'The Way Of Cain”



"THE WAY OF CAIN”

JUDE 11

INTRO: God's grace is abundant, free, and available to any and all who will by

faith place their trust in Jesus Christ. But grace is not inherited,

cannot be bought, nor is it merited. It can only be received, and this

by faith. Grace does not run in the blood. John 1:12-13 says, "..as

many as received Him to them gave He power to become the sons of

God, even to them that believe on His name: Which were born, not of

blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

Jesus said in John 10:9, "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he

shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." In that same

chapter in v1, He declares, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that

entered not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some

other way, the same is a thief and a robber."

There is only one way to be saved. There is only one way to be

reconciled to God. There is only one way to Heaven and that way is

Jesus! Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Men for ages have sought

another way to be saved; to be reconciled to God, and to make it to

Heaven. But there is no other way! Proverbs 14:12 says, "There is a

way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways

of death." In our text, we read of a man named Cain. He was the eldest

son of Adam and Eve. He was also the first murderer recorded in the

Scripture. Cain tried to approach God on his on terms and on his own

way. Thus Jude here warns us about "The Way of Cain." Many in

our world today are going "The Way Of Cain." "The Way Of Cain" is

"the broad way that leadeth to destruction” (Matthew 7:13). God says

in Isaiah 55:8, "for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your

ways my ways, saith the LORD." ANY other WAY instead of God's

WAY is "The Way of Cain!" Let us look at the characteristics of the

"Way of Cain"

THE WAY OF CAIN IS:

(1) THE WAY OF MERE HUMAN OPINION

GENESIS 4:1-4a—“And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and

bore Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. And she

again bore his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain

was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that

Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And

Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof.

And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering.”

A. MAN’S EFFORT. The way of Cain is man's attempt to find favor with God

by doing good works. Some people attempt to keep the Ten

Commandments; others try to live by the Golden Rule. Yet nothing which

unregenerate man does apart from God is sufficient to earn Salvation!

(Isaiah 64:6; Titus 3:5; Ephesians 2:8-9). Cain was a tiller of the soil

(v2). And no doubt he brought to God the best he could offer—the

firstfruits—as an atonement for his soul. Cain's offering was based upon

his own ideas, not the LORD'S. Although, Cain's offering was attractive, it

was not what God had required! When Adam and Eve had sinned in the

Garden they had sewn fig leaves together as a covering. That is man's

opinion, man's way, and man's mode of covering; but God said it was not

enough, and shed innocent blood to make them coats of skin for a

covering. NO doubt, Adam and Eve had told this to their sons, but Cain

rejected it. Cain apparently did not take seriously the necessity for the

shedding of blood, and the death of the sacrificial animal. But the problem

with Cain seemed to be more than the kind of offering he brought. His

attitudes and actions were evil (Gordon Talbot. A Study of The Book of

Genesis. p. 41).

ILLUS: If you were drowning and someone offered to pull you from the

water, and you accepted that offer, would it be true that you had

done anything to save yourself? Could you say that you had been

saved by your own works, and thereby become proud? What, then,

of those who receive Christ by an act of their will -- was it because

they were smart enough, loving enough, wise enough, righteous

enough, or anything else enough? That I choose to accept the

pardon God offers in Christ does not constitute any work on my

part. It is all of God and all by grace. I can take no credit

whatsoever! ­TBC (Bible Illustrator For Windows. Version 3.0f.

Copyright 1990-1998, by Parsons Technology, Inc. All Rights

Reserved).

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his

mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the

Holy Ghost.” (Titus 3:5).

