 That's the nature of sin.

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 It's being compared, metaphorically, to a savage beast, a wild beast that's crouching, waiting to pounce at you by the door, right?

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 And it's at the door, he says, right?

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 It's not far away.

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 It's not out in the field.

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 It's right at the door.

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 And this is really helpful for us because sometimes I think we, as Christians, can treat sin like a little fluffy bunny in the garden, right?

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 It's like, you know, sometimes we'll let him in, you know, enjoy it for a little while, and then let it out before it causes too much, you know, soils the carpet too much.

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 No, this is sin is a wild beast.

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 How would you treat a savage beast at your door?

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 And that's what 1 Peter 5a talks about, right?

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 Be sober-minded.

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 Be watchful.

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 Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.

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 How would you treat a savage beast at your door?

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 You don't go anywhere near it.

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 You don't give it an inch of room to get in.

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 That's how we treat sin.

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 That's how we fight sin.

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 Don't give it any room to breathe.

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 Expose your reign and rule over it.

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 Oppress it.

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 Don't give it any room to grow in your life.

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 That's how we have to deal with sin and fight sin in our life.

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 And I once heard a story of a really wealthy woman who was trying to hire a chauffeur.

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 She interviewed a few candidates, and a couple of them were exceptional drivers,

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 and she had them drive up a mountain range, a narrow path right by the cliff.

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 And they were trying to show off how exceptional their driving skills were.

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 So they drove as fast as they can and as close as they can to the precipice,

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 and they made the trip in record time and came back.

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 But the third driver was very different because he drove slowly,

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 and he drove as far away from the precipice as possible.

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 And to nobody's surprise, she hired the third and last driver

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 because she doesn't want to die when someone's driving.

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 She wants to be driven in a safe manner.

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 That's how we should treat sin.

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 The goal is if we're asking ourselves, when we think about sin and temptation in our lives,

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 how far can we go without sinning?

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 How close can we get without sinning?

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 Then we're asking the wrong question.

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 The goal is to stay at the center of God's will,

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 not flirt with sin as much as you can.

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 It's a wild beast at your door, and that's how we should treat it.

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 It's desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.

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 Cain, unfortunately, spurns God's counsel, and it says in verse 8,

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 Cain spoke to Abel, his brother, presumably telling him,

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 hey, let's go out to the field.

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 And it says when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother, Abel, and killed him.

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 Old Testament law, for example, Deuteronomy 22,

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 judges crimes committed in the field as premeditated murder

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 because it's done in the field where a cry of help cannot be heard by anyone within range.

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 So this is what Cain is doing.

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 And the word kill refers to vicious violence.

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 It's not just irregular, just generic word for kill.

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 It could translate almost butchered.

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 He butchered him to death.

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 Cain hacked him, his brother, to death.

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 And notice how the word brother is repeated throughout this passage.

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 Throughout verses 8 to 11, the brother is mentioned six times.

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 His brother, his brother, his brother, to highlight the heinousness of his sin.

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 He murdered his own brother, the little brother,

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 whom he should have cared for and taken responsibility for.

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 He killed in cold blood.

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 So when the Lord speaks to Cain in verse 9,

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 where is Abel, your brother?

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 And Cain replies, I don't know.

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 I do not know.

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 Am I my brother's keeper?

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 Though Cain thinks the obvious answer is no,

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 I'm not the brother's keeper.

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 The correct answer, actually, according to the narrative, is yes.

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 Yes, you are.

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 You're his brother.

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 And 1 John 3, 11 to 15 talks about this.

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 John teaches Christians within the family of God

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 to treat each other as brothers.

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 And he tells us not to follow the example of Cain,

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 but instead to love one another.

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 And think about that for a moment.

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 If we really treated each other

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 with the same sense of responsibility

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 that we have toward our own siblings,

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 what would that look like?

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 You know, if we would care enough then

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 to tell the hard truth to each other,

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 we would care enough then

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 when someone's hurting our brother or sister,

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 that we would do something.

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 We would care enough that, you know,

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 this is what happens, right?

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 If a stranger is sick,

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 if an acquaintance is sick,

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 you tell them to stay at home and wear a mask

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 so that they don't get you sick, right?

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 But when it's your brother or your sister that's sick,

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 you care.

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 You're by the bedside

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 caring for that sibling until he or she is well.

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 Do we treat each other?

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 Do we love one another,

00:15:48.480 --> 00:15:50.259
 serve one another as brothers and sisters?

00:15:50.259 --> 00:15:53.139
 Because that's what this passage is telling us.

00:15:53.220 --> 00:15:55.740
 Yes, you are your brother's keeper.

00:15:56.179 --> 00:15:57.639
 What would it look like for all of us

00:15:57.639 --> 00:15:59.419
 to be brother's keepers?

00:16:00.580 --> 00:16:03.360
 So God interrogates Cain here.

00:16:03.480 --> 00:16:04.779
 And if you might, if you remember,

00:16:05.059 --> 00:16:06.659
 when God interrogated Adam,

00:16:07.299 --> 00:16:09.500
 even though he did shift blame, right,

00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:11.139
 he at least owned up to what he did.

00:16:14.019 --> 00:16:16.059
 But Cain lies to God's face.

00:16:16.700 --> 00:16:18.159
 So you could tell he's more hardened.

00:16:18.159 --> 00:16:19.100
 He's a greater sinner.

00:16:19.100 --> 00:16:21.379
 He says, I do not know.

00:16:23.320 --> 00:16:28.019
 And verse 2 described Abel as keeper of sheep.

00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:31.340
 And here he says, am I his brother's keeper?

00:16:31.460 --> 00:16:32.220
 It's the same word.

00:16:32.279 --> 00:16:33.279
 So it's almost like he's saying,

00:16:33.600 --> 00:16:35.259
 am I the keeper's keeper?

00:16:35.580 --> 00:16:36.399
 Of course not.

00:16:36.500 --> 00:16:39.540
 He's the keeper whose sheep you accepted.

00:16:40.060 --> 00:16:40.879
 He's the keeper.

00:16:40.980 --> 00:16:41.700
 I'm not a keeper.

00:16:41.840 --> 00:16:42.879
 So he's just, you know,

00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:44.940
 absolving himself of all responsibility.

00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:47.540
 But God is patient and undeterred.

00:16:47.539 --> 00:16:48.879
 In verses 10 to 12, he asks,

00:16:49.319 --> 00:16:50.079
 what have you done?

00:16:50.199 --> 00:16:51.740
 The voice of your brother's blood

00:16:51.740 --> 00:16:54.079
 is crying to me from the ground.

00:16:54.819 --> 00:16:56.980
 And now you are cursed from the ground,

00:16:57.099 --> 00:16:58.099
 which has opened his mouth

00:16:58.099 --> 00:17:00.079
 to receive your brother's blood from your hand.

00:17:00.299 --> 00:17:01.539
 When you work the ground,

00:17:01.620 --> 00:17:03.740
 it shall no longer yield to you its strength.

00:17:03.939 --> 00:17:05.180
 You shall be a fugitive

00:17:05.180 --> 00:17:06.859
 and a wanderer on the earth.

00:17:06.859 --> 00:17:09.619
 So remember Cain was described in verse 2

00:17:09.619 --> 00:17:10.839
 as worker of the ground.

00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:13.659
 So now his own denial comes to bite him.

00:17:13.979 --> 00:17:15.019
 Also, you're not the keeper.

00:17:15.339 --> 00:17:16.379
 You're the worker of the ground.

00:17:16.500 --> 00:17:19.419
 Well, then your ground will reject you, right?

00:17:19.779 --> 00:17:22.859
 For Adam, remember, Adam himself was not cursed.

00:17:23.259 --> 00:17:25.619
 The ground was cursed, right, when Adam sinned.

00:17:25.740 --> 00:17:27.719
 And said, now Adam's going to have to work with toil,

00:17:27.839 --> 00:17:29.439
 with painful toil to work the ground

00:17:29.439 --> 00:17:30.319
 and make it bear fruit.

00:17:30.579 --> 00:17:34.000
 But now Cain himself is cursed from the ground.

00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:37.079
 So that even when he works the ground with painful toil,

00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:39.440
 it will not bear fruit for him,

00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:42.720
 which forces him to a life of a wanderer and a vagrant.

00:17:45.220 --> 00:17:48.279
 So it's the same situation.

00:17:48.460 --> 00:17:50.799
 There's a lot of similarities with Adam and Eve's sin,

00:17:50.859 --> 00:17:52.039
 chapter 3, and the sins here.

00:17:52.119 --> 00:17:54.960
 The words like no, keep, cursed, drive away,

00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:56.140
 they all occur here.

00:17:56.220 --> 00:17:58.339
 But it's not exactly parallel

00:17:58.339 --> 00:17:59.700
 because it shows a picture

00:17:59.700 --> 00:18:02.759
 that is farther down the sinful chain.

00:18:02.759 --> 00:18:04.420
 So it's people are more degenerated.

00:18:04.539 --> 00:18:05.240
 They're more evil.

00:18:05.359 --> 00:18:07.220
 They're more wicked and callous

00:18:07.220 --> 00:18:11.200
 in their relationship to God.

00:18:12.680 --> 00:18:16.700
 And so sadly, Cain seems incapable of repentance.

00:18:17.900 --> 00:18:21.039
 And instead of weeping at the severity of his crime,

00:18:21.460 --> 00:18:23.680
 he complains about the severity of his punishment.

00:18:25.599 --> 00:18:26.940
 Verses 13 to 14.

00:18:26.940 --> 00:18:29.880
 My punishment is greater than I can bear.

00:18:31.140 --> 00:18:33.759
 Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground

00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:36.120
 and from your face I shall be hidden.

00:18:36.580 --> 00:18:38.720
 I should be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth

00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:40.580
 and whoever finds me will kill me.

00:18:41.580 --> 00:18:44.759
 It would have been at this point totally understandable

00:18:44.759 --> 00:18:48.680
 for God to just throw up his hands in exasperation

00:18:48.680 --> 00:18:52.440
 and then just strike him down at that moment.

00:18:52.440 --> 00:18:56.160
 But he responds with grace in verses 15 to 16.

00:18:56.840 --> 00:18:57.240
 Not so.

00:18:57.640 --> 00:18:58.940
 If anyone kills Cain,

00:18:59.059 --> 00:19:01.220
 vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.

00:19:01.799 --> 00:19:04.320
 And he puts a mark on him to protect him

00:19:04.320 --> 00:19:06.240
 as a sign of God's protection over him.

00:19:07.820 --> 00:19:10.860
 And so that's how merciful God is, right?

00:19:10.900 --> 00:19:15.120
 And if God is just in exacting vengeance on sinners,

00:19:15.600 --> 00:19:16.720
 in the same way,

00:19:16.779 --> 00:19:19.140
 he's also merciful towards sinners.

00:19:19.220 --> 00:19:20.759
 He seeks to find a way for them,

00:19:20.759 --> 00:19:23.640
 for them to repent and for them to return to God.

00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:25.400
 And so here,

00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:28.039
 even though the blood of Abel

00:19:28.039 --> 00:19:29.220
 that's crying out from the ground

00:19:29.220 --> 00:19:30.740
 is calling for his death,

00:19:30.859 --> 00:19:31.779
 his immediate death,

00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:34.519
 he has mercy on Cain

00:19:34.519 --> 00:19:35.680
 and banishes him instead.

00:19:36.039 --> 00:19:38.000
 So he settles in the land of Nod,

00:19:38.259 --> 00:19:39.640
 which means land of wandering.

00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:43.819
 And that's located poignantly east of Eden,

00:19:44.339 --> 00:19:46.839
 indicating that he's getting farther and farther away

00:19:46.839 --> 00:19:49.039
 from the original paradise

00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:50.740
 that God had created for humanity.

00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:54.619
 And in spite of all of this,

00:19:54.799 --> 00:19:55.559
 in Cain's sins,

00:19:55.680 --> 00:19:57.299
 we see God's grace toward him

00:19:57.299 --> 00:20:00.900
 in the fact that he blesses him with progeny as well, right?

00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:02.859
 He still gets to bear God's image

00:20:02.859 --> 00:20:03.960
 and produce children.

00:20:04.579 --> 00:20:06.920
 Verses 17-24, we find his genealogy.

00:20:07.859 --> 00:20:10.200
 But this is still the cursed line.

00:20:10.539 --> 00:20:12.740
 It's a line that's separated from God.

00:20:12.980 --> 00:20:14.980
 And we see that in some of the examples

00:20:14.980 --> 00:20:17.200
 that we get in verses 19-23.

00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:20.120
 So look at Lamech in 19-23.

00:20:20.259 --> 00:20:20.620
 He says,

00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:22.680
 He took two wives.

00:20:23.240 --> 00:20:25.220
 Right away, that's a red flag.

00:20:25.500 --> 00:20:27.059
 Because we know from Genesis 2,

00:20:27.420 --> 00:20:29.000
 God's intention for marriage was that

00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:31.620
 a man shall leave his father's house

00:20:31.620 --> 00:20:34.799
 to be united with all women.

00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:36.580
 So it's between one man and one woman.

00:20:36.940 --> 00:20:37.580
 And so right away,

00:20:37.660 --> 00:20:38.019
 when he says,

00:20:38.120 --> 00:20:38.900
 He took two wives,

00:20:39.539 --> 00:20:40.539
 it's threatening.

00:20:40.740 --> 00:20:41.140
 It's ominous.

00:20:41.820 --> 00:20:44.460
 And then Lamech turns out to be,

00:20:44.560 --> 00:20:45.220
 unsurprisingly,

00:20:45.620 --> 00:20:47.040
 a really unpleasant fellow.

00:20:47.680 --> 00:20:50.160
 His wives' names are Ada and Zillah,

00:20:50.500 --> 00:20:51.380
 which means pretty,

00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:53.060
 or chime,

00:20:53.160 --> 00:20:54.480
 or tinkle for the other woman.

00:20:54.840 --> 00:20:55.440
 So basically,

00:20:55.580 --> 00:20:56.520
 one has a pretty face,

00:20:56.600 --> 00:20:57.720
 the other has a pretty voice.

00:20:58.259 --> 00:20:59.540
 So it's describing that

00:20:59.540 --> 00:21:00.840
 this Lamech is a really,

00:21:01.040 --> 00:21:02.460
 he's a sensual guy.

00:21:02.780 --> 00:21:04.040
 He enjoys women,

00:21:04.120 --> 00:21:06.000
 he's taking up the woman he likes

00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:07.120
 as his wife.

00:21:07.120 --> 00:21:09.440
 So he's an unsavory character.

00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:12.039
 Now, so in verses 23 to 24,

00:21:12.220 --> 00:21:13.980
 he boasts in poetic form.

00:21:14.360 --> 00:21:15.299
 Ada and Zillah,

00:21:15.460 --> 00:21:16.259
 hear my voice.

00:21:16.440 --> 00:21:17.640
 You wives of Lamech,

00:21:17.700 --> 00:21:19.120
 listen to what I say.

00:21:19.580 --> 00:21:21.440
 I have killed a man for wounding me,

00:21:21.680 --> 00:21:23.259
 a young man for striking me.

00:21:23.600 --> 00:21:25.680
 If Cain's revenge is sevenfold,

00:21:25.980 --> 00:21:28.440
 then Lamech's is 77-fold.

00:21:29.600 --> 00:21:31.759
 Self-centered, haughty,

00:21:32.120 --> 00:21:33.200
 hot-headed man, right?

00:21:33.559 --> 00:21:36.100
 So Cain at least knew something,

00:21:36.220 --> 00:21:37.039
 he had done something wrong,

00:21:37.100 --> 00:21:38.240
 he was trying to hide it from God.

