0379. THE WAY OF CAIN.

THE WAY OF CAIN.

"Woe unto them, for they have gone in the way of Cain" (Jud_1:11).

Grace does not run in the blood, so the way of Cain is spoken of as opposed to the way of God. The broad and the narrow way may still be distinguished as the way of Cain or the way of Christ. "My way is not your way, saith the Lord. " The way of Cain is-

I. The Way of Mere Human Opinion. He offered the firstfruits, the best that he had, as an atonement for his soul. Well, says the modern Cainite, if a man does the best he can, what more can he do? The best way we can do is to take God’s way. Cain refused to come to God as a sinner. By faith Abel offered unto God a more acceptable sacrifice.

II. The Way of Wilful Ignorance. 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 them by God revealed the need of an atonement to cover. But this he, like many to-day, was "willingly ignorant of. " God cannot accept our thankoffering as long as we refuse to acknowledge His sin-offering (Joh_1:29).

III. The Way of Utter Rejection? "Unto Cain and his offering God had not respect" (Gen_4:5). The spirit of Cain was unacceptable, as well as his offering. The offering, and the offerer, must always stand or fall together. We are accepted in the beloved. By one offering He hath perfected them that are set apart. Jesus says, "I am the Way, no man can come unto the Father but by Me."

IV. The Way of Unyielding Pride. "And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell" (Gen_4:5). Although he knew that the way he came to God was of his own choosing, and displeasing to Him, there is no desire for repentance, no willingness to confess his sin and forsake his way. Abel had found his sin-offering at his door among the flock. A sin-offering also lay at the door of Cain, waiting his reception and ready for his use, but he would not. The preaching of Christ, and Him crucified, is the laying of the God-appointed sin-offering at the door of every sinner who hears the Gospel. If thou doest not well, this sin-offering is for thee (Gen_4:7).

V. The Way of Manifest Hatred. "Cain talked with his brother Abel, and slew him," because his own works were evil and his brother’s righteous (1Jn_3:12). Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. The quarrel between good and evil is an old one. To reject Christ the sin-offering is to take the place of a murderer. He that hateth his brother is a murderer. The first murder was committed by a man who denied the doctrine of substitution and the need of atonement.

VI. The Way of Divine Condemnation. "Now art thou cursed" (Gen_4:11). "He that believeth not is condemned already. " Where can the man hide who has fled from the only refuge under Heaven for a sinner-the sin-offering? The Lamb of God. The guilt of the unforgiven cries unto God like the blood of Abel. Sin always cries unto God for vengeance, but Christ our sin-offering answered this terrible cry by the sacrifice of Himself (1Pe_2:24).

VII. The Way of Hopeless Despair. Cain said, "Mine iniquity is greater than that it may be forgiven" (Gen_4:13, margin). "He went out from the presence of the Lord" (Luk_24:16). All who reject the sin-offering are doomed to go out for ever from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power (2Co_1:9). 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. "Woe unto them, for they have gone in the way of Cain" (Isa_1:18).

Autor: James Smith