B. MAN’S EXALTATION. Jesus called Abel "righteous" in Matthew 23:35, the

writer of Hebrews did also in Hebrews 11:4, and John claimed that Abel's

works were "righteous," but that Cain's were "evil" (1 John 3:12). Since

righteousness is by faith, Abel was righteous in that he presented the slain

sacrifice in obedient faith, but Cain's disobedience indicates a lack of faith

(Gordon Talbot. A Study of The Book of Genesis. p. 41). The way of Cain is

to trust self, but the God's way is to trust in Him and Him alone! The best

we can do is take God's way. Cain refused to come unto God as a sinner,

thus he was rejected. Jeremiah 9:23-24 says—“Thus saith the LORD, Let

not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his

might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in

this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which

exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in

these things I delight, saith the LORD.” The way of Cain is the way of

religion without faith, righteousness based upon character and good works.

Peter in 2 Peter 2:17 describes followers of the way of Cain this way,

"These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to

whom the midst of darkness is reserved for ever.”

ILLUS: Early one morning fire broke out in a house on a narrow street.

The alarm was sounded by a policeman on duty. Before the fire

engines could get to the scene, however, flames were leaping high

into the air. Suddenly a young man appeared at an upper window

in his pajamas. Firemen quickly placed a ladder against the

burning building. But to the consternation of all, he refused to

come down, shouting back that he had to get dressed first. The

firemen pleaded, "Come as you are! Come as you are!" but to no

avail. From below they tried to ascend the stairs, but were turned

back as the wind fanned the flames into fury. When a rescuer

tried to enter through a window, the heat and smoke forced him

away. Suddenly the stairs gave way and the roof fell in. The man

had waited too long and was buried beneath the ruins. How much

greater tragedy awaits all who refuse to "flee from the wrath to

come." Many reject God's provision of salvation and safety in

Christ because they want to get dressed up in the clothes of self-

righteousness or religion. Their delay could cost them their souls.

(Bible Illustrator For Windows. Version 3.0f. Copyright 1990-1998,

by Parsons Technology, Inc. All Rights Reserved).

(2) THE WAY OF WILLFUL IGNORANCE

A. IT MEANS DELIBERATE REJECTION. Cain must have known from the

fact that he was born outside Eden and from the example of his father and

mother that he was a sinner in the sight of God. The very coats of skin

given to Adam and Eve by God revealed the need for an atonement to cover.

But Cain rejected God's Way. He sought acceptance by his own way, his

own approach, his own works, and his own ideas. He knew what God

required, but chose to willfully ignore and reject God's way!

ILLUS: A man cannot get God's spiritual blessings if he does not want

them. You take a hermetically sealed bottle, and put it into the

sea; it may float about in mid-ocean for a century, surrounded by

a shoreless ocean, and it will be as dry and empty inside at the

end as it was at the beginning. So, you and I float, live, move, and

have our being in the great ocean of God's love in Christ, but you

can cork up your hearts, and wax them over with an impenetrable

cover, through which that grace does not come. And you do it,

some of you. --A. Maclaren (Bible Illustrator For Windows. Version

3.0f. Copyright 1990-1998, by Parsons Technology, Inc. All Rights

Reserved).

B. IT MEANS DECEPTION IN RELIGION. Many today are as Israel described

for us in Romans 10:2-3, ".... they have a zeal for God, but not according to

knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going

about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves

unto the righteousness of God." They are going the way of Cain-the way of

willful ignorance and rejection. Friend, I want you to realize something this

morning. I can be a model citizen, attend Church every time the door is

open, give tithes of all I possess, sing praise unto God with my lips, and

have my name on the Church roll, but unless God's righteousness has been

put to my account, I will spend all eternity in hell! Friends, religion has

sent many a soul to hell! "Most people in America have just enough religion

to keep them from getting the real thing. They have just enough to

inoculate them against God!" - Billy Graham S.B.C. 1982. Jesus said in

Matthew 7:21-23—“ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter

into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is

in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not

prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy

name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I

never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

The Way Of Cain is THE WAY OF WILLFUL IGNORANCE. God cannot accept my thank-offering as long as I refuse to acknowledge and accept His sin-offering (John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:18-19). We work because we are saved, not to

obtain salvation!