00:21:38.240 --> 00:21:40.220
 But Lamech's boasting about

00:21:40.220 --> 00:21:41.599
 killing a man,

00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:42.420
 a young man,

00:21:42.559 --> 00:21:44.000
 for wounding him.

00:21:44.099 --> 00:21:45.640
 It wasn't like he was trying to kill him

00:21:45.640 --> 00:21:46.319
 for wounding him,

00:21:46.400 --> 00:21:46.980
 for bruising him.

00:21:47.220 --> 00:21:48.120
 He kills him.

00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:51.599
 And the poetry is so wonderful

00:21:51.599 --> 00:21:53.819
 because at the end of each line,

00:21:53.920 --> 00:21:56.099
 it has the word like my or me in it

00:21:56.099 --> 00:21:56.920
 to just emphasize,

00:21:57.180 --> 00:21:58.519
 highlight his egotism.

00:21:59.279 --> 00:22:01.039
 And the beauty of the poetry

00:22:01.039 --> 00:22:02.599
 is a stark contrast

00:22:02.599 --> 00:22:05.099
 to his unsavory character.

00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:06.740
 Because what he does is appalling.

00:22:06.740 --> 00:22:09.819
 But even though this line is cursed,

00:22:09.900 --> 00:22:10.839
 it's separated from God,

00:22:10.920 --> 00:22:11.920
 it's tainted with sin,

00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:13.740
 in an imperfect way,

00:22:13.960 --> 00:22:15.940
 Cain still experiences God's grace

00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:17.480
 and blessing as his image bearer.

00:22:17.700 --> 00:22:19.980
 And we see this throughout

00:22:19.980 --> 00:22:21.539
 verses 17 to 21.

00:22:22.620 --> 00:22:25.579
 It says that Cain built a city,

00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:26.319
 right?

00:22:26.339 --> 00:22:27.359
 So that's urbanization.

00:22:27.599 --> 00:22:29.599
 That's the beginning of the cities,

00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:31.839
 which is necessary

00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:34.200
 if you're cursed like Cain is

00:22:34.200 --> 00:22:35.900
 and you can't be a self-subsistent farmer.

00:22:36.140 --> 00:22:37.220
 You need to create other industries

00:22:37.220 --> 00:22:38.559
 so that you can trade for food

00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:39.299
 or buy food

00:22:39.299 --> 00:22:41.100
 because you can't produce food for yourself.

00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:43.220
 And verses 22 to 22

00:22:43.220 --> 00:22:45.319
 tells us that Lamech had three sons,

00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:47.500
 Jabal, Jubal, and Tubal Cain,

00:22:47.819 --> 00:22:49.660
 which all come from the same Hebrew word

00:22:49.660 --> 00:22:50.539
 meaning to produce,

00:22:50.860 --> 00:22:52.120
 highlighting their inventiveness.

00:22:53.059 --> 00:22:55.100
 And so the Jubal is the forerunner

00:22:55.100 --> 00:22:56.220
 of the nomadic lifestyle

00:22:56.220 --> 00:22:58.620
 and invents animal husbandry, right?

00:22:58.680 --> 00:23:00.039
 Of course, Abel was a shepherd,

00:23:00.200 --> 00:23:01.440
 but this is more broad.

00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:03.799
 He's taking care of all kinds of livestock.

00:23:04.460 --> 00:23:06.600
 Jubal was the creator of musical instruments

00:23:06.600 --> 00:23:08.460
 and Tubal Cain was the first

00:23:08.460 --> 00:23:10.340
 to discover metalworking, right?

00:23:10.539 --> 00:23:11.940
 So all of this is an example

00:23:11.940 --> 00:23:13.519
 of God's common grace.

00:23:14.160 --> 00:23:16.039
 Common meaning that it's common to all.

00:23:16.180 --> 00:23:18.620
 He shows grace even to his non-elect,

00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:20.880
 to the people who are separated from

00:23:20.880 --> 00:23:23.080
 and not chosen for his special grace,

00:23:23.320 --> 00:23:24.440
 yet still even to them,

00:23:24.519 --> 00:23:25.820
 God shows common grace.

00:23:26.180 --> 00:23:27.519
 And these sons of Cain

00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:28.820
 become the fathers of city,

00:23:28.960 --> 00:23:29.960
 culture, and civilization.

00:23:29.960 --> 00:23:33.180
 So that's God's grace toward Cain,

00:23:33.380 --> 00:23:34.480
 even in the midst of sin.

00:23:35.720 --> 00:23:37.620
 But God's special grace,

00:23:37.740 --> 00:23:38.880
 his saving grace,

00:23:39.100 --> 00:23:40.660
 is reserved for the chosen line,

00:23:40.759 --> 00:23:42.380
 and that's God's grace toward Seth.

00:23:44.019 --> 00:23:46.779
 And that line begins in verses 25 to 26,

00:23:46.880 --> 00:23:47.680
 still in chapter 4.

00:23:47.819 --> 00:23:47.980
 It says,

00:23:47.980 --> 00:23:49.980
 Adam knew his wife again,

00:23:50.200 --> 00:23:52.440
 and she bore a son and called his name Seth.

00:23:52.660 --> 00:23:53.339
 For she said,

00:23:53.440 --> 00:23:55.279
 God has appointed for me another offspring

00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:56.200
 instead of Abel,

00:23:56.400 --> 00:23:57.579
 for Cain killed him.

00:23:58.380 --> 00:24:00.160
 To Seth also a son was born,

00:24:00.200 --> 00:24:01.299
 and he called his name Enosh.

00:24:01.339 --> 00:24:02.039
 At that time,

00:24:02.339 --> 00:24:04.099
 people began to call upon

00:24:04.099 --> 00:24:05.700
 the name of the Lord.

00:24:06.380 --> 00:24:08.120
 So with the murder of Abel,

00:24:08.220 --> 00:24:10.240
 God's blessing can't rest on Cain.

00:24:10.319 --> 00:24:12.160
 So now it passes on to their second son,

00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:12.759
 Seth.

00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:15.160
 And Seth,

00:24:15.359 --> 00:24:17.420
 his name is contrasted with Cain's,

00:24:17.460 --> 00:24:18.279
 because in Cain,

00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:19.039
 Eve said,

00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:20.079
 I have gotten.

00:24:20.240 --> 00:24:22.819
 So she named him Cain.

00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:23.779
 But with Seth,

00:24:23.900 --> 00:24:24.359
 Eve says,

00:24:24.599 --> 00:24:25.720
 God has appointed.

00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:27.299
 God has put him.

00:24:27.879 --> 00:24:28.980
 And so Jesus is recognizing

00:24:28.980 --> 00:24:30.519
 the agency of God.

00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:31.720
 And right away,

00:24:31.839 --> 00:24:33.299
 the contrast between the two lines

00:24:33.299 --> 00:24:35.220
 is highlighted by the fact

00:24:35.220 --> 00:24:36.519
 that at that time,

00:24:36.619 --> 00:24:38.079
 people began to call upon

00:24:38.079 --> 00:24:38.900
 the name of the Lord.

00:24:38.900 --> 00:24:40.340
 So this is a reference

00:24:40.340 --> 00:24:41.300
 to the beginning

00:24:41.300 --> 00:24:42.160
 of organized,

00:24:42.500 --> 00:24:43.380
 regular worship.

00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:44.720
 This is the beginning

00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:45.519
 of religion,

00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:45.920
 really,

00:24:46.100 --> 00:24:46.480
 in a way.

00:24:47.180 --> 00:24:47.900
 And so at the time,

00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:49.000
 so Cain's descendants

00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:51.000
 are living without reference

00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:51.400
 to God,

00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:52.460
 but Seth descendants

00:24:52.460 --> 00:24:53.940
 start to worship God

00:24:53.940 --> 00:24:54.600
 in a regular,

00:24:55.280 --> 00:24:56.200
 organized way.

00:24:57.160 --> 00:24:58.519
 And that requires

00:24:58.519 --> 00:24:59.660
 culture also, right?

00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:00.420
 So for example,

00:25:00.800 --> 00:25:01.500
 like the music

00:25:01.500 --> 00:25:02.259
 that they produced

00:25:02.259 --> 00:25:02.900
 will be used

00:25:02.900 --> 00:25:03.640
 for singing,

00:25:03.640 --> 00:25:05.320
 and the metal working

00:25:05.320 --> 00:25:06.460
 that Cain's descendants

00:25:06.460 --> 00:25:07.360
 produced will be used

00:25:07.360 --> 00:25:08.420
 for building the temple,

00:25:08.940 --> 00:25:09.080
 right?

00:25:09.180 --> 00:25:11.100
 So the animals

00:25:11.100 --> 00:25:12.560
 that Cain's descendants

00:25:12.560 --> 00:25:14.600
 learned to care for

00:25:14.600 --> 00:25:15.340
 will be used

00:25:15.340 --> 00:25:16.200
 for sacrifice.

00:25:16.460 --> 00:25:17.800
 So all of this

00:25:17.800 --> 00:25:18.519
 will be used,

00:25:18.640 --> 00:25:19.940
 but Cain's descendants

00:25:19.940 --> 00:25:20.860
 used those things

00:25:20.860 --> 00:25:21.620
 without reference

00:25:21.620 --> 00:25:21.940
 to God

00:25:21.940 --> 00:25:22.800
 for their own glory,

00:25:23.180 --> 00:25:24.000
 while Seth descendants

00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:24.580
 used them,

00:25:24.680 --> 00:25:25.460
 harnessed them all

00:25:25.460 --> 00:25:26.340
 for God's glory.

00:25:26.800 --> 00:25:27.560
 Culture serves

00:25:27.560 --> 00:25:28.100
 the purpose

00:25:28.100 --> 00:25:29.220
 of the cult,

00:25:29.360 --> 00:25:30.480
 the cultic purpose

00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:31.080
 of worship.

00:25:33.080 --> 00:25:33.519
 Cult,

00:25:33.640 --> 00:25:34.660
 not in a generic way,

00:25:34.700 --> 00:25:35.600
 not in a bad sense.

00:25:36.800 --> 00:25:37.060
 So,

00:25:37.059 --> 00:25:38.659
 the genealogy of Seth

00:25:38.659 --> 00:25:39.359
 begins in earnest

00:25:39.359 --> 00:25:40.179
 in chapter 5,

00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:41.240
 and it's typical

00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:41.759
 of Genesis

00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:42.359
 to give you

00:25:42.359 --> 00:25:43.000
 like a preview

00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:43.919
 of the next section

00:25:43.919 --> 00:25:44.339
 at the end

00:25:44.339 --> 00:25:45.799
 of the previous section.

00:25:46.779 --> 00:25:47.720
 Verses 1 to 5,

00:25:47.779 --> 00:25:48.000
 it says,

00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:49.099
 this is the book

00:25:49.099 --> 00:25:49.859
 of the generations

00:25:49.859 --> 00:25:50.539
 of Adam.

00:25:50.539 --> 00:25:51.940
 When God created man,

00:25:52.019 --> 00:25:52.440
 he made him

00:25:52.440 --> 00:25:53.440
 in the likeness of God.

00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:54.539
 Male and female

00:25:54.539 --> 00:25:55.420
 he created them,

00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:56.180
 and he blessed them

00:25:56.180 --> 00:25:57.200
 and named them man

00:25:57.200 --> 00:25:58.079
 when they were created.

00:25:58.599 --> 00:25:59.500
 When Adam had lived

00:25:59.500 --> 00:26:00.480
 130 years,

00:26:00.579 --> 00:26:01.359
 he fathered a son

00:26:01.359 --> 00:26:02.440
 in his own likeness

00:26:02.440 --> 00:26:03.599
 after his image

00:26:03.599 --> 00:26:05.019
 and named him Seth.

00:26:05.339 --> 00:26:06.400
 And the days of Adam

00:26:06.400 --> 00:26:07.759
 after he fathered Seth

00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:08.819
 were 800 years,

00:26:09.140 --> 00:26:10.319
 and he had other sons

00:26:10.319 --> 00:26:10.759
 and daughters.

00:26:11.019 --> 00:26:11.819
 Thus all the days

00:26:11.819 --> 00:26:12.500
 that Adam lived

00:26:12.500 --> 00:26:13.940
 were 930 years,

00:26:14.079 --> 00:26:14.980
 and he died.

00:26:14.980 --> 00:26:16.920
 So notice how

00:26:16.920 --> 00:26:17.759
 this passage

00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:18.880
 explicitly connects

00:26:18.880 --> 00:26:20.039
 God's creation

00:26:20.039 --> 00:26:20.920
 of man and woman

00:26:20.920 --> 00:26:21.759
 in his image

00:26:21.759 --> 00:26:22.460
 and likeness

00:26:22.460 --> 00:26:23.720
 with Adam and Eve's

00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:24.559
 procreation

00:26:24.559 --> 00:26:25.880
 of human beings

00:26:25.880 --> 00:26:26.900
 in their own image

00:26:26.900 --> 00:26:27.240
 and likeness.

00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:28.559
 So they're modeling God,

00:26:28.680 --> 00:26:29.319
 following him

00:26:29.319 --> 00:26:30.599
 as they bear children.

00:26:31.360 --> 00:26:32.700
 Now before I talk further

00:26:32.700 --> 00:26:33.599
 about God's grace

00:26:33.599 --> 00:26:34.200
 towards Seth,

00:26:34.259 --> 00:26:34.980
 I'm just going to address

00:26:34.980 --> 00:26:36.339
 a couple questions

00:26:36.339 --> 00:26:37.680
 that people always ask

00:26:37.680 --> 00:26:38.660
 when we come to this text,

00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:39.519
 and they're good questions.

00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:40.900
 And first is,

00:26:41.039 --> 00:26:42.160
 how did these people

00:26:42.160 --> 00:26:42.839
 have children

00:26:42.839 --> 00:26:43.819
 in the first place?

00:26:43.819 --> 00:26:44.220
 Right?

00:26:44.980 --> 00:26:46.940
 Whom did they marry

00:26:46.940 --> 00:26:47.819
 to have children with?

00:26:48.120 --> 00:26:48.700
 So we'll notice

00:26:48.700 --> 00:26:49.660
 it says in verse 4,

00:26:50.500 --> 00:26:52.059
 Adam had other sons

00:26:52.059 --> 00:26:52.819
 and daughters.

00:26:53.120 --> 00:26:53.240
 Right?

00:26:53.680 --> 00:26:55.079
 So at this juncture

00:26:55.079 --> 00:26:56.120
 of human history,

00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:57.079
 there isn't anyone else

00:26:57.079 --> 00:26:57.700
 to marry except

00:26:57.700 --> 00:26:58.860
 for your siblings,

00:26:59.360 --> 00:26:59.920
 your relatives.

00:27:00.460 --> 00:27:01.599
 So Adam and Eve's children

00:27:01.599 --> 00:27:02.519
 would have had to marry

00:27:02.519 --> 00:27:03.039
 their siblings,

00:27:03.259 --> 00:27:04.099
 and then the generation

00:27:04.099 --> 00:27:04.920
 after them would have

00:27:04.920 --> 00:27:06.039
 had to marry their cousins,

00:27:06.400 --> 00:27:07.039
 and so on.

00:27:07.059 --> 00:27:07.700
 So you see this

00:27:07.700 --> 00:27:08.799
 in the example of Abraham

00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:10.099
 who was married

00:27:10.099 --> 00:27:11.360
 to his half-sister Sarah.

00:27:11.360 --> 00:27:11.720
 Right?

00:27:12.360 --> 00:27:13.420
 So now that sounds

00:27:13.420 --> 00:27:14.259
 really bad, right?

00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:15.440
 But just listen to me

00:27:15.440 --> 00:27:16.400
 for a little more.

