◄ The Way and Works of Cain ►

Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain.
Jude 1:11

Moral Qualities

Man’s exaggerated assessment of humankind, is that he’s born with moral qualities – qualities that can be worked on and improved, which will be acceptable to God. Religious man’s inflated opinion is that he is intrinsically good and can only improve, and the more he does FOR God, the more acceptable will he be in God’s eyes. Nothing is more important to a believer than to grasp God’s view of fallen man: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Rom.3:23. There is none that doeth good, no, not one… they are all together become filthy.  Rom.3:12

Fall of Adam

The fall of Adam, humanity’s federal head, from innocence to death, was cataclysmic. Born in Adam, (the 1st man), the human race inherits sin, disobedience, and death. Born again in Christ, (the 2nd man) -a believer inherits righteousness, obedience, and life. Paul describes the whole human race as comprehended under one of two heads. Either – The federal head of the old creation – Adam, (the 1st man, the first Adam) or – the federal head of the new creation – Christ. (the 2nd Man, the last Adam). Therefore, every human being is either IN Adam or IN Christ. There is no alternative.

Fallen Nature

Every member of the human race is initially under the headship of the first Adam. All humanity starts their life on earth, dead in trespasses and sins. Eph.2:1 Only those born again, of the Spirit, are placed under the headship of the Last Adam. The means whereby we derive our fallen nature from the 1st man, is natural birth. By human parentage, we immediately partake of the former, sinful nature. A new-born baby, incapable of Adam’s initial fall, instantly partakes of his sinful nature. The mode of acquiring a new, redeemed nature from the 2nd man is a spiritual birth. As Jesus told Nicodemus: marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again. John 3:7

Perfect Nature

By the simple act of being born again, we instantly partake of the Latter’s holy nature: that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” John 3:6. A new-born, regenerated child of God, instantly partakes of Christ’s perfect nature. Cain and Able were equally of the flesh, both inherited sin, and death from Adam, but one was rejected while the other was accepted. Why? Why? WHY the difference? The difference was not in themselves.. the difference was not in their natures or characters. It was not in their hereditary, nor was it in their circumstances.

Acceptable Sacrifice

The difference was in their sacrifice and their approach to a holy God: by faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, and by the sacrifice he offered, he obtained witness that he was righteous. Heb.11:4. Cain offered Jehovah the fruit of a cursed earth, presenting an unbloodied sacrifice. Cain hadn’t learned the lesson of the bloodied coats that covered his sinful parents. The cardinal truth is, that: without the shedding of blood is no remission of sins. Heb.9:22 Cain offered no blood-let, sacrificed-life, to meet the holy requirements of God. He presumed God could accept sin-stained fruit-sacrifices from a God-cursed earth. Never! for an unbloodied sacrifice is the highest degree of man’s presumption.

Religious Mind

Cain demonstrated the ignorance or rebellion of a religious-minded man.. that God will accept the labour of his hands and the sweat of his brow. Never! God teaches that salvation is through the shedding of blood.. as He taught Adam in the garden, through bloodied skins of innocent animals Faith believes that without a blood-spilt sacrifice there can be no approach to God. None.

Perfect Sacrifice

Jesus demonstrated a sinless life. He spent His whole life in service and good deeds, but naught but His death and spilling of His sinless blood caused the Temple veil to be rent in two. Had Christ lived 2000 years His combined good works could not recompense for sin, for salvation is through the shedding of blood.

Fleshly Offering

Can a sinner’s toil remove the curse and stain of an infinitely holy God? No! Can human works furnish a proper ground of acceptance for a sinner?No! Can it set aside the death penalty, which was due sin and demanded by God? No!  Can it rob death of its sting and the grave of its victory? No! Never! Every un-bloody sacrifice is not only worthless but an abomination to the Lord. It demonstrates ignorance of one's stained condition and ignorance of the Divine character. Cain-worship has abounded through the religions of the world, and millions follow. Cain’s example has been adopted by unregenerate man and carnal believers alike: woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain. Jude 1:11

Self-Effort

Those that make God the receiver rather than the giver follow Cain’s fleshly offering. God is not worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, seeing He giveth to all life, and breath and all things” Acts 17:25. You see, Cain-worship is self-effort and self-worship. And self-effort attempts to appease an angry God,

Christ’s Atonement

The fleshly, carnal, egotistical Self – thinks man can draw close to God, but self-denial through the bloody sacrifice of Christ’s death is the only way, Praise and worship, and grateful thanks is all that man can offer to the Lord, but this can only be offered in full and clear intelligence that our sins are put away – and this can only be known by faith, in virtue of Christ’s accomplished atonement.