THE WAY OF CAIN is THE WAY OF MERE HUMAN OPINION, THE WAY OF WILLFUL IGNORANCE and…

(3) THE WAY OF UTTER REJECTION

GENESIS 4:5a—“But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect..."

A. THE ATTITUDE OF THE REJECTED. God just did not reject Cain's

offering, but also He rejected the spirit in which he offered it. It is evident

from Cain's reaction to God's rejection that his spirit was wrong. "Cain

was very wroth, and his countenance fell" (v5). The word "wroth" means "to

glow or burn with anger or displeasure." Cain became angry-very angry.

The Scripture also says "His countenance fell". The word "countenance"

deals with the face or facial expression. It means to be downcast. Because

of God's rejection, he was burning with anger and he was very downcast.

He was angry with God for not accepting his offering, he was angry because

he could not approach God and worship Him his own way, and he was

angry with his brother because God had accepted his offering. I ask a

question, "was Cain's a justifiable anger? NO, if he should have been angry

with anyone it should have been himself, not God nor Abel. Because he

was the one who disobeyed God and tried to approach God on his own way!

B. THE ATTAINMENT OF THE REJECTED. What a tragedy it will be for all

those who try to approach God and enter into heaven another way! They

will be utterly rejected because they would not come God's way! All those

who reject redemption through the BLOOD will face utter rejection because

they have gone the way of Cain! To realize that for all their religious zeal

and activity the only thing they will have to show for it is utter rejection

before the Throne and the pronouncement from the lips of Jesus, “I never

knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

ILLUS: Dr. Scofield, in his reference Bible, has this note on Jude 11, "Cain

is the type of the religious natural man, who believes in God, and in

'religion', but after his own will, and who rejects redemption by the

blood." (John R. Rice. In The Beginning. p. 154).

God makes it clear in His Word that man must trust in His Son and His

Son's sacrifice on the Cross to be saved. If he will not he will be utterly

rejected (John 3:36; Ephesians 1:7)!

ILLUS: A man some time ago was going to get into heaven in his own way.

He did not believe in the Bible or the love of God, but was going to

get in on account of his good deeds. He was very generous and

gave a lot of money to worthy causes. And he thought that the more

he gave the better in would be for him when he reached heaven.

This man dreamed one night that he was building a ladder to

heaven and he dreamed that every good deed he did put him one

rung higher on that ladder. And when he did an extra good deed it

put him up many rungs. In this dream he kept going and going up,

until he at last he got out of sight, and he went on and on doing

good deeds, and the ladder went up higher and higher until at last

he thought he saw it run up to the very throne of God. Then in his

dream he died, and a mighty voice came rolling down from above,

"He that climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a

robber,” and down came his ladder and he awoke from his sleep

with a start and the truth became real to him, 1f I go to heaven I

must go some other way." -- D.L. Moody (Elon Foster. 6000

Classic Sermon Illustrations. p. 444).

Lost friend, there are only two ways for you in this life to choose: One is the broad way which leadeth to destruction, this is the way of Cain and if you go that way when you stand before God you will be utterly rejected. The other way is the narrow way which leads unto life. This ends at the very throne of God. The question is which way will be your way? The way of Cain or God's way (Deuteronomy 30:11).

(4) THE WAY OF UNYIELDING PRIDE

GENESIS 4:5b—“And Cain was very wroth and his countenance fell"

A. PRIDE IS STUBBORN. Although Cain knew that the way he came to God

was of his own choosing and displeasing to God, we see no desire for

repentance nor no willingness to confess his sin and forsake his way. We

read in vv. 6-7, "And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and

why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well shalt thou not be accepted?

and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his

desire, and thou shalt rule over him."