00:27:16.980 --> 00:27:17.379
 Spiritually,

00:27:17.460 --> 00:27:18.379
 this wasn't a problem

00:27:18.379 --> 00:27:18.980
 at that point

00:27:18.980 --> 00:27:20.859
 because God did not

00:27:20.859 --> 00:27:22.319
 forbid inbreeding

00:27:22.319 --> 00:27:23.379
 until he gave the law

00:27:23.379 --> 00:27:23.879
 of Moses

00:27:23.879 --> 00:27:25.279
 in Leviticus 18.

00:27:25.519 --> 00:27:26.379
 So this is not forbidden

00:27:26.379 --> 00:27:27.279
 by God at this point.

00:27:28.619 --> 00:27:29.059
 Biologically,

00:27:29.240 --> 00:27:30.160
 this probably wasn't

00:27:30.160 --> 00:27:31.099
 a problem at this point

00:27:31.099 --> 00:27:32.299
 because the genetic code

00:27:32.299 --> 00:27:32.700
 would have been

00:27:32.700 --> 00:27:33.539
 relatively free

00:27:33.539 --> 00:27:34.220
 of defects

00:27:34.220 --> 00:27:35.400
 which would have

00:27:35.400 --> 00:27:36.099
 minimized

00:27:36.099 --> 00:27:37.059
 the risks

00:27:37.059 --> 00:27:37.980
 of inbreeding

00:27:37.980 --> 00:27:39.200
 that right now

00:27:39.200 --> 00:27:40.039
 is so prevalent

00:27:40.039 --> 00:27:40.660
 and prominent.

00:27:40.660 --> 00:27:42.860
 And sociologically,

00:27:43.040 --> 00:27:43.860
 this wasn't a problem

00:27:43.860 --> 00:27:44.820
 then as it is now

00:27:44.820 --> 00:27:45.680
 today because

00:27:45.680 --> 00:27:47.019
 these were marital

00:27:47.019 --> 00:27:47.560
 relationships

00:27:47.560 --> 00:27:49.120
 between consenting adults

00:27:49.120 --> 00:27:50.240
 as opposed to

00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:51.300
 non-consensual,

00:27:51.500 --> 00:27:52.380
 extramarital,

00:27:52.840 --> 00:27:53.600
 and pubescent

00:27:53.600 --> 00:27:54.860
 or prepubescent

00:27:54.860 --> 00:27:55.840
 relationships

00:27:55.840 --> 00:27:56.759
 that incest

00:27:56.759 --> 00:27:57.920
 usually is today.

00:27:58.340 --> 00:27:59.340
 So all this stigma

00:27:59.340 --> 00:27:59.860
 that's at sensitive

00:27:59.860 --> 00:28:00.140
 stage,

00:28:00.220 --> 00:28:00.900
 just all of those things,

00:28:00.920 --> 00:28:01.259
 it would have been

00:28:01.259 --> 00:28:01.900
 totally different.

00:28:02.040 --> 00:28:02.980
 It's not what we would

00:28:02.980 --> 00:28:04.300
 think of in today's day.

00:28:04.940 --> 00:28:05.800
 So at this time,

00:28:05.940 --> 00:28:06.340
 even though

00:28:06.340 --> 00:28:08.060
 God forbids incest

00:28:08.059 --> 00:28:08.799
 later and today,

00:28:08.879 --> 00:28:09.539
 it is totally

00:28:09.539 --> 00:28:10.240
 unacceptable

00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:11.319
 and reprehensible

00:28:11.319 --> 00:28:11.899
 to God,

00:28:12.960 --> 00:28:13.740
 it was permitted

00:28:13.740 --> 00:28:14.539
 in the early days

00:28:14.539 --> 00:28:15.039
 of humanity.

00:28:15.799 --> 00:28:16.579
 And the second question

00:28:16.579 --> 00:28:18.039
 is how did they

00:28:18.039 --> 00:28:20.460
 live for so long?

00:28:21.579 --> 00:28:21.659
 Right?

00:28:22.899 --> 00:28:23.960
 These men are called

00:28:23.960 --> 00:28:26.599
 antediluvian patriarchs,

00:28:26.639 --> 00:28:27.980
 meaning before the flood

00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:29.460
 patriarchs,

00:28:29.579 --> 00:28:31.019
 because the fact

00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:32.399
 that they lived

00:28:32.399 --> 00:28:33.059
 before the flood

00:28:33.059 --> 00:28:33.940
 seems to be the reason

00:28:33.940 --> 00:28:34.519
 that the narrative

00:28:34.519 --> 00:28:35.339
 provides for their

00:28:35.339 --> 00:28:35.799
 longevity.

00:28:36.599 --> 00:28:37.220
 So if you look at

00:28:37.220 --> 00:28:38.039
 Genesis 6-3,

00:28:38.059 --> 00:28:38.519
 God says,

00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:39.899
 my spirit shall not

00:28:39.899 --> 00:28:41.079
 abide in man forever,

00:28:41.200 --> 00:28:42.119
 for he is flesh,

00:28:42.460 --> 00:28:43.460
 his days shall be

00:28:43.460 --> 00:28:44.519
 120 years.

00:28:44.619 --> 00:28:45.179
 So that's his

00:28:45.179 --> 00:28:45.879
 pronouncement at the

00:28:45.879 --> 00:28:46.500
 time of his judgment

00:28:46.500 --> 00:28:47.099
 with the flood.

00:28:47.480 --> 00:28:48.519
 And it does seem

00:28:48.519 --> 00:28:49.379
 like after the flood,

00:28:49.500 --> 00:28:50.639
 the age of the

00:28:50.639 --> 00:28:51.639
 patriarchs declined

00:28:51.639 --> 00:28:52.639
 precipitously until

00:28:52.639 --> 00:28:53.720
 it plateaus around

00:28:53.720 --> 00:28:54.259
 120.

00:28:56.059 --> 00:28:56.299
 Now,

00:28:56.460 --> 00:28:56.779
 nevertheless,

00:28:57.899 --> 00:28:58.779
 and it's significant,

00:28:58.899 --> 00:28:59.099
 I think,

00:28:59.220 --> 00:29:00.519
 it's that they never

00:29:00.519 --> 00:29:02.619
 reach a thousand years.

00:29:03.159 --> 00:29:04.319
 They get tantalizingly

00:29:04.319 --> 00:29:04.759
 close,

00:29:04.759 --> 00:29:05.819
 but they never quite

00:29:05.819 --> 00:29:06.819
 reach a thousand years.

00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:07.399
 And I think

00:29:07.400 --> 00:29:08.060
 narrator is trying

00:29:08.060 --> 00:29:08.720
 to make the point

00:29:08.720 --> 00:29:09.640
 that though they

00:29:09.640 --> 00:29:10.759
 live a very long

00:29:10.759 --> 00:29:11.280
 time,

00:29:11.720 --> 00:29:12.380
 they are all,

00:29:12.540 --> 00:29:12.740
 you know,

00:29:12.840 --> 00:29:13.560
 they are not able

00:29:13.560 --> 00:29:14.420
 to live to fullness.

00:29:15.220 --> 00:29:15.820
 They're not able

00:29:15.820 --> 00:29:16.600
 to enter eternal life

00:29:16.600 --> 00:29:17.140
 because of the

00:29:17.140 --> 00:29:17.920
 consequence of Adam

00:29:17.920 --> 00:29:18.500
 and Eve's sin.

00:29:18.800 --> 00:29:19.780
 They all die.

00:29:20.940 --> 00:29:21.680
 And it seems like

00:29:21.680 --> 00:29:22.440
 at least some of

00:29:22.440 --> 00:29:23.340
 their ages do seem

00:29:23.340 --> 00:29:24.400
 to have symbolic

00:29:24.400 --> 00:29:25.100
 significance.

00:29:25.480 --> 00:29:26.000
 For example,

00:29:26.180 --> 00:29:27.400
 Enoch is taken up

00:29:27.400 --> 00:29:27.980
 to heaven at the

00:29:27.980 --> 00:29:29.120
 age of 365.

00:29:29.980 --> 00:29:30.160
 I mean,

00:29:30.200 --> 00:29:31.440
 the symbolism of that

00:29:31.440 --> 00:29:32.380
 is lost on no one,

00:29:32.380 --> 00:29:32.600
 right?

00:29:33.100 --> 00:29:34.120
 The Lamech dies

00:29:34.120 --> 00:29:34.660
 at the age

00:29:34.660 --> 00:29:36.160
 of 777,

00:29:36.960 --> 00:29:37.160
 right?

00:29:38.040 --> 00:29:39.000
 And then French

00:29:39.000 --> 00:29:40.420
 biblical scholar

00:29:40.420 --> 00:29:41.680
 M. Barnounen,

00:29:41.740 --> 00:29:42.100
 I think,

00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:44.140
 I think is the one

00:29:44.140 --> 00:29:44.500
 that came up

00:29:44.500 --> 00:29:44.980
 with the best

00:29:44.980 --> 00:29:46.040
 kind of explanation

00:29:46.040 --> 00:29:46.580
 for this

00:29:46.580 --> 00:29:48.140
 in terms of

00:29:48.140 --> 00:29:48.500
 the symbolic

00:29:48.500 --> 00:29:49.300
 significance of it.

00:29:49.340 --> 00:29:50.020
 He takes the cue

00:29:50.020 --> 00:29:50.880
 from Enoch's age

00:29:50.880 --> 00:29:51.680
 of 365,

00:29:52.120 --> 00:29:52.780
 which is,

00:29:53.660 --> 00:29:54.920
 and then he tries

00:29:54.920 --> 00:29:55.860
 to use the

00:29:55.860 --> 00:29:56.840
 astronomical periods

00:29:56.840 --> 00:29:57.580
 that were used

00:29:57.580 --> 00:29:58.080
 at the time

00:29:58.080 --> 00:29:58.940
 in the ancient Near East

00:29:58.940 --> 00:29:59.640
 and were known

00:29:59.640 --> 00:30:00.539
 to the Babylonians.

00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:02.200
 And as he did that,

00:30:02.240 --> 00:30:02.680
 he discovered

00:30:02.680 --> 00:30:03.740
 some striking parallels.

00:30:03.920 --> 00:30:04.519
 So, for example,

00:30:05.180 --> 00:30:07.039
 Lamech's 777 years

00:30:07.039 --> 00:30:08.420
 is equal to the sum

00:30:08.420 --> 00:30:09.720
 of the Sinotic periods

00:30:09.720 --> 00:30:11.019
 of Jupiter and Saturn.

00:30:11.420 --> 00:30:12.039
 Sinotic period

00:30:12.039 --> 00:30:12.539
 is how long

00:30:12.539 --> 00:30:13.220
 a planet takes

00:30:13.220 --> 00:30:13.920
 to come back

00:30:13.920 --> 00:30:14.539
 to the same place

00:30:14.539 --> 00:30:14.980
 in the sky

00:30:14.980 --> 00:30:15.759
 from our perspective.

00:30:17.059 --> 00:30:18.420
 And also significant

00:30:18.420 --> 00:30:21.059
 is Jared's 962 years

00:30:21.059 --> 00:30:21.680
 equal to the sum

00:30:21.680 --> 00:30:22.539
 of the Sinotic periods

00:30:22.539 --> 00:30:23.660
 of Venus and Saturn.

00:30:25.340 --> 00:30:27.500
 And the Babylonian

00:30:27.500 --> 00:30:28.620
 Sumerians also used

00:30:28.619 --> 00:30:29.819
 the sexagesimal

00:30:29.819 --> 00:30:30.599
 numerical system,

00:30:30.739 --> 00:30:31.419
 meaning that

00:30:31.419 --> 00:30:32.399
 the base number

00:30:32.399 --> 00:30:32.859
 that they used

00:30:32.859 --> 00:30:33.659
 for the numerical system

00:30:33.659 --> 00:30:34.259
 was 60.

00:30:34.939 --> 00:30:35.659
 And there's some

00:30:35.659 --> 00:30:36.699
 numbers,

00:30:36.919 --> 00:30:37.819
 connections to 60

00:30:37.819 --> 00:30:38.439
 here as well.

00:30:38.599 --> 00:30:38.939
 So, like,

00:30:38.979 --> 00:30:39.899
 if you add up

00:30:39.899 --> 00:30:40.679
 all the age

00:30:40.679 --> 00:30:41.879
 at which these patriarchs

00:30:41.879 --> 00:30:42.839
 have their first children

00:30:42.839 --> 00:30:44.299
 and you divide it by 60

00:30:44.299 --> 00:30:45.359
 and then you add up

00:30:45.359 --> 00:30:45.859
 all the age

00:30:45.859 --> 00:30:46.719
 in which these patriarchs

00:30:46.719 --> 00:30:47.979
 die and then you

00:30:47.979 --> 00:30:49.459
 divide it by 60,

00:30:49.899 --> 00:30:50.899
 the sum of the remainders

00:30:50.899 --> 00:30:52.299
 is 365,

00:30:53.259 --> 00:30:54.519
 like the age of Enoch.

00:30:55.439 --> 00:30:55.679
 Now,

00:30:56.719 --> 00:30:56.939
 so,

00:30:57.259 --> 00:30:58.599
 if this is the case,

00:30:58.619 --> 00:30:59.299
 and this is what

00:30:59.299 --> 00:31:00.719
 the narrator's intention is,

00:31:00.959 --> 00:31:01.699
 then the cycle

00:31:01.699 --> 00:31:02.659
 of these men's ears

00:31:02.659 --> 00:31:03.579
 match the cycles

00:31:03.579 --> 00:31:04.659
 of the heavenly spheres

00:31:04.659 --> 00:31:05.339
 to indicate

00:31:05.339 --> 00:31:07.719
 that, you know,

00:31:07.799 --> 00:31:08.819
 the gods are in control

00:31:08.819 --> 00:31:09.099
 of it

00:31:09.099 --> 00:31:09.959
 and that they are living,

00:31:10.079 --> 00:31:10.319
 you know,

00:31:10.379 --> 00:31:11.539
 a life that's far more

00:31:11.539 --> 00:31:12.739
 blessed than the life

00:31:12.739 --> 00:31:13.339
 that people live

00:31:13.339 --> 00:31:14.000
 after the flood.

00:31:15.119 --> 00:31:15.559
 Now,

00:31:15.619 --> 00:31:16.139
 with that said,

00:31:16.199 --> 00:31:16.679
 I don't think

00:31:16.679 --> 00:31:17.959
 the symbolic significance

00:31:17.959 --> 00:31:18.539
 of the numbers

00:31:18.539 --> 00:31:19.819
 necessarily imply

00:31:19.819 --> 00:31:20.799
 that these are

00:31:20.799 --> 00:31:21.659
 made-up figures,

00:31:22.179 --> 00:31:22.439
 right,

00:31:22.859 --> 00:31:23.779
 because these were

00:31:23.779 --> 00:31:25.159
 real historical figures

00:31:25.160 --> 00:31:26.380
 and that's why

00:31:26.380 --> 00:31:27.140
 they have names

00:31:27.140 --> 00:31:28.040
 and that's why

00:31:28.040 --> 00:31:28.800
 there's a record

00:31:28.800 --> 00:31:29.440
 of their children

00:31:29.440 --> 00:31:30.259
 and that's why

00:31:30.259 --> 00:31:31.680
 specific numbers

00:31:31.680 --> 00:31:33.040
 of age are assigned

00:31:33.040 --> 00:31:33.500
 to them

00:31:33.500 --> 00:31:34.340
 because we're supposed

00:31:34.340 --> 00:31:35.060
 to understand them

00:31:35.060 --> 00:31:36.420
 to have been real people.

