Quote from Forum Archives on December 14, 2001, 4:05 am

Posted by: ccfmo <ccfmo@...>

e-pistle
A weekly ministry letter from Christian Civic Foundation

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Dr. Curt Scarborough FreeWay Foundation December 14, 2001

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Am I My Brother's Keeper?
(Genesis 4:1-10)

I. Concentration: on these two brothers

1. Cain was the firstborn son of Adam and Eve, v. 1.
2. Cain was a farmer; Abel, his younger brother, was a shepherd, v. 2.
3. Apparently, these boys had been taught about spiritual things (the Garden of
Eden events) because both Cain and Abel brought offerings to worship
the Lord. vv. 3-4.
4. The Lord respected (esteemed; honored) Abel and his sacrifice, but the
Lord did not respect Cain and his offering, vv. 4-5.

II. Meditation: on why God accepted Abel but rejected Cain

1. Perhaps it was because Abel brought a blood sacrifice (for sin), while Cain
brought a grain offering (for thanksgiving) . . . although these religious rituals
were not established until centuries later, Hebrews 12:24.
2. According to Jesus, Abel was "righteous," Matthew 23:35; Luke 11:51.
3. Abel had faith as he offered his excellent sacrifice to God; Cain did not have
such a living faith, Hebrews 11:4.
4. Cain "was of the wicked (evil) one" (Satan), I John 3:12; Jude 1:11.

III. Revelation: on God's questions to the murderer, Cain

1. "Why are you angry? Why has your countenance fallen?" (v. 6) Cain's anger
had grown out of jealousy and envy of his brother, Abel, and Cain's hateful,
malicious attitude manifested itself on his face.
2. "If you do well, will you not be accepted?" (v. 7) God here extended to Cain
the possibility of Divine forgiveness and acceptance if he would repent of
his sins and in faith "do well" . . . obey.
3. "Where is Abel your brother?" (v. 9) God saw Cain murder Abel and
called for his confession, but Cain side-stepped the question, just as
his parents had done in Eden. Cain asked: "Am I my brother's keeper?"
The answer to Cain's question is "YES!"
4. "What have you done?" (v. 10) This is the same question which God asked
Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:13). Sinners must admit
their sins before they are in a position to ask God forgiveness.

IV. Applications: on following the examples given by Abel ("the first man to . . . ")

1. Abel was the first man to worship God correctly; I, also, must worship the
Lord in righteousness, I Chronicles 16:29.
2. Abel was the first man to demonstrate faith accurately; I, also, must
demonstrate my faith through my obedient works, James 2:18.
3. Abel was the first man to please God fully; I, also, must walk "fully pleasing"
before God . . . spiritually fruitful, increasingly perceptive and
empowered by the Holy Spirit, Colossians 1:10-12.
4. Abel was the first man to die physically; I, also, must someday experience
death, but through faith in the Lord Jesus, I shall be resurrected.
Hebrews 9:27; John 1:25-26; I Thessalonians 4:16-17.

Enoch Walked with God
(Genesis 5:18-24)

I. Concentration: on the man named Enoch

1. Enoch (meaning "dedicated") perhaps was named after his great-uncle
Cain's son, for whom a city also had been named, Genesis 4:17.
2. Enoch, therefore, was the seventh generation from Adam (Genesis 5):
(1) Adam (6) Jared
(2) Seth (7) Enoch
(3) Enosh (8) Methuselah
(4) Cainan (9) Lamech
(5) Mahalalel (10) Noah
3. Enoch, therefore, was the great-grandfather of Noah.
4. Enoch lived and walked in such close fellowship with God that he was
translated into the presence of God in heaven without dying, v. 24.

II. Meditation: on Enoch's character and accomplishments

1. Enoch lived 365 years by faith before being taken away, Hebrews 11:5.
2. Enoch had this good testimony: that he pleased God, Hebrews 11:5.
3. Enoch was privileged to be listed as an ancestor of God's Messiah, Luke 3:37.
4. Enoch prophesied about the Lord's coming to earth in judgment, Jude 1:14-15.

III. Revelation: on Enoch's prophetic spiritual knowledge

1. Enoch "saw" that God would come to the earth in judgment, because the
Lord reveals His will to those who walk close to Him, Amos 3:7.
2. Enoch believed that God exists and rewards those who diligently seek Him, Hebrews 11:5-6.
3. Enoch's prophecy of judgment was fulfilled when God sent the flood upon the
earth in Noah's day.
4. Enoch's prophecy also forecasts another day of judgment: when the Lord comes
with His saints to execute punishment upon the "ungodly" . . . a word used four
times in Jude 1:15.

IV. As a Christian: I need to . . .

1. Be like Enoch . . . "dedicated" unto the Lord.
2. Walk by faith in intimate spiritual relationship and fellowship with God.
3. Live a godly life which produces a God-pleasing testimony and witness.
4. Hear and speak God's word to my own generation, and to the generations yet unborn.

Noah Found Grace in God's Eyes
(Genesis 6:1-18)

I. Concentration: on the man Noah, whose name means "Comfort" or "Rest"

1. He found grace (God's unmerited gift or favor) in God's eyes, v. 8.
2. He was just . . . fair, true, and honest, v. 9.
3. He was perfect . . . blameless, having maturity and integrity, v. 9.
4. He, like his great-grandfather Enoch, walked with God, v. 9.

II. Meditation: on the sinful world in which Noah lived

1. Satanism. "Nephilim" translated "Sons of God" refers to the fallen,
dark angels of Satan, who cohabited with humans, v. 2.
2. Wickedness. People had "twisted" (a related root word) good into
evil and vice-versa . . . were addicted to depravity, not discerning
right from wrong, v. 5.
3. Total corruption of society. "Every intent . . . only evil continually . . .
all flesh had corrupted their way," vv. 5, 12.
4. Full of violence. Noah's day was notorious for its cruelty and disregard
for human life, v. 12.

III. Revelation: on God's spoken words to Noah

1. "My Spirit shall not strive (struggle; contend) with man forever . . . yet
his days shall be one hundred twenty years," v. 3. At the flood, God
reduced the life span of humans from about 900 years to a maximum of
120 years.
2. "I will destroy them (the Satanic, wicked, corrupt, violent persons) with
the earth," v. 13. This cleansing of the earth by water would destroy the
half-human, half-demon giant monsters which intimidated the people of
that era, v. 4.
3. "Make yourself an ark of gopher wood . . . I am bringing floodwaters . . .
everything that is on the earth shall die," vv. 14, 17.
4. "I will establish My convenant with you," (and your family), v. 18.

IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .

1. Live a just, perfect life of integrity by receiving God's grace and by
walking daily with Him.
2. Keep my life pure and blameless in the midst of a Satanic, wicked, corrupt,
violent . . . crooked and perverse generation, Philippians 2:15-16.
3. Hear and faithfully proclaim God's coming judgment, regardless of the
small number of persons who heed my warning over a period of up to
100 years, Genesis 5:32 and Genesis 7:6 . . . for indeed, these are "the days
of Noah" which Jesus mentioned in Matthew 24:37-39.
4. Obey God's instructions in order to receive His deliverance . . . His way of
escape; His "ark of safety," Jesus Christ . . . Who saves us from impending
doom, Hebrews 11:7.

Upon the suggestion of my good friend, Dr. Dennis Crowder, Director of Missions of Pulaski Baptist Association, I will be publishing my "Personal & Practical" outlines and notes on the first 12 chapters of Genesis during the month of December. Dennis asked me to do this to provide another resource for pastors as they prepare to teach this portion of Genesis during "January Bible Study Week." We plan to resume our regular format in January, 2002. Curt