B. PRIDE IS SELFISH. Pride is simply allowing SELF to inhabit the throne of

your heart. It is interesting to note that in the Hebrew "sin" and "sin-

offering" are the same word. This "sin-offering" according to v6 "lieth at the

door." God had provided Cain with a sin-offering and it was waiting at the

door. Cain could have availed himself of God's gracious offering, had he

only heeded God's gracious exhortation. Instead, because of unyielding

pride, he rejected the gracious substitute and went out to slay his brother

(V. Paul Flint. Strangers & Pilgrims: A Study of Genesis. p. 49). The sin-

offering was at the door, waiting his reception and ready for his use, but he

would not. Because of unyielding pride, Cain was unwilling to solve his sin

problem (Gordon Talbot. A Study of The Book of Genesis. p. 42). Cain could

have had mercy. All he had to do was acknowledge his sin and the need for

the blood and by faith offer it, but he would not. He remained a rebel

against God, a deliberate unbeliever (John R. Rice. In The Beginning. p.

155). WHY? Because Cain put his WAY above GOD’S WAY, his WILL above

GOD’S WILL, and the WORTH of his sacrifice above the WORTH OF GOD’S

SACRIFICE!

Jesus offered many invitations to "come" during His earthly ministry, but many heeded not his call (John 5:40). Many today, because of unyielding pride, are going the Way of Cain, and will not come! How many sinners perish, not because there is not a Savior able and willing to save them, but because they will not use that which is within their power! Of such how true is that word of our Lord, Ye will not come unto me that ye might have life! (Adam Clarke’s Commentary on The Bible. e-Sword. Version 7.6.1. Copyright 2000-2005. Rick Meyers. All Rights Reserved Worldwide).

THE WAY OF CAIN is THE WAY OF MERE HUMAN OPINION, THE WAY OF WILLFUL IGNORANCE, THE WAY OF UTTER REJECTION, THE WAY OF UNYIELDING PRIDE and…

(5) THE WAY OF MANIFEST HATRED

GENESIS 4:8—“ And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to

pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his

brother, and slew him.”

A. THE JEALOUSY. The reason Cain slew Abel was because God had

accepted Abel's offering, but his God had rejected. Abel was not killed

because of any crime against Cain. No, Cain, because his works were evil

and his heart wicked, killed his brother who by faith believed and obeyed

God. He was angry with his brother without cause. “Sin, when it is

finished, bringeth forth death.” Going the Way of Cain is to go the Way of

Manifest Hatred. To hate the provision of God and to hate those whom are

God's. The Scripture tells us that the first murdered was committed by a

man who denied the doctrine of substitution and the need for atonement

by the blood. We read in 1 JOHN 3:11-12—“For this is the message that ye

heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who

was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him?

Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.” Cain

murdered Abel because of “…envy and hatred of his brother’s piety, owing

to which God accepted Abel’s, but rejected Cain’s offering.” (Jamieson,

Fausset & Brown Commentary. e-Sword. Version 7.6.1. Copyright 2000-

2005. Rick Meyers. All Rights Reserved Worldwide).

B. THE JUSTIFICATION. Instead of Cain repenting and asking forgiveness of

God under the LORD’S searching inquiry, Cain continued to rebel and

show forth hatred to God and the things of God (vv. 9-10). Cain not only

refused to repent and confess his sin, but to it he added a lie, "I know not"

(v9). Thus we see proof positive that he was a child of the devil (John

8:44). Cain tried to justify his sinful actions. We read in Job 9:10—“If I

justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it

shall also prove me perverse.” Cain reminds us of the lawyer that asked

Jesus “Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus told him, “What

is written in the law? how readest thou?” The man answered, “Thou shalt

love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all

thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.” The Lord

answered, “Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.”(Luke

10:25-28). Listen to what this man’s reply was. Does this not sound like

Cain? : “But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my

neighbor?” (Luke 10:29). Folks, we can either try and justify our selves by

own our righteousness and our own works; or else, we can be justified

through the blood of Jesus Christ and have His righteousness!

All of us, this morning are either a child of God or a child of the devil. The

choice is ours; we can either go God's way or the Way of Cain!