00:31:36.840 --> 00:31:37.000
 Yes,

00:31:37.180 --> 00:31:38.200
 distant from the time

00:31:38.200 --> 00:31:38.960
 of Moses' writing,

00:31:39.220 --> 00:31:40.180
 but still real people

00:31:40.180 --> 00:31:40.620
 who live.

00:31:41.759 --> 00:31:42.140
 Now,

00:31:42.220 --> 00:31:42.980
 getting back to

00:31:42.980 --> 00:31:44.680
 the Setai genealogy,

00:31:44.940 --> 00:31:45.200
 great,

00:31:45.200 --> 00:31:46.480
 all of this,

00:31:46.559 --> 00:31:47.360
 it shows that

00:31:47.360 --> 00:31:48.240
 you get a distinct

00:31:48.240 --> 00:31:48.860
 impression that

00:31:48.860 --> 00:31:49.819
 this is a special line,

00:31:49.880 --> 00:31:50.920
 it's blessed by God

00:31:50.920 --> 00:31:52.080
 and several clues

00:31:52.080 --> 00:31:52.500
 for that.

00:31:52.740 --> 00:31:52.840
 So,

00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:53.580
 first,

00:31:53.840 --> 00:31:54.740
 it's typical

00:31:54.740 --> 00:31:55.779
 of biblical genealogy

00:31:55.779 --> 00:31:56.200
 to highlight

00:31:56.200 --> 00:31:57.779
 the seventh person

00:31:57.779 --> 00:31:58.600
 in the genealogy

00:31:58.600 --> 00:31:59.240
 because seven

00:31:59.240 --> 00:31:59.900
 is the number

00:31:59.900 --> 00:32:00.400
 of completion

00:32:00.400 --> 00:32:02.759
 and the seventh number

00:32:02.759 --> 00:32:04.580
 in Cain's genealogy

00:32:04.580 --> 00:32:05.360
 was Lamech

00:32:05.360 --> 00:32:06.279
 but here,

00:32:06.539 --> 00:32:08.000
 it is Enoch,

00:32:08.160 --> 00:32:08.860
 seventh from Adam

00:32:08.860 --> 00:32:11.480
 and verses 22,

00:32:11.620 --> 00:32:11.980
 24,

00:32:12.100 --> 00:32:12.240
 it says,

00:32:12.360 --> 00:32:13.559
 Enoch walked with God

00:32:13.559 --> 00:32:14.519
 after he fathered

00:32:14.519 --> 00:32:15.140
 Methuselah

00:32:15.140 --> 00:32:16.300
 300 years

00:32:16.300 --> 00:32:17.200
 and had other sons

00:32:17.200 --> 00:32:17.680
 and daughters.

00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:18.120
 Thus,

00:32:18.180 --> 00:32:19.020
 all the days of Enoch

00:32:19.020 --> 00:32:20.380
 were 365 years.

00:32:20.759 --> 00:32:22.240
 Enoch walked with God

00:32:22.240 --> 00:32:23.140
 and he was not

00:32:23.140 --> 00:32:24.200
 for God took him.

00:32:24.920 --> 00:32:25.140
 So,

00:32:25.360 --> 00:32:25.840
 twice,

00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:27.120
 Enoch is described

00:32:27.120 --> 00:32:28.500
 as having walked with God.

00:32:28.920 --> 00:32:29.020
 Right?

00:32:29.060 --> 00:32:29.700
 That's the language

00:32:29.700 --> 00:32:30.120
 that is used

00:32:30.120 --> 00:32:31.600
 to describe all the godly men

00:32:31.600 --> 00:32:32.500
 throughout the Old Testament.

00:32:32.620 --> 00:32:33.900
 They walked with God

00:32:33.900 --> 00:32:35.560
 and it says

00:32:35.560 --> 00:32:36.820
 that he was taken,

00:32:37.280 --> 00:32:38.340
 God took him.

00:32:38.840 --> 00:32:39.560
 That's the language

00:32:39.560 --> 00:32:40.000
 that is used

00:32:40.000 --> 00:32:41.040
 to describe Elijah

00:32:41.040 --> 00:32:42.100
 whom God takes

00:32:42.100 --> 00:32:43.520
 in a fiery chariot,

00:32:43.640 --> 00:32:43.759
 right?

00:32:43.759 --> 00:32:43.860
 So,

00:32:43.880 --> 00:32:44.580
 he doesn't die.

00:32:44.579 --> 00:32:44.779
 So,

00:32:44.839 --> 00:32:45.639
 it seems to suggest

00:32:45.639 --> 00:32:46.879
 that Enoch

00:32:46.879 --> 00:32:47.539
 didn't have

00:32:47.539 --> 00:32:48.279
 a normal death.

00:32:48.379 --> 00:32:48.960
 He was somehow

00:32:48.960 --> 00:32:50.639
 taken up by God.

00:32:51.480 --> 00:32:52.220
 But Moses

00:32:52.220 --> 00:32:53.319
 isn't really interested

00:32:53.319 --> 00:32:54.240
 in how that happened

00:32:54.240 --> 00:32:54.980
 as much as the fact

00:32:54.980 --> 00:32:55.939
 that it did happen.

00:32:56.679 --> 00:32:57.460
 And secondly,

00:32:57.659 --> 00:32:58.539
 there's more detail

00:32:58.539 --> 00:32:59.799
 given about Lamech as well.

00:32:59.879 --> 00:33:00.759
 And Enoch and Lamech,

00:33:00.819 --> 00:33:01.839
 they're given more detail here

00:33:01.839 --> 00:33:03.500
 because there's Enoch and Lamech

00:33:03.500 --> 00:33:05.199
 in the Canaanite line as well.

00:33:05.279 --> 00:33:05.399
 So,

00:33:05.500 --> 00:33:06.799
 it's intended to distinguish

00:33:06.799 --> 00:33:08.519
 the characters.

00:33:09.519 --> 00:33:10.500
 And Lamech here,

00:33:10.579 --> 00:33:10.859
 it says,

00:33:10.859 --> 00:33:11.379
 he says,

00:33:11.539 --> 00:33:12.339
 out of the ground

00:33:12.339 --> 00:33:13.240
 that the Lord has cursed

00:33:13.240 --> 00:33:14.579
 after he fathers Noah,

00:33:14.659 --> 00:33:14.979
 he says,

00:33:15.159 --> 00:33:16.179
 this one shall bring us

00:33:16.179 --> 00:33:17.319
 relief from our work

00:33:17.319 --> 00:33:18.459
 and from the painful toil

00:33:18.459 --> 00:33:19.639
 of our hands.

00:33:20.399 --> 00:33:20.799
 And he says,

00:33:20.859 --> 00:33:21.319
 he lives

00:33:21.319 --> 00:33:24.519
 777 years,

00:33:24.679 --> 00:33:25.099
 which is,

00:33:25.319 --> 00:33:25.559
 you know,

00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:26.979
 remember Lamech,

00:33:27.099 --> 00:33:27.759
 the other Lamech,

00:33:27.819 --> 00:33:28.459
 the bad Lamech,

00:33:28.559 --> 00:33:29.479
 boasted about how

00:33:29.479 --> 00:33:31.059
 his revenge

00:33:31.059 --> 00:33:32.219
 is 77-fold.

00:33:32.559 --> 00:33:33.399
 But Lamech here,

00:33:33.500 --> 00:33:33.879
 he lives,

00:33:33.880 --> 00:33:34.860
 not the Lamech,

00:33:36.140 --> 00:33:36.360
 this,

00:33:37.140 --> 00:33:39.480
 Noah's father,

00:33:39.620 --> 00:33:40.240
 Lamech here,

00:33:40.320 --> 00:33:41.880
 lives for 777.

00:33:43.360 --> 00:33:45.180
 And you may have also noticed

00:33:45.180 --> 00:33:46.180
 if you're reading

00:33:46.180 --> 00:33:47.200
 the genealogy carefully

00:33:47.200 --> 00:33:49.480
 that in addition to

00:33:49.480 --> 00:33:50.560
 Enoch and Lamech

00:33:50.560 --> 00:33:51.640
 who have the exact same names

00:33:51.640 --> 00:33:52.780
 in the two genealogies,

00:33:52.900 --> 00:33:54.540
 there is a lot of similar names

00:33:54.540 --> 00:33:55.800
 if you look,

00:33:55.860 --> 00:33:56.720
 if you compare the two.

00:33:57.680 --> 00:33:58.140
 In fact,

00:33:58.180 --> 00:33:59.260
 the last seven names

00:33:59.260 --> 00:34:00.280
 look almost identical

00:34:00.280 --> 00:34:01.260
 in the genealogy.

00:34:01.259 --> 00:34:03.859
 So if you switch

00:34:03.859 --> 00:34:05.799
 Enoch in Setai line

00:34:05.799 --> 00:34:07.740
 with Mahalalel's place,

00:34:08.119 --> 00:34:09.179
 then even the order

00:34:09.179 --> 00:34:10.159
 is exactly the same

00:34:10.159 --> 00:34:11.199
 where these names occur.

00:34:11.320 --> 00:34:12.780
 So Cain is parallel

00:34:12.780 --> 00:34:13.639
 to Canaan,

00:34:14.739 --> 00:34:15.639
 Enoch to Enoch,

00:34:16.119 --> 00:34:17.139
 Eret to Jerad,

00:34:17.739 --> 00:34:19.139
 Mehujael to Mahalalel,

00:34:19.400 --> 00:34:21.019
 Methusael to Methuselah,

00:34:21.300 --> 00:34:22.320
 and then Lamech to Lamech.

00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:22.539
 Right?

00:34:22.619 --> 00:34:22.780
 I mean,

00:34:22.820 --> 00:34:23.679
 this is intentional.

00:34:23.880 --> 00:34:25.619
 So perhaps they had a practice

00:34:25.619 --> 00:34:26.480
 of naming children

00:34:26.480 --> 00:34:27.219
 after relatives,

00:34:27.400 --> 00:34:27.920
 I mean,

00:34:27.960 --> 00:34:28.679
 like we do today,

00:34:28.800 --> 00:34:30.380
 or giving similar names

00:34:30.380 --> 00:34:30.960
 to cousins.

00:34:31.260 --> 00:34:31.480
 Right?

00:34:31.620 --> 00:34:32.780
 So that's possible.

00:34:33.480 --> 00:34:34.240
 But I think

00:34:34.240 --> 00:34:36.160
 that the similar names

00:34:36.160 --> 00:34:36.580
 are given,

00:34:36.780 --> 00:34:37.780
 provided intentionally

00:34:37.780 --> 00:34:39.080
 also to draw a contrast

00:34:39.080 --> 00:34:40.000
 between the two lines.

00:34:40.400 --> 00:34:41.220
 The fact that this is

00:34:41.220 --> 00:34:41.840
 the cursed line,

00:34:41.940 --> 00:34:43.120
 but this is the blessed line

00:34:43.120 --> 00:34:43.740
 that God's bringing.

00:34:43.740 --> 00:34:45.080
 And that contrast

00:34:45.080 --> 00:34:46.080
 is made more obvious

00:34:46.080 --> 00:34:46.920
 by the fact that

00:34:46.920 --> 00:34:48.400
 in the Setai line,

00:34:48.500 --> 00:34:48.960
 they give,

00:34:49.260 --> 00:34:50.580
 they provide their longevity.

00:34:50.920 --> 00:34:51.040
 Right?

00:34:51.140 --> 00:34:52.520
 This is how long they live.

00:34:52.580 --> 00:34:53.600
 Look how long they live.

00:34:53.840 --> 00:34:54.900
 But with the Canaanite line,

00:34:55.180 --> 00:34:56.040
 age is not given.

00:34:56.719 --> 00:34:57.420
 And then secondly,

00:34:57.719 --> 00:34:59.900
 with each of the announcement

00:34:59.900 --> 00:35:00.699
 of firstborn,

00:35:00.820 --> 00:35:01.699
 in the Setai line,

00:35:01.739 --> 00:35:02.079
 it says,

00:35:02.400 --> 00:35:03.719
 and he had other sons

00:35:03.719 --> 00:35:04.259
 and daughters,

00:35:04.639 --> 00:35:06.000
 but in the Canaanite line,

00:35:06.139 --> 00:35:07.539
 no such words exist.

00:35:07.699 --> 00:35:09.659
 So they don't seem to have,

00:35:09.719 --> 00:35:10.539
 they didn't seem to have

00:35:10.539 --> 00:35:11.860
 had other sons and daughters.

00:35:12.119 --> 00:35:12.900
 So it shows that

00:35:12.900 --> 00:35:13.440
 the Setai line

00:35:13.440 --> 00:35:14.179
 is more fruitful,

00:35:14.320 --> 00:35:15.460
 he's more blessed by God,

00:35:15.679 --> 00:35:17.800
 and they live longer as well.

00:35:18.920 --> 00:35:19.599
 And in fact,

00:35:19.639 --> 00:35:20.599
 the only daughter mentioned

00:35:20.599 --> 00:35:21.679
 in the entire Canaanite,

00:35:21.759 --> 00:35:22.460
 there's only one,

00:35:22.679 --> 00:35:23.639
 Nehemiah, right?

00:35:23.639 --> 00:35:25.199
 So in the entire Canaanite line.

00:35:26.859 --> 00:35:27.099
 And so,

00:35:27.539 --> 00:35:28.139
 so all of,

00:35:28.319 --> 00:35:28.559
 but,

00:35:28.839 --> 00:35:31.940
 all of this,

00:35:32.000 --> 00:35:33.719
 it shows God's special grace

00:35:33.719 --> 00:35:34.420
 towards Setai.

00:35:34.460 --> 00:35:35.319
 Now this is what we call

00:35:35.319 --> 00:35:36.079
 saving grace,

00:35:36.199 --> 00:35:36.920
 electing grace,

00:35:37.279 --> 00:35:38.000
 special grace.

00:35:38.779 --> 00:35:39.659
 Now we're going to turn

00:35:39.659 --> 00:35:41.019
 to God's grace toward us

00:35:41.019 --> 00:35:41.960
 and look at chapter six.

00:35:42.379 --> 00:35:43.799
 Because even with God's

00:35:43.799 --> 00:35:44.819
 special grace toward

00:35:44.819 --> 00:35:45.679
 the Setai line,

00:35:47.319 --> 00:35:48.359
 if we had hoped

00:35:48.359 --> 00:35:49.039
 that they would become

00:35:49.039 --> 00:35:50.539
 an obedient race of men

00:35:50.539 --> 00:35:51.460
 and become,

00:35:51.679 --> 00:35:52.500
 you know,

00:35:52.500 --> 00:35:54.199
 fulfill God's design

00:35:54.199 --> 00:35:54.719
 for creation,

00:35:55.079 --> 00:35:55.719
 then our hopes

00:35:55.719 --> 00:35:57.019
 are very quickly dashed

00:35:57.019 --> 00:35:57.860
 in chapter six.

00:36:00.179 --> 00:36:01.739
 It says in verses one to four,

00:36:01.880 --> 00:36:02.800
 when a man began

00:36:02.800 --> 00:36:04.059
 to multiply on the face

00:36:04.059 --> 00:36:04.559
 of the land

00:36:04.559 --> 00:36:05.380
 and daughters weren't

00:36:05.380 --> 00:36:06.039
 born to them,

00:36:06.320 --> 00:36:07.260
 the sons of God

00:36:07.260 --> 00:36:08.320
 saw that the daughters

00:36:08.320 --> 00:36:09.480
 of men were attractive

00:36:09.480 --> 00:36:10.599
 and they took

00:36:10.599 --> 00:36:11.480
 as their wives

00:36:11.480 --> 00:36:12.280
 any they chose.

