What Do You Have to Offer?

Posted on July 22, 2007

 

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Genesis 4:1-24

ONE GREAT TRUTH: We really have nothing to offer to God except to believe in the sacrifice of His Son, which He provided for our sins. Every other approach to God is based on falsehood.

I. Cain: The Offering of SELF.

Genesis 4 records the beginning of the very first false religion – the worship of ME, MYSELF, and I. It would be the foundation for every other false belief system in all of history to come.

A. “I” have brought forth fruit. Cain’s offering was all about what he could produce by the work of his hands.

B. “I” have a right to murder. Even the mere right to be envious is not ours. But Cain felt that he could claim the right to take his brother’s life.

C. “I” am not guilty. Cain, at first, denies his crime. We see how sin warps our view of God. Cain actually came to believe that God wouldn’t know.

D. “I” am not responsible for others. Cain’s question, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” was rhetorical. He expected the answer to be “no.” The Bible doesn’t record God’s answer, but we can gather from this passage, and others, that it was, “Yes, absolutely, no man lives to himself!”

E. “I” don’t deserve punishment. In the end, Cain determined that God’s punishment was too great, it was too harsh. Can there be real sorrow where God’s consequences seem too heavy for the crime?

Notice in the rest of the chapter how this false religion, with SELF on the throne, permeates future generations… The Cainite, Enoch, began building a godless city that would be judged in the flood… Lamech was the first person recorded as participating in polygamy and would later assert, in pride, that he was more worthy of God’s protection than Cain. All of our worship of SELF will influence future generations to walk even further away from God.

II. Abel: The Offering of FAITH.

Hebrews 11:4

I wish we were told more about this story. There are only two things we really know about Abel’s sacrifice, but both are very important.

A. It was a sacrifice of blood. An innocent animal died for a man. Someone has said that the first animal was sacrificed for individuals. Then, they were sacrificed for families. Then, for the nation. Finally, when Jesus came, He gave His life for the whole world!

B. It was offered by faith. Faith in what? The principle and power of sacrifice. Abel expressed faith that God would receive the atoning blood of someone or something else on his behalf. The blood of Jesus has been shed for you, but you must believe, you must place your faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.

III. God: The Offering of GRACE.

When you ask the question, “what’s the story of Cain and Abel about?” you usually get answers like, “Murder!” “Cain!” “Evil!” or “Sacrifice!” In reality, it’s about God’s grace and mercy.

A. In accepting Abel’s sacrifice, God was keeping His promise that the blood of an innocent and spotless lamb would atone for the sinfulness of mankind through faith.

B. In intervening in Cain’s life, God demonstrated a willingness to offer Cain the chance to repent and prevent this crime from occurring. There’s another huge life lesson here. We can either master sin, or sin will master us! (James 1:14-15)

C. In providing protection for Cain, God demonstrated what is often referred to as “common grace.” This is the Bible’s teaching that God caringly provides for the entire human race, regardless of their response to Him. Everyone who enjoys another breath, a drop of rain, a relationship with a loved one, is experiencing the common grace of God to all. More than anything else, it’s an opportunity to hear the gospel and respond by faith.