THE WAY OF CAIN is THE WAY OF MERE HUMAN OPINION, THE WAY OF WILLFUL IGNORANCE, THE WAY OF UTTER REJECTION, THE WAY OF UNYIELDING PRIDE, THE WAY OF MANIFEST HATRED and…

(6) THE WAY OF DIVINE CONDEMNATION

GENESIS 4:11—“ And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath

opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand.”

A. THE SENTENCE OF DEATH. The murderer, Cain, was condemned to bear

the curse of God within his soul. Everywhere Cain went he must bear the

curse of his sin. The Scripture tells us, "He that believeth not is condemned

already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son

of God" (John 3:18). Where can the man hide who has fled from the only

refuge under heaven for the lost sinner-Jesus Christ, the sin-offering? The

guilt of the unforgiveness cries unto God like the blood of Abel. The

Scripture tells us that because of sin we are all under the wrath of God

until we are covered by Jesus' blood (Romans 5:12). And the way to be

freed from the condemnation and curse of sin is to be covered with the

blood (Hebrews 9:22; Romans 8:1).

B. THE SORROW AT DEATH. What a tragedy for a man to stand before

almighty God, who has gone the Way of Cain, hoping in his own

righteousness and goodness to get him to heaven, only to hear the sentence

of eternal condemnation and damnation pronounced upon him, "I never

knew you, ye that work iniquity into everlasting fire prepared for the devil

and his angels!.” But lo, this is the sentence that will be on all who reject

God's way and go the Way of Cain!

(7) THE WAY OF HOPELESS DESPAIR

GENESIS 4:13—“ And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is

greater than I can bear.”

A. THE REMORSE. Cain said, "My punishment is greater than I can bear."

His response is not one of a repentant soul, but of a hardened heart

against God. There is nothing in Cain's words that indicate repentance.

He shows no remorse whatsoever for murdering Abel his brother. He was

upset because he was caught and punished. He does not even seem

grateful that God spared his life (v14). Cain is saying in essence: "My

punishment is greater than I can bear. Just look at the punishment you

have pronounced upon me. You have alienated me...”. Cain sighed God

you have:

← "Cut me off from the fruitfulness of the earth, doomed me to struggle with great difficulties as I seek to meet the necessities of life."

← “Cut me off from yourself, from your presence, care and blessings as I walk through life."

← "Cut me off from society, from ever being acceptable to them and from ever being at rest and having a permanent resting place."

In all these complaints, Cain is not deploring his sin, but complaining about the judgment of God. He is accusing God of being unfair and too severe.

B. THE REALITY. Many today believe they will be acceptable to God, in the

end. That somehow their good works and merit will get them to heaven.

But that is THE WAY OF CAIN. In the end it is hopeless. The door to hell

has this sign on it: ABANDON HOPE YE WHO ENTER HERE! V16 tells us

that after God pronounced judgment upon Cain, he "…went out from the

presence of the LORD...". All who reject Christ as their sin-offering are

doomed to go out forever from the presence of the LORD and the glory of

His power! 2 Thessalonians 1:8b-9 speaks of “…them that know not God,

and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished

with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory

of his power.”

CLOSING: Cain's guilt began by taking his own way, and it was aggravated

by refusing to repent after light and guidance had been given. He

is now confirmed in his unbelief and sealed in his doom! This is

THE WAY OF CAIN, IT IS: THE WAY OF MERE HUMAN OPINION,

THE WAY OF WILLFUL IGNORANCE, THE WAY OF UTTER

REJECTION, THE WAY OF UNYIELDING PRIDE, THE WAY OF

MANIFEST HATRED, THE WAY OF DIVINE CONDEMNATION,

AND THE WAY OF HOPELESS DESPAIR. "Woe unto them for they

have gone the way of Cain…".

Friend, Are you going God's way or THE WAY OF CAIN? You can go God's way by simply acknowledging that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself. By repenting of your sin and trusting in the sacrifice of Christ as your only hope. That is God's way (Isaiah 1:18)!

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