00:36:12.619 --> 00:36:13.480
 Then the Lord said,

00:36:13.559 --> 00:36:14.500
 my spirit shall not

00:36:14.500 --> 00:36:15.739
 abide in man forever,

00:36:15.739 --> 00:36:16.659
 for he is flesh,

00:36:16.780 --> 00:36:18.039
 his days shall be

00:36:18.039 --> 00:36:18.739
 120 years.

00:36:19.920 --> 00:36:20.559
 The Nephilim

00:36:20.559 --> 00:36:21.420
 were on the earth

00:36:21.420 --> 00:36:22.019
 in those days

00:36:22.019 --> 00:36:22.880
 and also afterward

00:36:22.880 --> 00:36:23.920
 when the sons of God

00:36:23.920 --> 00:36:25.000
 came in to the daughters

00:36:25.000 --> 00:36:25.460
 of men

00:36:25.460 --> 00:36:26.720
 and they bore children

00:36:26.720 --> 00:36:27.180
 to them.

00:36:27.559 --> 00:36:28.900
 They were the mighty men

00:36:28.900 --> 00:36:29.559
 who were of old,

00:36:29.639 --> 00:36:30.639
 the men of renown.

00:36:31.880 --> 00:36:32.200
 Now,

00:36:32.340 --> 00:36:33.380
 there are several theories

00:36:33.380 --> 00:36:34.180
 regarding the identity

00:36:34.180 --> 00:36:35.119
 of the sons of God

00:36:35.119 --> 00:36:36.139
 and if you want to know

00:36:36.139 --> 00:36:36.619
 all of them,

00:36:36.680 --> 00:36:37.460
 I'd be happy to tell you

00:36:37.460 --> 00:36:38.500
 about it at the Q&A

00:36:38.500 --> 00:36:39.800
 because just for the sake

00:36:39.800 --> 00:36:40.159
 of time.

00:36:40.920 --> 00:36:43.000
 But the simplest

00:36:43.000 --> 00:36:44.880
 and I think by far

00:36:44.880 --> 00:36:45.760
 the best explanation

00:36:45.760 --> 00:36:47.420
 is that these sons of God

00:36:47.420 --> 00:36:48.360
 are angelic beings

00:36:48.360 --> 00:36:49.880
 who,

00:36:50.099 --> 00:36:50.640
 like the serpent

00:36:50.640 --> 00:36:51.620
 in Genesis 3,

00:36:51.780 --> 00:36:53.079
 are now transgressing

00:36:53.079 --> 00:36:54.019
 God-ordained

00:36:54.019 --> 00:36:54.900
 creational order

00:36:54.900 --> 00:36:55.660
 by marrying

00:36:55.660 --> 00:36:56.860
 daughters of man,

00:36:57.180 --> 00:36:57.579
 humanity.

00:36:58.519 --> 00:36:59.980
 And this view alone

00:36:59.980 --> 00:37:00.920
 makes good sense

00:37:00.920 --> 00:37:01.360
 of the fact

00:37:01.360 --> 00:37:02.640
 that the sons of God

00:37:02.640 --> 00:37:03.519
 are contrasted

00:37:03.519 --> 00:37:04.460
 with daughters of man

00:37:04.460 --> 00:37:06.300
 and why God

00:37:06.300 --> 00:37:07.539
 so abhors this union.

00:37:08.280 --> 00:37:10.120
 So early Jewish exegesis,

00:37:10.420 --> 00:37:11.960
 the Roman Jewish historian

00:37:11.960 --> 00:37:12.720
 Josephus,

00:37:13.000 --> 00:37:14.240
 the Dead Sea Scrolls,

00:37:14.240 --> 00:37:15.599
 as well as New Testament texts

00:37:15.599 --> 00:37:17.019
 like 2 Peter 2.4

00:37:17.019 --> 00:37:18.299
 and Jude 6-7

00:37:18.299 --> 00:37:20.279
 and earliest Christian writers,

00:37:20.420 --> 00:37:21.059
 Justin Martyr,

00:37:21.179 --> 00:37:21.699
 Irenaeus,

00:37:21.799 --> 00:37:22.599
 Clement of Alexandria,

00:37:22.779 --> 00:37:23.239
 Tertullian,

00:37:23.319 --> 00:37:23.519
 Origen,

00:37:23.559 --> 00:37:24.400
 they all agree

00:37:24.400 --> 00:37:25.440
 that this is what

00:37:25.440 --> 00:37:26.699
 this passage is referring to.

00:37:27.019 --> 00:37:27.519
 Sons of God

00:37:27.519 --> 00:37:29.139
 refer to the fallen angels

00:37:29.139 --> 00:37:30.460
 whom God punished

00:37:30.460 --> 00:37:32.179
 as a result of their sin

00:37:32.179 --> 00:37:33.019
 that's documented here

00:37:33.019 --> 00:37:33.719
 in Genesis 6.

00:37:34.059 --> 00:37:34.960
 And 2 Peter 2

00:37:34.960 --> 00:37:35.559
 talks about that

00:37:35.559 --> 00:37:36.319
 in greater detail.

00:37:37.579 --> 00:37:38.259
 So for example,

00:37:38.480 --> 00:37:39.759
 other Old Testament texts

00:37:39.759 --> 00:37:41.059
 refer to angelic beings

00:37:41.059 --> 00:37:41.860
 as sons of God,

00:37:41.860 --> 00:37:43.059
 Job 1.6,

00:37:43.240 --> 00:37:45.700
 Psalm 29 verse 1.

00:37:46.160 --> 00:37:46.539
 And in fact,

00:37:46.640 --> 00:37:48.079
 in Job chapters 1 and 2,

00:37:48.160 --> 00:37:49.200
 you see God

00:37:49.200 --> 00:37:50.280
 holding a court,

00:37:50.760 --> 00:37:51.019
 right,

00:37:51.120 --> 00:37:52.440
 with the heavenly beings,

00:37:52.539 --> 00:37:53.320
 the angelic beings,

00:37:53.599 --> 00:37:55.160
 and Satan comes

00:37:55.160 --> 00:37:56.640
 as one of the sons of God

00:37:56.640 --> 00:37:58.660
 to accuse Job

00:37:58.660 --> 00:38:00.019
 before God, right?

00:38:00.039 --> 00:38:00.760
 So that's the picture.

00:38:01.180 --> 00:38:02.200
 And this is very consistent

00:38:02.200 --> 00:38:03.079
 with other ancient

00:38:03.079 --> 00:38:03.960
 Near Eastern views

00:38:03.960 --> 00:38:05.620
 of their own pantheons

00:38:05.620 --> 00:38:06.940
 with sons of God

00:38:06.940 --> 00:38:07.519
 in the court,

00:38:07.599 --> 00:38:08.579
 with the court of God.

00:38:08.820 --> 00:38:09.640
 The main difference,

00:38:09.760 --> 00:38:10.160
 of course,

00:38:10.159 --> 00:38:11.879
 is that the Old Testament

00:38:11.879 --> 00:38:12.719
 teaches that there's

00:38:12.719 --> 00:38:13.599
 only one God.

00:38:14.019 --> 00:38:14.879
 All of these are not

00:38:14.879 --> 00:38:15.500
 real gods.

00:38:15.599 --> 00:38:17.019
 They're just God-like beings.

00:38:17.079 --> 00:38:18.039
 They're angelic beings.

00:38:18.339 --> 00:38:19.480
 While the other ancient

00:38:19.480 --> 00:38:20.099
 Eastern religions

00:38:20.099 --> 00:38:20.619
 believed that they were

00:38:20.619 --> 00:38:21.420
 all real gods

00:38:21.420 --> 00:38:22.420
 and actual offspring

00:38:22.420 --> 00:38:23.079
 of the God.

00:38:23.679 --> 00:38:25.519
 So that's a big,

00:38:25.679 --> 00:38:26.219
 big difference.

00:38:26.639 --> 00:38:27.099
 But here,

00:38:27.259 --> 00:38:27.500
 still,

00:38:27.639 --> 00:38:28.259
 the sons of God,

00:38:28.319 --> 00:38:28.579
 I think,

00:38:28.659 --> 00:38:30.179
 is referring to angelic beings.

00:38:31.179 --> 00:38:32.659
 And notice what they do.

00:38:33.359 --> 00:38:34.819
 Try to pick up

00:38:34.819 --> 00:38:35.779
 the familiar sequence

00:38:35.779 --> 00:38:36.319
 of words here

00:38:36.319 --> 00:38:37.119
 in verse 2,

00:38:37.239 --> 00:38:37.799
 chapter 6.

00:38:38.299 --> 00:38:39.179
 The sons of God

00:38:39.179 --> 00:38:40.899
 saw that the daughters

00:38:40.899 --> 00:38:41.480
 of men

00:38:41.480 --> 00:38:42.619
 were attractive

00:38:42.619 --> 00:38:44.339
 and they took

00:38:44.339 --> 00:38:45.440
 as their wives

00:38:45.440 --> 00:38:46.579
 any they chose.

00:38:47.219 --> 00:38:47.599
 Does this sound

00:38:47.599 --> 00:38:48.399
 familiar to you guys?

00:38:48.839 --> 00:38:50.239
 We just saw it happen

00:38:50.239 --> 00:38:51.139
 right in Genesis 3

00:38:51.139 --> 00:38:51.859
 because the word

00:38:51.859 --> 00:38:52.179
 actually,

00:38:52.339 --> 00:38:53.159
 the word attractive

00:38:53.159 --> 00:38:54.000
 translated here

00:38:54.000 --> 00:38:55.199
 is the same word

00:38:55.199 --> 00:38:56.219
 translated as good

00:38:56.219 --> 00:38:57.940
 in the earlier chapters.

00:38:58.619 --> 00:38:59.619
 So God saw

00:38:59.619 --> 00:39:00.579
 that it was good.

00:39:00.779 --> 00:39:01.139
 And remember

00:39:01.139 --> 00:39:01.839
 what Eve does

00:39:01.839 --> 00:39:02.859
 in Genesis 3, 6.

00:39:03.239 --> 00:39:04.059
 So when the woman

00:39:04.059 --> 00:39:05.819
 saw that the tree

00:39:05.819 --> 00:39:07.440
 was good for food,

00:39:07.799 --> 00:39:08.379
 and it says later,

00:39:08.380 --> 00:39:09.220
 she took

00:39:09.220 --> 00:39:10.260
 of its fruit

00:39:10.260 --> 00:39:11.140
 and ate.

00:39:11.380 --> 00:39:12.059
 So seeing,

00:39:12.360 --> 00:39:12.800
 good,

00:39:13.160 --> 00:39:13.500
 taking,

00:39:13.760 --> 00:39:14.500
 and doing that,

00:39:14.599 --> 00:39:15.579
 she usurped

00:39:15.579 --> 00:39:16.720
 the creator's rights.

00:39:17.140 --> 00:39:17.740
 And here,

00:39:17.960 --> 00:39:18.599
 these angels

00:39:18.599 --> 00:39:18.920
 are doing

00:39:18.920 --> 00:39:19.980
 the very same thing.

00:39:20.320 --> 00:39:21.300
 Sin is always

00:39:21.300 --> 00:39:21.740
 the same.

00:39:22.019 --> 00:39:22.599
 You see

00:39:22.599 --> 00:39:23.440
 that it's good

00:39:23.440 --> 00:39:24.599
 and then you take

00:39:24.599 --> 00:39:26.260
 what's not

00:39:26.260 --> 00:39:27.059
 yours to take,

00:39:27.360 --> 00:39:28.420
 what's forbidden

00:39:28.420 --> 00:39:29.160
 to you by God.

00:39:30.619 --> 00:39:31.920
 And it seems

00:39:31.920 --> 00:39:32.920
 that it's not just

00:39:32.920 --> 00:39:33.460
 the angels

00:39:33.460 --> 00:39:34.160
 that are guilty,

00:39:34.300 --> 00:39:34.920
 but it's the men

00:39:34.920 --> 00:39:35.460
 who are guilty,

00:39:35.559 --> 00:39:35.860
 which is why

00:39:35.860 --> 00:39:37.200
 God punishes man also.

00:39:37.880 --> 00:39:38.380
 And it seems

00:39:38.380 --> 00:39:39.640
 that this is

00:39:39.640 --> 00:39:41.340
 not rape,

00:39:41.519 --> 00:39:41.740
 right?

00:39:41.820 --> 00:39:42.680
 Because it says

00:39:42.680 --> 00:39:43.539
 that these sons

00:39:43.539 --> 00:39:43.840
 of God

00:39:43.840 --> 00:39:44.360
 took daughters

00:39:44.360 --> 00:39:44.740
 of men

00:39:44.740 --> 00:39:46.300
 as their wives.

00:39:47.000 --> 00:39:47.920
 This is not rape,

00:39:47.980 --> 00:39:49.099
 this is marriage,

00:39:49.700 --> 00:39:50.260
 which means

00:39:50.260 --> 00:39:51.140
 not only did

00:39:51.140 --> 00:39:51.599
 the women

00:39:51.599 --> 00:39:52.640
 consent,

00:39:53.120 --> 00:39:54.140
 it's their fathers

00:39:54.140 --> 00:39:54.780
 in this culture

00:39:54.780 --> 00:39:55.700
 also consented.

00:39:55.800 --> 00:39:56.420
 So everyone

00:39:56.420 --> 00:39:58.340
 in humanity

00:39:58.340 --> 00:39:59.059
 is implicated

00:39:59.059 --> 00:40:00.140
 in this sin.

00:40:01.660 --> 00:40:02.420
 And in fact,

00:40:02.519 --> 00:40:02.920
 other ancient

00:40:02.920 --> 00:40:03.200
 New Yorks

00:40:03.200 --> 00:40:03.599
 and religions

00:40:03.599 --> 00:40:04.659
 actually encouraged

00:40:04.659 --> 00:40:05.719
 fertility cults

00:40:05.719 --> 00:40:06.639
 and sacred marriages

00:40:06.639 --> 00:40:08.440
 with the gods.

00:40:09.259 --> 00:40:09.880
 And so this is

00:40:09.880 --> 00:40:10.400
 a polemic

00:40:10.400 --> 00:40:11.400
 against that practice.

00:40:12.679 --> 00:40:13.239
 And so God

00:40:13.239 --> 00:40:14.599
 decides to punish

00:40:14.599 --> 00:40:15.360
 humanity.

00:40:15.579 --> 00:40:15.799
 He says,

00:40:16.420 --> 00:40:17.259
 My spirit shall not

00:40:17.259 --> 00:40:18.299
 abide in man forever

00:40:18.299 --> 00:40:19.339
 for he is flesh.

00:40:19.659 --> 00:40:20.920
 His days shall be

00:40:20.920 --> 00:40:22.739
 120 years.

00:40:23.759 --> 00:40:24.559
 Meaning that

00:40:24.559 --> 00:40:25.659
 God's not going

00:40:25.659 --> 00:40:26.500
 to let them live,

00:40:26.719 --> 00:40:27.480
 give them the breath

00:40:27.480 --> 00:40:28.079
 of life for an

00:40:28.079 --> 00:40:28.639
 indefinite period

00:40:28.639 --> 00:40:29.039
 of time,

00:40:29.179 --> 00:40:30.079
 or even that long

00:40:30.079 --> 00:40:31.079
 as the antediluvian

00:40:31.079 --> 00:40:32.199
 patriarchs.

00:40:32.239 --> 00:40:32.500
 Instead,

00:40:32.500 --> 00:40:32.900
 now it's going

00:40:32.900 --> 00:40:33.599
 to be cut short.

