![[#55] Genesis 4:6-7 – The First Sin in the Bible](https://redeeminggod.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/anger_by_kwerfeldein-150x150.jpg)
If I were to ask you when the first sin in the Bible occurs, you might point to Genesis 2 when Adam and Eve eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Yet did you know that their actions in Genesis 2 are not referred to as “sin”?
Sin is not actually mentioned until Genesis 4:7, which is one of the verses we look at in this study.
The Text of Genesis 4:6-7
So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”
In this discussion of Genesis 4:6-7 we look at:
- Why Cain becomes Angry
- The nature and source of sin
- The causes and consequences of sin
- The truth about sin
Resources:
- Become a Member of RedeemingGod.com
- Walton, Lost World Adam and Eve
- Biddle, Missing the Mark
- Subscribe and Leave a Review on iTunes
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Hi Jeremy, James here can you give me a deep understanding of the part. You shall rule over it. Very curious what you have to say. Thanks
uh… Romans 5:12 Just as sin came into the world through one man (Adam, not Cain), and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned. 1 Cor 15:22 For as in Adam all die… Sin came into the world thru Adam. Sin is any transgression against God because we were made to obey and adore Him. Adam and Eve definitely sinned when they agreed with deception and disobeyed God. If they had not sinned, then God punished two innocent beings – meaning He is not holy and therefore, a liar. So… no, the podcast errs on the side of a human-centered gospel instead of God-centered gospel.
Excellent objections! All of which I have considered and have answered elsewhere.
So, a better response might have been “How do you understand these verses…?”
Where is ‘elsewhere’ please?
Regarding the statements in the podcast about God wanting us to be more human, less inhuman. 1 Peter 1:15 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, From this verse God is not wanting us to be more human but more godly. i don’t expect that this little discourse will change your views – only that if anyone does not accept their need for a Savior in Jesus Christ then what could possibly be the point to studying the bible verse by verse or otherwise.
Kerri, the Bible says that humans were created in the image of God. Jesus taught that God was our father and our behaviour should be to become like our father.
Doesn’t it then follow logically that to be less human is to be less like our father, to be more human is to be more like our father, more God-like, more godly. Peter, that you quoted says ” obedient children “.
The image of God is his son Jesus Christ it was Gods intention that we would be like his son in fact we find our true nature and identity in Christ.
Yes! I 100% agree with what Peter writes there. Our former passions make us animalistic, that is, less human. They lead us into ignorant living. So as followers of Jesus, we must move on from that way of living, and instead live according to the pattern of Jesus, who not only reveals true God to us, but also reveals true humanity.
I have seen over the years a number of discussions on Cain’s sacrifice and what it might signify. From what I can find in the Bible, there seems to be no explanation of the reason why Cain’s sacrifice was rejected, only a declaration that it was rejected.
For that reason, I wonder whether the intent or meaning of the sacrifice is the thing that we are to take notice of.
James. in his little NT letter to the believers says that the scripture is a mirror in which we see ourselves ( and we have a tendency to turn away and forget what we look like )
When I look at Cain and his possible intentions of sacrifice, atonement or “liberation”. I don’t see myself at all.
When I look at Cain’s response at having to wear his wrongness then it all starts to look oh so familiar.
I think people who work in the police, courts and prisons would recognise Cain straight away.
Have you ever got a traffic ticket , what was your first feeling towards the traffic cop. Have you ever had to speak to your neighbour about noise or nuisance emanating from them, how did they respond ? What can happen when a parent tells a teenager to turn down music, dress more sensibly. Oh yes we know that one. Have you been in a competition and didn’t win the prize you thought should be yours, have you been asked to leave a bar because you were a nuisance, have you been denied credit. Those who work in the law area know that all of these( and more ) have led to murderous violence.
Cain couldn’t beat up God, but he could beat up his brother, after all it was his brother who made him look bad wasn’t it ?
And Cain’s response when confronted with his deeds and sentenced. The old familiar ; perpetrator as victim. Not responsible, sentence too harsh, poor me I will suffer.
As I said , all too familiar. That mirror throws back a horrible reflection.
Just my thoughts on the topic, I could be wrong.
Neville genesis 4 -6 i believe explains Cain heart he is worldly he was driven by his pride and self effort those in themselves are not pleasing to God So before he even brought his sacrifice his heart wasnt right.God destroyed the city of sodom because of there pride and the devil was cast down because of his pride to me that is enough evidence to convince me. brentnz
Genesis 4 : 6-7 Cain is a picture of the worldly man he was self made and had a strong desire to succeed by his own efforts.Why this reminds me of the flesh is that we have this performance mentality and it driven by a desire to please others to be esteemed by man that is pride.So if we succeed and do well we are happy our confidence soars however the opposite is true if we dont do well and that is exactly the problem that Cain struggled with he had esteem issues and his way of dealing with it was anger.Does it sound familar how many of us have struggled with the same issues i certainly did.God tells him how he can deal with this issue he must rule over it.The problem is the issue of our pride we must admit that we cant do it in our strength it is Christ in us who helps us in our weakness and we are overcomers because of him not because of what we can do.I am sure that if Cain had admitted to God that he couldnt do it in his strength then God would have helped him but he wanted to do it his way and that was why sin was waiting outside his door.Its a lesson for us not to rely on our flesh but to rely on the Lord.
There is so much in this episode with Cain, isn’t there? I like how you brought out the issue of pride. I think that was part of what is going on here as well.
Please help me Jeremy please message me, I didn’t notice at first that that I sent you 11 emails, I do need your help,.
I have replied to many of those emails, Mitchell. Did you not get them?
Jeremy thanks for your comments alot of this i never really thought about before until you provoked me to seek the truth in the word it is what we all should be doing finding the truth for ourselves God wants to reveal mysterys if we are open to hear.If we have been christians awhile we just take the word of whoevers preaching or whichever clip we see on god tube its knowledge but not revelation.Because the story sounds plausible we tag that on to our belief for example for many years i believed that the rich young rulers problem was money so the way to deal with that problem is to give it away and be a follower of Jesus sounds plausible.Till you realise every believers situation is different so the message has to be universal.So the reason its not about money because it excludes those that dont have it and doesnt make room for those that do have it but dont worship it.The rich young ruler was not a bad person he lived by a good moral code but he made money his idol he put that before God.The word says we shall not have any idols thats a sin and a wicked one.In fact there wasnt any room in his heart for Jesus that is a tragedy.So when we see the message is about Idolatry we all have areas that we chose not to submit to God thats universal everyone of us whether we are rich or poor.I believe we are unaware that we have these idols what are some of them that was revealed to me our partners our children our work our church our family i can sense some of you are getting fidgetty. Like me i didn’t mind when God highlighted the sin but i wasnt prepared for those other areas that i secretly kept close to my heart and i had to confess that i had made them idols.You see anything that comes between God and us is an idol For the word says love the Lord with all your heart mind soul and strength and love your neighbour as yourself. .Parables are powerful when God reveals the message for us today.Those who have ears let them hear its a universal message is what he is saying and wants everyone to know.brentnz