00:40:34.940 --> 00:40:36.000
 So this view

00:40:36.000 --> 00:40:36.860
 then makes sense

00:40:36.860 --> 00:40:37.619
 of the rise

00:40:37.619 --> 00:40:38.280
 of the Nephilim.

00:40:39.280 --> 00:40:40.119
 The Nephilim

00:40:40.119 --> 00:40:41.260
 were not immortal,

00:40:41.599 --> 00:40:42.380
 but they are

00:40:42.380 --> 00:40:43.800
 described as mighty men.

00:40:44.119 --> 00:40:45.400
 Verse 4 says,

00:40:45.559 --> 00:40:46.119
 The Nephilim

00:40:46.119 --> 00:40:47.019
 were on the earth

00:40:47.019 --> 00:40:47.639
 in those days

00:40:47.639 --> 00:40:48.519
 and also afterward

00:40:48.519 --> 00:40:49.539
 when the sons of God

00:40:49.539 --> 00:40:50.380
 came into the daughters

00:40:50.380 --> 00:40:50.699
 of men

00:40:50.699 --> 00:40:51.480
 and they bore children

00:40:51.480 --> 00:40:51.940
 to them.

00:40:52.360 --> 00:40:53.900
 These were the mighty men

00:40:53.900 --> 00:40:54.579
 who were of old,

00:40:54.679 --> 00:40:55.920
 the men of renown.

00:40:56.840 --> 00:40:57.800
 So the fact that

00:40:57.800 --> 00:40:59.059
 Nephilim were there

00:40:59.059 --> 00:41:00.139
 in those days

00:41:00.139 --> 00:41:01.460
 and also afterward

00:41:01.460 --> 00:41:02.639
 suggests that

00:41:02.639 --> 00:41:03.519
 maybe this practice

00:41:03.519 --> 00:41:04.159
 happened again

00:41:04.159 --> 00:41:04.699
 at some point

00:41:04.699 --> 00:41:05.179
 in human history.

00:41:05.320 --> 00:41:06.139
 There's more.

00:41:06.300 --> 00:41:07.059
 There's descendants

00:41:07.059 --> 00:41:07.539
 of Nephilim

00:41:07.539 --> 00:41:08.220
 you see throughout

00:41:08.220 --> 00:41:09.280
 the Old Testament.

00:41:10.340 --> 00:41:12.000
 So in Numbers 13.33,

00:41:12.199 --> 00:41:12.639
 they're mentioned.

00:41:12.920 --> 00:41:13.420
 So the Israelites

00:41:13.420 --> 00:41:14.179
 are sent out

00:41:14.179 --> 00:41:15.380
 to spy the promised land

00:41:15.380 --> 00:41:15.820
 of Anan

00:41:15.820 --> 00:41:17.139
 to bring back

00:41:17.139 --> 00:41:17.659
 a report

00:41:17.659 --> 00:41:18.519
 of how they can

00:41:18.519 --> 00:41:19.139
 take the land.

00:41:19.619 --> 00:41:20.119
 And then instead

00:41:20.119 --> 00:41:20.880
 they come back

00:41:20.880 --> 00:41:22.039
 cowering and scared

00:41:22.039 --> 00:41:22.880
 and this is what

00:41:22.880 --> 00:41:23.360
 they say,

00:41:23.800 --> 00:41:24.960
 And there we saw

00:41:24.960 --> 00:41:25.699
 the Nephilim,

00:41:26.480 --> 00:41:27.780
 the sons of Anak

00:41:27.780 --> 00:41:28.659
 who come from

00:41:28.659 --> 00:41:29.159
 the Nephilim.

00:41:29.159 --> 00:41:30.379
 And we seem

00:41:30.379 --> 00:41:31.039
 to ourselves

00:41:31.039 --> 00:41:32.159
 like grasshoppers

00:41:32.159 --> 00:41:33.399
 and so we seem

00:41:33.399 --> 00:41:34.279
 to them.

00:41:34.940 --> 00:41:35.519
 So they lose

00:41:35.519 --> 00:41:36.199
 all their courage

00:41:36.199 --> 00:41:36.619
 when they see

00:41:36.619 --> 00:41:37.019
 the Nephilim

00:41:37.019 --> 00:41:37.619
 in the land,

00:41:37.779 --> 00:41:38.440
 the promised land.

00:41:38.839 --> 00:41:39.460
 And the Nephilim

00:41:39.460 --> 00:41:40.420
 aren't the only people

00:41:40.420 --> 00:41:41.779
 described as giants

00:41:41.779 --> 00:41:42.480
 in the Old Testament.

00:41:42.679 --> 00:41:43.679
 So Deuteronomy 2.10

00:41:43.679 --> 00:41:44.559
 talks about

00:41:44.559 --> 00:41:45.059
 the Imim

00:41:45.059 --> 00:41:46.219
 formerly lived there,

00:41:46.480 --> 00:41:47.299
 a people great

00:41:47.299 --> 00:41:47.799
 and many

00:41:47.799 --> 00:41:48.859
 and tall

00:41:48.859 --> 00:41:50.000
 as the Anakim.

00:41:50.219 --> 00:41:50.879
 So Anakim

00:41:50.879 --> 00:41:51.399
 are the people

00:41:51.399 --> 00:41:52.099
 who are set

00:41:52.099 --> 00:41:52.579
 to come from

00:41:52.579 --> 00:41:52.980
 the Nephilim.

00:41:53.619 --> 00:41:54.500
 And like the Anakim,

00:41:54.579 --> 00:41:55.440
 they're also counted

00:41:55.440 --> 00:41:56.319
 as Rephaim

00:41:56.319 --> 00:41:57.059
 but the Moabites

00:41:57.059 --> 00:41:58.039
 call them Imim.

00:41:58.039 --> 00:41:59.380
 So Anakim,

00:41:59.480 --> 00:41:59.840
 Rephaim

00:41:59.840 --> 00:42:00.880
 and some of the Rephaim

00:42:00.880 --> 00:42:01.820
 took refuge

00:42:01.820 --> 00:42:03.019
 among the Philistines

00:42:03.019 --> 00:42:03.599
 in the valley

00:42:03.599 --> 00:42:04.259
 of Rephaim

00:42:04.259 --> 00:42:05.059
 and so

00:42:05.059 --> 00:42:06.440
 that's probably

00:42:06.440 --> 00:42:07.500
 the Goliath

00:42:07.500 --> 00:42:08.239
 probably descended

00:42:08.239 --> 00:42:08.719
 from them.

00:42:08.880 --> 00:42:09.279
 So you see,

00:42:09.380 --> 00:42:10.159
 you remember that story.

00:42:10.679 --> 00:42:11.440
 And that actually

00:42:11.440 --> 00:42:12.179
 story is really

00:42:12.179 --> 00:42:12.679
 illuminating

00:42:12.679 --> 00:42:13.539
 because I think

00:42:13.539 --> 00:42:15.239
 it helps clear up

00:42:15.239 --> 00:42:16.079
 a common misunderstanding.

00:42:16.659 --> 00:42:17.219
 When we hear

00:42:17.219 --> 00:42:18.019
 the word giant

00:42:18.019 --> 00:42:18.619
 or Nephilim

00:42:18.619 --> 00:42:19.340
 we think of

00:42:19.340 --> 00:42:20.219
 the race of giants

00:42:20.219 --> 00:42:21.199
 from like Harry Potter.

00:42:21.519 --> 00:42:21.980
 They grew up

00:42:21.980 --> 00:42:23.000
 to like 25 feet.

00:42:23.619 --> 00:42:24.400
 That's not what's

00:42:24.400 --> 00:42:25.039
 going on here.

00:42:25.039 --> 00:42:27.079
 So Goliath,

00:42:27.199 --> 00:42:27.840
 anybody know

00:42:27.840 --> 00:42:28.699
 how tall he is?

00:42:30.559 --> 00:42:31.039
 Sorry?

00:42:31.940 --> 00:42:33.099
 So he says

00:42:33.099 --> 00:42:34.559
 the Bible describes him

00:42:34.559 --> 00:42:37.320
 as six cubits

00:42:37.320 --> 00:42:37.880
 and a span

00:42:37.880 --> 00:42:39.019
 in 1 Samuel 17.4.

00:42:39.159 --> 00:42:39.880
 So that's actually

00:42:39.880 --> 00:42:41.019
 six feet nine inches.

00:42:42.279 --> 00:42:42.840
 So that's

00:42:42.840 --> 00:42:43.880
 about the size

00:42:43.880 --> 00:42:44.559
 of LeBron James.

00:42:44.699 --> 00:42:45.159
 LeBron James

00:42:45.159 --> 00:42:45.940
 is six feet eight

00:42:45.940 --> 00:42:47.619
 and he's 250 pounds.

00:42:47.820 --> 00:42:47.980
 I mean,

00:42:48.039 --> 00:42:48.440
 that guy

00:42:48.440 --> 00:42:50.000
 is a big man, right?

00:42:50.699 --> 00:42:51.440
 So I mean,

00:42:51.539 --> 00:42:52.179
 so this is not

00:42:52.179 --> 00:42:53.079
 talking about giants

00:42:53.079 --> 00:42:53.659
 like, you know,

00:42:53.699 --> 00:42:54.239
 like different,

00:42:54.460 --> 00:42:55.099
 like these are

00:42:55.099 --> 00:42:56.119
 big men,

00:42:56.199 --> 00:42:56.360
 I mean,

00:42:56.380 --> 00:42:56.880
 to be sure.

00:42:57.239 --> 00:42:58.079
 They're mighty men.

00:42:58.139 --> 00:42:58.880
 They were called heroes

00:42:58.880 --> 00:42:59.559
 for a reason.

00:42:59.980 --> 00:43:00.780
 But this is not,

00:43:00.860 --> 00:43:01.139
 you know,

00:43:01.139 --> 00:43:02.380
 some fantastical giant,

00:43:02.519 --> 00:43:02.699
 you know,

00:43:02.719 --> 00:43:04.920
 like from Harry Potter.

00:43:05.599 --> 00:43:06.159
 Now, I mean,

00:43:06.199 --> 00:43:06.699
 if you were,

00:43:06.920 --> 00:43:08.099
 imagine me facing

00:43:08.099 --> 00:43:09.579
 LeBron James in battle.

00:43:10.219 --> 00:43:10.480
 It's,

00:43:11.159 --> 00:43:12.840
 it would be

00:43:12.840 --> 00:43:13.760
 a very appropriate

00:43:13.760 --> 00:43:15.260
 hyperbole to say

00:43:15.260 --> 00:43:15.599
 that, oh,

00:43:15.619 --> 00:43:16.159
 I look like

00:43:16.159 --> 00:43:17.159
 a grasshopper to him,

00:43:17.159 --> 00:43:17.360
 right?

00:43:17.920 --> 00:43:18.159
 I mean,

00:43:18.219 --> 00:43:19.400
 so that's what's going on.

00:43:19.400 --> 00:43:19.900
 So the Israelites

00:43:19.900 --> 00:43:20.559
 know that,

00:43:20.639 --> 00:43:21.200
 recognize that it

00:43:21.200 --> 00:43:21.940
 strikes fear

00:43:21.940 --> 00:43:22.460
 into their hearts

00:43:22.460 --> 00:43:23.059
 just to hear

00:43:23.059 --> 00:43:23.660
 of the Nephilim.

00:43:24.400 --> 00:43:26.220
 And so God responds,

00:43:26.700 --> 00:43:27.840
 but Nephilim,

00:43:27.940 --> 00:43:28.599
 though fascinating,

00:43:28.800 --> 00:43:29.220
 are reminders

00:43:29.220 --> 00:43:30.420
 of humanity's depravity,

00:43:30.660 --> 00:43:31.619
 make sure you remember that,

00:43:32.059 --> 00:43:33.440
 and of unthinkable

00:43:33.440 --> 00:43:34.019
 transgression

00:43:34.019 --> 00:43:34.960
 of God's creation order.

00:43:35.579 --> 00:43:36.160
 And it's because

00:43:36.160 --> 00:43:37.059
 of that God responds

00:43:37.059 --> 00:43:38.280
 in verses five to seven.

00:43:38.800 --> 00:43:39.740
 The Lord saw

00:43:39.740 --> 00:43:40.639
 that the wickedness

00:43:40.639 --> 00:43:41.680
 of man was great

00:43:41.680 --> 00:43:42.360
 in the earth

00:43:42.360 --> 00:43:43.740
 and that every intention

00:43:43.740 --> 00:43:44.340
 of the thoughts

00:43:44.340 --> 00:43:44.860
 of his heart

00:43:44.860 --> 00:43:46.440
 was only evil continually.

00:43:47.039 --> 00:43:48.260
 And the Lord regretted

00:43:48.260 --> 00:43:49.260
 that he had made man

00:43:49.260 --> 00:43:49.780
 on the earth

00:43:49.780 --> 00:43:50.720
 and it grieved him

00:43:50.720 --> 00:43:51.440
 to his heart.

00:43:51.940 --> 00:43:52.780
 So the Lord said,

00:43:52.880 --> 00:43:53.900
 I will blot out man

00:43:53.900 --> 00:43:54.700
 whom I have created

00:43:54.700 --> 00:43:55.980
 from the face of the land,

00:43:56.320 --> 00:43:57.220
 man and animals

00:43:57.220 --> 00:43:58.120
 and creeping things

00:43:58.120 --> 00:43:59.060
 and birds of the heavens,

00:43:59.380 --> 00:44:00.240
 for I am sorry

00:44:00.240 --> 00:44:01.400
 that I have made them.

00:44:02.580 --> 00:44:03.380
 So previously,

00:44:03.860 --> 00:44:04.760
 in his act of creation,

00:44:04.920 --> 00:44:05.640
 God saw

00:44:05.640 --> 00:44:06.780
 that it was good.

00:44:07.140 --> 00:44:08.560
 Now God sees

00:44:08.560 --> 00:44:09.740
 that it is wicked.

00:44:10.320 --> 00:44:11.140
 Wickedness of man

00:44:11.140 --> 00:44:12.060
 was great in the earth.

00:44:12.100 --> 00:44:12.480
 And it says,

00:44:13.260 --> 00:44:14.040
 every intention

00:44:14.040 --> 00:44:15.120
 of the thoughts

00:44:15.120 --> 00:44:15.640
 of his heart

00:44:15.640 --> 00:44:17.720
 was only evil continually.

00:44:17.719 --> 00:44:19.819
 Not just our deeds,

00:44:19.939 --> 00:44:21.000
 but every intention

00:44:21.000 --> 00:44:21.719
 of the thoughts

00:44:21.719 --> 00:44:22.059
 of our heart

00:44:22.059 --> 00:44:22.919
 was evil continually.

00:44:23.079 --> 00:44:23.879
 So God cares

00:44:23.879 --> 00:44:25.039
 not only about what we do,

00:44:25.159 --> 00:44:26.199
 but why we do them.

00:44:26.219 --> 00:44:27.119
 He cares about our intention.

00:44:27.659 --> 00:44:28.719
 And this verse right here

00:44:28.719 --> 00:44:29.539
 is the clearest

00:44:29.539 --> 00:44:30.619
 Old Testament teaching

00:44:30.619 --> 00:44:31.679
 of the doctrine

00:44:31.679 --> 00:44:32.859
 of total depravity.

00:44:33.279 --> 00:44:34.199
 We might also call that

00:44:34.199 --> 00:44:35.539
 pervasive depravity,

00:44:35.899 --> 00:44:36.539
 which states that

00:44:36.539 --> 00:44:37.559
 the corruption of sin

00:44:37.559 --> 00:44:39.279
 extends to every aspect

00:44:39.279 --> 00:44:40.579
 of human nature.

00:44:41.299 --> 00:44:42.219
 Now this doesn't mean

00:44:42.219 --> 00:44:42.799
 that humanity

00:44:42.799 --> 00:44:43.859
 is totally incapable

00:44:43.859 --> 00:44:44.480
 of good,

00:44:44.480 --> 00:44:45.519
 but it does mean

00:44:45.519 --> 00:44:46.699
 that everything we do,

00:44:46.800 --> 00:44:48.199
 even every good thing

00:44:48.199 --> 00:44:48.659
 we do,

00:44:48.820 --> 00:44:49.460
 is tainted

00:44:49.460 --> 00:44:50.639
 with some semblance

00:44:50.639 --> 00:44:52.079
 of evil and sin.

00:44:53.420 --> 00:44:54.480
 Puritan theologian

00:44:54.480 --> 00:44:55.159
 Jonathan Edwards

00:44:55.159 --> 00:44:56.400
 understood this reality

00:44:56.400 --> 00:44:57.440
 better than most people,

00:44:57.820 --> 00:44:58.980
 and he distinguishes

00:44:58.980 --> 00:44:59.719
 what he calls

00:44:59.719 --> 00:45:00.659
 common virtue

00:45:00.659 --> 00:45:02.159
 from true virtue.

00:45:03.440 --> 00:45:04.159
 And writing that

00:45:04.159 --> 00:45:05.019
 most virtues

00:45:05.019 --> 00:45:05.519
 that we,

00:45:05.679 --> 00:45:06.320
 so-called virtues

00:45:06.320 --> 00:45:07.199
 we observe around us

00:45:07.199 --> 00:45:08.500
 are simply common virtues,

00:45:08.599 --> 00:45:09.420
 not true virtues.

00:45:09.880 --> 00:45:10.480
 He writes that

00:45:10.480 --> 00:45:11.059
 true virtue

00:45:11.059 --> 00:45:12.280
 is doing the right thing

00:45:12.280 --> 00:45:13.460
 simply because

00:45:13.460 --> 00:45:14.519
 God is worthy

00:45:14.519 --> 00:45:15.460
 of our total trust

00:45:15.460 --> 00:45:15.940
 and obedience.

00:45:17.060 --> 00:45:18.540
 It's done out of love

00:45:18.540 --> 00:45:18.880
 for God,

00:45:18.940 --> 00:45:19.960
 out of obedience to him.

00:45:20.720 --> 00:45:21.400
 Common virtue

00:45:21.400 --> 00:45:22.519
 is doing the right thing

00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:23.600
 for our own sake,

00:45:24.400 --> 00:45:25.160
 out of fear,

00:45:25.940 --> 00:45:26.740
 out of pride.

00:45:28.460 --> 00:45:29.220
 For example,

00:45:29.700 --> 00:45:30.240
 common virtue

00:45:30.240 --> 00:45:30.840
 is when someone

00:45:30.840 --> 00:45:31.620
 is honest

00:45:31.620 --> 00:45:33.040
 because he or she

00:45:33.040 --> 00:45:33.519
 is afraid

00:45:33.519 --> 00:45:34.220
 of getting caught

00:45:34.220 --> 00:45:34.700
 in a lie

00:45:34.700 --> 00:45:35.460
 and then punished

00:45:35.460 --> 00:45:35.940
 afterward.

00:45:36.680 --> 00:45:37.700
 They're still honest,

00:45:38.360 --> 00:45:38.940
 but they're honest

00:45:38.940 --> 00:45:39.860
 for the wrong reason.

00:45:40.220 --> 00:45:41.760
 It's a common virtue.

00:45:42.280 --> 00:45:44.540
 Or,

00:45:44.860 --> 00:45:45.860
 someone is honest

00:45:45.860 --> 00:45:47.320
 because they say

00:45:47.320 --> 00:45:47.820
 to themselves,

00:45:48.000 --> 00:45:48.160
 oh,

00:45:48.220 --> 00:45:48.740
 I'm not like

00:45:48.740 --> 00:45:49.180
 one of those

00:45:49.180 --> 00:45:49.660
 low-born,

00:45:49.820 --> 00:45:50.640
 rotten liars

00:45:50.640 --> 00:45:52.560
 because of pride.

00:45:55.780 --> 00:45:56.580
 Pride of thinking

00:45:56.580 --> 00:45:57.540
 that you're more upright

00:45:57.540 --> 00:45:58.340
 and honest

00:45:58.340 --> 00:45:58.980
 than other people.

00:45:59.640 --> 00:46:00.220
 Common virtue

00:46:00.220 --> 00:46:00.840
 is when someone

00:46:00.840 --> 00:46:01.460
 participates

00:46:01.460 --> 00:46:02.300
 in service projects

00:46:02.300 --> 00:46:02.980
 because he or she

00:46:02.980 --> 00:46:03.480
 is afraid

00:46:03.480 --> 00:46:04.380
 of being judged

00:46:04.380 --> 00:46:05.440
 by people around them.

00:46:05.920 --> 00:46:06.280
 Fear.

00:46:07.120 --> 00:46:07.660
 Or someone

00:46:07.660 --> 00:46:08.580
 who participates

00:46:08.580 --> 00:46:09.960
 in those projects

00:46:09.960 --> 00:46:11.220
 so that they can

00:46:11.220 --> 00:46:12.220
 feel superior.

00:46:13.140 --> 00:46:13.740
 Better.

00:46:14.880 --> 00:46:16.019
 More accomplished

00:46:16.019 --> 00:46:17.080
 than other people

00:46:17.080 --> 00:46:17.600
 around them.

00:46:18.340 --> 00:46:19.400
 It's common virtue.

00:46:20.560 --> 00:46:21.740
 We should be grateful

00:46:21.740 --> 00:46:22.540
 for common virtue

00:46:22.540 --> 00:46:23.860
 because if it didn't exist,

00:46:23.980 --> 00:46:24.360
 this side

00:46:24.360 --> 00:46:25.060
 would not function.

00:46:25.800 --> 00:46:26.720
 That's an example

00:46:26.720 --> 00:46:27.720
 of common grace

00:46:27.720 --> 00:46:28.300
 as well.

00:46:28.760 --> 00:46:29.840
 But God is not

00:46:29.840 --> 00:46:30.600
 pleased with

00:46:30.600 --> 00:46:31.260
 common virtue.

00:46:32.100 --> 00:46:32.320
 He says,

00:46:32.620 --> 00:46:33.220
 every intention

00:46:33.220 --> 00:46:33.880
 of the thought

00:46:33.880 --> 00:46:34.620
 of his heart

00:46:34.620 --> 00:46:36.040
 is still evil

00:46:36.040 --> 00:46:37.180
 when we only

00:46:37.180 --> 00:46:38.180
 have common virtue

00:46:38.180 --> 00:46:39.660
 but not true virtue.

00:46:40.539 --> 00:46:41.339
 Doing good deeds

00:46:41.339 --> 00:46:41.799
 out of fear

00:46:41.799 --> 00:46:42.259
 and pride

00:46:42.259 --> 00:46:42.839
 is profoundly

00:46:42.839 --> 00:46:43.920
 self-serving.

00:46:44.019 --> 00:46:44.319
 We're doing it

00:46:44.319 --> 00:46:45.099
 for our glory

00:46:45.099 --> 00:46:46.739
 not God's glory.

00:46:46.940 --> 00:46:47.579
 So because we're

00:46:47.579 --> 00:46:48.379
 taking a shortcut

00:46:48.379 --> 00:46:49.039
 to virtue,

00:46:49.519 --> 00:46:50.079
 what ends up

00:46:50.079 --> 00:46:50.460
 happening is

00:46:50.460 --> 00:46:50.960
 then we become

00:46:50.960 --> 00:46:51.559
 more and more

00:46:51.559 --> 00:46:52.460
 fearful and more

00:46:52.460 --> 00:46:53.179
 and more prideful

00:46:53.179 --> 00:46:53.859
 people which

00:46:53.859 --> 00:46:55.379
 is deeply

00:46:55.379 --> 00:46:56.319
 displeasing to God.

00:46:57.719 --> 00:46:59.159
 So if you're

00:46:59.159 --> 00:46:59.719
 tempted to think

00:46:59.719 --> 00:47:00.199
 that you're a pretty

00:47:00.199 --> 00:47:00.839
 good person

00:47:00.839 --> 00:47:02.279
 then we're wrong.

00:47:02.799 --> 00:47:03.799
 We're very wrong.

00:47:04.299 --> 00:47:05.159
 Every intention

00:47:05.159 --> 00:47:05.879
 of the thoughts

00:47:05.879 --> 00:47:06.480
 of our hearts

00:47:06.480 --> 00:47:07.179
 are evil

00:47:07.179 --> 00:47:08.159
 continually

00:47:08.159 --> 00:47:09.539
 apart from Christ.

00:47:10.500 --> 00:47:11.239
 The situation

00:47:11.239 --> 00:47:11.920
 is so bad

00:47:11.920 --> 00:47:12.379
 it says that

00:47:12.379 --> 00:47:13.359
 God regretted

00:47:13.359 --> 00:47:13.799
 that he had

00:47:13.799 --> 00:47:14.619
 made man

00:47:14.619 --> 00:47:15.279
 on the earth.

00:47:16.119 --> 00:47:16.719
 Other passages

00:47:16.719 --> 00:47:17.119
 of scripture

00:47:17.119 --> 00:47:17.719
 say that

00:47:17.719 --> 00:47:18.859
 God is not man

00:47:18.859 --> 00:47:19.920
 that he should

00:47:19.920 --> 00:47:20.679
 lie or a son

00:47:20.679 --> 00:47:20.920
 of man

00:47:20.920 --> 00:47:21.239
 that he should

00:47:21.239 --> 00:47:22.159
 change his mind.

00:47:22.519 --> 00:47:23.079
 God doesn't

00:47:23.079 --> 00:47:23.779
 regret anything.

00:47:23.899 --> 00:47:24.500
 He doesn't repent

00:47:24.500 --> 00:47:25.139
 of anything

00:47:25.139 --> 00:47:26.420
 in one sense

00:47:26.420 --> 00:47:27.319
 because he's

00:47:27.319 --> 00:47:27.839
 the sovereign

00:47:27.839 --> 00:47:28.579
 and transcendent

00:47:28.579 --> 00:47:29.179
 God in his will

00:47:29.179 --> 00:47:29.920
 he doesn't change

00:47:29.920 --> 00:47:31.839
 but he does

00:47:31.839 --> 00:47:32.539
 in a real way

00:47:32.539 --> 00:47:33.219
 interact with

00:47:33.219 --> 00:47:33.819
 human history

00:47:33.820 --> 00:47:35.000
 respond to our

00:47:35.000 --> 00:47:35.380
 actions

00:47:35.380 --> 00:47:35.760
 and that's

00:47:35.760 --> 00:47:36.200
 what we see

00:47:36.200 --> 00:47:36.480
 here.

00:47:37.340 --> 00:47:37.600
 And it says

00:47:37.600 --> 00:47:38.420
 he'd grieve

00:47:38.420 --> 00:47:39.460
 him to his heart.

00:47:40.019 --> 00:47:40.880
 That's the language

00:47:40.880 --> 00:47:41.660
 that's used

00:47:41.660 --> 00:47:43.400
 in Isaiah 54 6

00:47:43.400 --> 00:47:44.059
 to describe

00:47:44.059 --> 00:47:44.680
 the grief

00:47:44.680 --> 00:47:45.440
 of a deserted

00:47:45.440 --> 00:47:46.120
 wife.

00:47:47.240 --> 00:47:47.800
 Grieved.

00:47:48.320 --> 00:47:49.260
 That's the same

00:47:49.260 --> 00:47:50.019
 word that's used

00:47:50.019 --> 00:47:51.500
 in 2 Samuel 19 2

00:47:51.500 --> 00:47:52.080
 to describe

00:47:52.080 --> 00:47:52.680
 a father

00:47:52.680 --> 00:47:53.260
 who lost

00:47:53.260 --> 00:47:53.880
 his son.

00:47:54.539 --> 00:47:55.140
 Grieved.

00:47:55.820 --> 00:47:56.620
 The Lord

00:47:56.620 --> 00:47:57.680
 is grieved

00:47:57.680 --> 00:48:00.080
 by the sin.

00:48:01.620 --> 00:48:01.980
 And his

00:48:01.980 --> 00:48:02.500
 righteousness

00:48:02.500 --> 00:48:04.400
 justice must

00:48:04.400 --> 00:48:04.940
 issue forth

00:48:04.940 --> 00:48:05.440
 in judgment.

00:48:06.059 --> 00:48:06.360
 So he says

00:48:06.360 --> 00:48:06.960
 he will blot out

00:48:06.960 --> 00:48:08.139
 man from the

00:48:08.139 --> 00:48:08.579
 face of the

00:48:08.579 --> 00:48:08.820
 earth.

00:48:09.559 --> 00:48:10.360
 So what then

00:48:10.360 --> 00:48:10.940
 are we supposed

00:48:10.940 --> 00:48:11.400
 to do?

00:48:11.639 --> 00:48:12.139
 Is there any

00:48:12.139 --> 00:48:13.099
 hope for humanity?

00:48:14.039 --> 00:48:14.639
 And verse 8

00:48:14.639 --> 00:48:15.400
 offers a glimmer

00:48:15.400 --> 00:48:15.860
 of hope.

00:48:15.980 --> 00:48:16.119
 He says

00:48:16.119 --> 00:48:16.739
 but Noah

00:48:16.739 --> 00:48:17.980
 found favor

00:48:17.980 --> 00:48:18.860
 in the eyes

00:48:18.860 --> 00:48:20.019
 of the Lord.

00:48:20.860 --> 00:48:21.820
 And the words

00:48:21.820 --> 00:48:22.739
 in this passage

00:48:22.739 --> 00:48:23.739
 like regretted,

00:48:23.900 --> 00:48:24.380
 wipe out,

00:48:24.579 --> 00:48:24.860
 favor,

00:48:25.079 --> 00:48:26.420
 all sound like

00:48:26.420 --> 00:48:27.559
 the name Noah

00:48:27.559 --> 00:48:28.480
 in Hebrew.

00:48:28.860 --> 00:48:29.179
 So they're all

00:48:29.179 --> 00:48:29.920
 pointing to him

00:48:29.920 --> 00:48:30.699
 as the central

00:48:30.699 --> 00:48:31.260
 figure of the

00:48:31.260 --> 00:48:31.820
 next section

00:48:31.820 --> 00:48:32.300
 of Genesis.

00:48:32.660 --> 00:48:33.140
 It's through

00:48:33.140 --> 00:48:33.800
 him that

00:48:33.800 --> 00:48:34.480
 God's grace

00:48:34.480 --> 00:48:35.240
 for humanity

00:48:35.240 --> 00:48:36.500
 will appear.

00:48:37.500 --> 00:48:38.160
 But even

00:48:38.160 --> 00:48:38.660
 though Noah

00:48:38.660 --> 00:48:39.220
 will be used

00:48:39.220 --> 00:48:39.559
 by God

00:48:39.559 --> 00:48:40.000
 to save

00:48:40.000 --> 00:48:40.400
 the human

00:48:40.400 --> 00:48:40.820
 race from

00:48:40.820 --> 00:48:41.300
 the flood,

00:48:41.600 --> 00:48:42.320
 he will not

00:48:42.320 --> 00:48:43.000
 be able to

00:48:43.000 --> 00:48:43.720
 save the human

00:48:43.720 --> 00:48:44.340
 race from

00:48:44.340 --> 00:48:44.800
 sin.

00:48:46.200 --> 00:48:46.900
 Which calls

00:48:46.900 --> 00:48:47.620
 for a better

00:48:47.620 --> 00:48:48.660
 and a greater

00:48:48.660 --> 00:48:49.000
 Noah.

00:48:49.900 --> 00:48:50.480
 And we see

00:48:50.480 --> 00:48:51.160
 hints of this

00:48:51.160 --> 00:48:51.660
 all throughout

00:48:51.660 --> 00:48:52.260
 the passage.

00:48:52.460 --> 00:48:53.019
 Remember what

00:48:53.019 --> 00:48:53.500
 he said about

00:48:53.500 --> 00:48:54.440
 the name Seth?

00:48:54.880 --> 00:48:55.519
 It sounds like

00:48:55.519 --> 00:48:56.059
 the Hebrew word

00:48:56.059 --> 00:48:56.580
 for appoint.

00:48:57.600 --> 00:48:58.059
 And that's

00:48:58.059 --> 00:48:58.680
 where he got

00:48:58.680 --> 00:48:59.120
 his names.

00:48:59.119 --> 00:49:00.239
 And that's

00:49:00.239 --> 00:49:00.859
 an allusion

00:49:00.859 --> 00:49:01.679
 to Genesis

00:49:01.679 --> 00:49:02.559
 3.15

00:49:02.559 --> 00:49:03.059
 which said,

00:49:03.579 --> 00:49:04.319
 I will put,

00:49:04.480 --> 00:49:05.159
 that's the same

00:49:05.159 --> 00:49:05.400
 word,

00:49:05.519 --> 00:49:05.779
 appoint,

00:49:05.900 --> 00:49:06.739
 I will appoint

00:49:06.739 --> 00:49:08.059
 enmity between

00:49:08.059 --> 00:49:08.679
 you and the

00:49:08.679 --> 00:49:09.019
 woman and

00:49:09.019 --> 00:49:09.539
 between your

00:49:09.539 --> 00:49:10.079
 offspring and

00:49:10.079 --> 00:49:10.579
 our offspring.

00:49:10.859 --> 00:49:11.380
 He shall

00:49:11.380 --> 00:49:11.940
 bruise your

00:49:11.940 --> 00:49:12.500
 head and

00:49:12.500 --> 00:49:12.839
 you shall

00:49:12.839 --> 00:49:13.839
 bruise his

00:49:13.839 --> 00:49:14.279
 heel.

00:49:15.159 --> 00:49:15.859
 So that

00:49:15.859 --> 00:49:16.539
 promised

00:49:16.539 --> 00:49:17.099
 offspring,

00:49:17.239 --> 00:49:17.679
 the promised

00:49:17.679 --> 00:49:18.759
 Messiah who

00:49:18.759 --> 00:49:19.460
 is going to

00:49:19.460 --> 00:49:19.859
 come to

00:49:19.859 --> 00:49:20.480
 conquer Satan

00:49:20.480 --> 00:49:20.980
 and defeat

00:49:20.980 --> 00:49:21.480
 evil,

00:49:21.859 --> 00:49:22.599
 that man is

00:49:22.599 --> 00:49:22.940
 going to

00:49:22.940 --> 00:49:23.380
 come in the

00:49:23.380 --> 00:49:24.079
 line of Seth.

00:49:24.339 --> 00:49:24.639
 So that's

00:49:24.639 --> 00:49:25.239
 pointed at.

00:49:25.900 --> 00:49:26.219
 And in

00:49:26.219 --> 00:49:27.339
 Hebrews 12.22

00:49:27.340 --> 00:49:28.059
 to 24 it says,

00:49:28.140 --> 00:49:28.600
 but you have

00:49:28.600 --> 00:49:29.059
 come to

00:49:29.059 --> 00:49:29.500
 Jesus,

00:49:29.880 --> 00:49:30.720
 the mediator

00:49:30.720 --> 00:49:31.300
 of a new

00:49:31.300 --> 00:49:31.680
 covenant,

00:49:32.140 --> 00:49:32.579
 and to the

00:49:32.579 --> 00:49:33.600
 sprinkled blood

00:49:33.600 --> 00:49:34.519
 that speaks

00:49:34.519 --> 00:49:35.740
 a better word

00:49:35.740 --> 00:49:36.559
 than the

00:49:36.559 --> 00:49:37.240
 blood of

00:49:37.240 --> 00:49:37.720
 Abel.

00:49:39.079 --> 00:49:40.059
 God said

00:49:40.059 --> 00:49:42.200
 to Cain

00:49:42.200 --> 00:49:42.539
 in Genesis

00:49:42.539 --> 00:49:43.019
 4.10,

00:49:43.280 --> 00:49:43.800
 the voice

00:49:43.800 --> 00:49:44.120
 of your

00:49:44.120 --> 00:49:44.620
 brother's

00:49:44.620 --> 00:49:45.300
 blood is

00:49:45.300 --> 00:49:46.120
 crying to

00:49:46.120 --> 00:49:46.539
 me from

00:49:46.539 --> 00:49:47.019
 the ground.

00:49:47.420 --> 00:49:48.200
 And according

00:49:48.200 --> 00:49:48.559
 to Old

00:49:48.559 --> 00:49:48.900
 Testament,

00:49:49.160 --> 00:49:49.840
 blood is

00:49:49.840 --> 00:49:50.420
 where the

00:49:50.420 --> 00:49:51.019
 life is.

00:49:51.380 --> 00:49:51.780
 And so it

00:49:51.780 --> 00:49:52.340
 is by the

00:49:52.340 --> 00:49:52.800
 blood that

00:49:52.800 --> 00:49:53.059
 we must

00:49:53.059 --> 00:49:53.680
 make atonement

00:49:53.680 --> 00:49:54.220
 for sin.

00:49:55.019 --> 00:49:55.900
 But Cain's

00:49:55.900 --> 00:49:56.660
 blood is

00:49:56.659 --> 00:49:57.299
 not crying

00:49:57.299 --> 00:49:57.759
 for atonement.

00:49:57.879 --> 00:49:59.500
 It is crying

00:49:59.500 --> 00:50:00.019
 for atonement

00:50:00.019 --> 00:50:00.659
 in the sense

00:50:00.659 --> 00:50:00.899
 that it is

00:50:00.899 --> 00:50:01.259
 crying for

00:50:01.259 --> 00:50:01.679
 vengeance.

00:50:02.299 --> 00:50:02.659
 That's what

00:50:02.659 --> 00:50:04.819
 Abel's blood

00:50:04.819 --> 00:50:05.219
 is crying

00:50:05.219 --> 00:50:05.599
 out for.

00:50:05.879 --> 00:50:06.519
 Abel's blood

00:50:06.519 --> 00:50:06.899
 is crying

00:50:06.899 --> 00:50:07.119
 out for

00:50:07.119 --> 00:50:07.440
 vengeance

00:50:07.440 --> 00:50:08.460
 for Cain's

00:50:08.460 --> 00:50:08.639
 blood.

00:50:08.719 --> 00:50:09.000
 It's calling

00:50:09.000 --> 00:50:09.480
 for Cain's

00:50:09.480 --> 00:50:09.699
 blood.

00:50:10.339 --> 00:50:11.159
 But Christ's

00:50:11.159 --> 00:50:11.379
 blood,

00:50:11.480 --> 00:50:11.879
 according to

00:50:11.879 --> 00:50:12.199
 the author

00:50:12.199 --> 00:50:12.659
 of Hebrews,

00:50:13.039 --> 00:50:13.699
 speaks a

00:50:13.699 --> 00:50:14.420
 better word

00:50:14.420 --> 00:50:14.719
 than the

00:50:14.719 --> 00:50:15.039
 blood of

00:50:15.039 --> 00:50:15.299
 Abel.

00:50:15.980 --> 00:50:16.539
 Because the

00:50:16.539 --> 00:50:17.079
 blood that

00:50:17.079 --> 00:50:17.879
 Christ shed

00:50:17.879 --> 00:50:18.460
 on the

00:50:18.460 --> 00:50:19.299
 cross doesn't

00:50:19.299 --> 00:50:19.799
 call for

00:50:19.799 --> 00:50:21.000
 vengeance and

00:50:21.000 --> 00:50:21.500
 justice,

00:50:21.819 --> 00:50:22.139
 but it

00:50:22.139 --> 00:50:22.599
 calls for

00:50:22.599 --> 00:50:23.599
 grace and

00:50:23.599 --> 00:50:24.299
 mercy for

00:50:24.299 --> 00:50:24.639
 sinners.

00:50:26.659 --> 00:50:27.480
 The cry of

00:50:27.480 --> 00:50:28.099
 vengeance that

00:50:28.099 --> 00:50:28.699
 all of human

00:50:28.699 --> 00:50:29.819
 history attests

00:50:29.819 --> 00:50:30.819
 to, it

00:50:30.819 --> 00:50:31.259
 calls for

00:50:31.259 --> 00:50:32.219
 justice, it

00:50:32.219 --> 00:50:33.599
 demands death.

00:50:33.960 --> 00:50:34.519
 But that's

00:50:34.519 --> 00:50:35.379
 satisfied by

00:50:35.379 --> 00:50:35.920
 Jesus and

00:50:35.920 --> 00:50:37.039
 his perfect

00:50:37.039 --> 00:50:38.319
 sinless life and

00:50:38.319 --> 00:50:38.839
 death on the

00:50:38.839 --> 00:50:39.219
 cross.

00:50:40.719 --> 00:50:41.559
 And so then

00:50:41.559 --> 00:50:42.239
 it's by believing

00:50:42.239 --> 00:50:44.440
 in Jesus that

00:50:44.440 --> 00:50:44.920
 we can be filled

00:50:44.920 --> 00:50:45.559
 with the Spirit and

00:50:45.559 --> 00:50:46.239
 cultivate true

00:50:46.239 --> 00:50:46.559
 virtue.

00:50:48.460 --> 00:50:49.819
 We can, it's

00:50:49.819 --> 00:50:50.379
 not enough to

00:50:50.379 --> 00:50:51.179
 strive to improve

00:50:51.179 --> 00:50:51.659
 the human

00:50:51.659 --> 00:50:52.299
 condition.

00:50:52.300 --> 00:50:53.840
 we need to

00:50:53.840 --> 00:50:54.560
 transform human

00:50:54.560 --> 00:50:55.180
 nature and

00:50:55.180 --> 00:50:55.800
 that can only

00:50:55.800 --> 00:50:57.060
 happen through

00:50:57.060 --> 00:50:58.460
 Christ because

00:50:58.460 --> 00:50:59.340
 every intention of

00:50:59.340 --> 00:50:59.820
 our thoughts are

00:50:59.820 --> 00:51:00.740
 evil continually

00:51:00.740 --> 00:51:01.740
 apart from him.

00:51:03.000 --> 00:51:03.640
 So I want to

00:51:03.640 --> 00:51:05.039
 close by saying

00:51:05.039 --> 00:51:05.840
 this to you, if

00:51:05.840 --> 00:51:07.220
 you are feeling

00:51:07.220 --> 00:51:09.560
 guilty, haunted,

00:51:09.820 --> 00:51:10.260
 guilt-ridden

00:51:10.260 --> 00:51:11.780
 today, Satan is

00:51:11.780 --> 00:51:12.600
 accusing you and

00:51:12.600 --> 00:51:13.720
 your conscience is

00:51:13.720 --> 00:51:14.380
 bearing witness

00:51:14.380 --> 00:51:15.160
 against you.

00:51:15.380 --> 00:51:16.240
 If the blood of

00:51:16.240 --> 00:51:17.220
 Abel is crying

00:51:17.220 --> 00:51:19.140
 out against you

00:51:19.140 --> 00:51:20.300
 from everywhere for

00:51:20.300 --> 00:51:20.940
 vengeance and

00:51:20.940 --> 00:51:22.120
 condemnation, then

00:51:22.119 --> 00:51:23.739
 hear instead for

00:51:23.739 --> 00:51:24.960
 you the cry of

00:51:24.960 --> 00:51:25.719
 the blood of

00:51:25.719 --> 00:51:27.839
 Jesus Christ, which

00:51:27.839 --> 00:51:28.619
 is crying out

00:51:28.619 --> 00:51:30.839
 mercy, grace,

00:51:31.639 --> 00:51:33.359
 love, forgiveness,

00:51:34.000 --> 00:51:35.099
 and then come to

00:51:35.099 --> 00:51:36.059
 him in repentance

00:51:36.059 --> 00:51:37.099
 and faith.

00:51:37.279 --> 00:51:38.159
 There you will find

00:51:38.159 --> 00:51:39.000
 redemption and

00:51:39.000 --> 00:51:39.400
 salvation.

00:51:40.319 --> 00:51:40.839
 So let's pray

00:51:40.839 --> 00:51:41.139
 together.

00:51:50.019 --> 00:51:51.239
 God, it is so

00:51:51.239 --> 00:51:54.359
 easy to spot sin in

00:51:54.359 --> 00:51:57.019
 human history, in

00:51:57.019 --> 00:51:59.539
 your word, in our

00:51:59.539 --> 00:52:00.199
 own hearts.

00:52:01.139 --> 00:52:02.279
 So easy, Lord.

00:52:03.559 --> 00:52:05.139
 Yet we praise you,

00:52:05.319 --> 00:52:06.339
 God, that you have

00:52:06.339 --> 00:52:07.239
 made a way for us

00:52:07.239 --> 00:52:07.839
 through your son,

00:52:07.959 --> 00:52:09.219
 Jesus, to be

00:52:09.219 --> 00:52:10.599
 forgiven, to be

00:52:10.599 --> 00:52:12.179
 atoned, to be

00:52:12.179 --> 00:52:13.479
 redeemed by his

00:52:13.479 --> 00:52:13.919
 blood.

00:52:14.839 --> 00:52:15.799
 We thank you for

00:52:15.799 --> 00:52:16.599
 your mercy and

00:52:16.599 --> 00:52:17.019
 grace.

00:52:17.779 --> 00:52:18.759
 We just pray that

00:52:18.759 --> 00:52:19.619
 you would help us to

00:52:19.619 --> 00:52:20.579
 live in light of

00:52:20.579 --> 00:52:22.719
 that grace, to

00:52:22.719 --> 00:52:23.579
 trust in your

00:52:23.579 --> 00:52:24.059
 grace and

00:52:24.059 --> 00:52:24.799
 sovereignty throughout

00:52:24.799 --> 00:52:25.920
 our history and

00:52:25.920 --> 00:52:27.239
 throughout human

00:52:27.239 --> 00:52:27.659
 history.

00:52:30.359 --> 00:52:31.319
 And we pray that

00:52:31.319 --> 00:52:32.099
 you would give us

00:52:32.099 --> 00:52:34.199
 the zeal and the

00:52:34.199 --> 00:52:35.079
 love for others to

00:52:35.079 --> 00:52:36.019
 share that grace as

00:52:36.019 --> 00:52:36.199
 well.

00:52:38.199 --> 00:52:39.299
 In Jesus' name we

00:52:39.299 --> 00:52:39.500
 pray.

00:52:39.940 --> 00:52:40.159
 Amen.

00:52:40.159 --> 00:52:40.279
 Amen.

00:52:40.279 --> 00:52:40.339
 Amen.

00:52:40.339 --> 00:52:40.359
 Amen.

00:52:40.359 --> 00:52:40.579
 Amen.

00:52:40.579 --> 00:52:40.679
 Amen.

00:52:40.679 --> 00:52:40.940
 Amen.

00:52:40.940 --> 00:52:41.539
 Amen.

00:52:41.539 --> 00:52:41.900
 Amen.

00:52:42.039 --> 00:52:42.440
 Amen.

00:52:42.440 --> 00:52:43.099
 Amen.

00:52:43.099 --> 00:52:44.659
 Amen.

00:52:44.659 --> 00:52:49.599
 Amen.