Loving One Another & Cain & Abel
Genesis 4-11 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Please turn to Genesis 4.
Genesis 4, beginning at verse 1.
and if you would like a sermon handout and didn’t receive one yet, please raise your hand. Our ushers will pass those out.
The story of the first brothers - Cain & Abel - is well known and sad.
I have one brother—Jimmy. He is 2 years older than I.
And he and I have always gotten along very well. We are very different yet have the same wonderful Schwartz dad joke humor.
my brother Jimmy may have the greatest laugh.
But like brothers we fought. I remember one day when I was about 12 or 13, we were in the driveway at our house. and I don’t remember what started the argument. but before I knew it, my anger went from 0 to 100 mph at him. and I was shooting baskets in the driveway, and I took my basketball, ready aim & fire and threw it at my brother in anger. and he quickly proceeded to charge me in response.
My brother was always a lot stronger than me, and I was always faster than him, so as long as I could get away, I was fine.
what was it that overcome me so quickly? why did I do that?
in the story of Cain & Abel, the first brothers, we saw last week that both offered worship offerings to God.
God accepted Abel’s but not Cain’s. why? Hebrews 11 last week says because Abel offered his sacrifice to God by faith—trusting God. Cain, on the other hand, gave differently—not by faith—by works, the motions, trying to earn something from God. but it wasn’t faith. they had 2 totally different heart approaches to God which came out in the sacrifices they gave. Abel his best.
and then in vs. 6-7 look at God’s interaction with Cain
6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?
7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
you see after Adam and Eve sin, we see sin and its consequences spread. sin is like a hidden beast, a power, ready to devour us, unless we turn to the Lord. I experience that hidden beast that day on our driveway—and Cain experienced it out in the field in verse 8:
8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
so last week, we focused first of all on our relationship with God. the vertical relationship. why did Cain kill Abel? Cain had a failure of true faith in God, he had a failure of not repenting—he had the chance—God gave him it—it all stemmed from his relationship with God. his lack of loving God with all his heart soul mind and strength. his lack of true worship. his approach to God was all about himself, pride, works, identity in himself—so he couldn’t stand it when someone else rose higher than him.
Today, we are going to look at the horizontal relationships—loving one another—one-anothering as we have called it before.
and I actually want to look at this thru the lens of 1 John 3. because 1 John 3 mentions the story of Cain & Abel (just like Hebrews 11 did)
so turn to 1 John 3.
11 For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.
13 Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.
14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.
15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.
16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?
18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
what does it mean to love one another?
in my example—I failed to love my brother.
Cain failed big time to love his brother.
both are negative examples so far..
what does it mean?
because so much is at stake...
look again at our passage:
14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.
15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.
so what’s at stake?
our eternal life with God. (1 John 3:14-15)
how can we tell that someone is a follower of Jesus—by how they love one another or don’t.
so if we don’t love our brother and sister...it shows like Cain a heart that doesn’t love or worship God., a heart not right with God.
2. our witness to the world! (John 13:35)
35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
this reminds us of Jesus’ words in the sermon on the mount
21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’
22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
hate, Jesus says, is a form a murder. because murder is more than the act—it begins in the heart.
and you may say—well you don’t understand, Rick. I have great reason to hate that person because of what they did or failed to do. Life is hard. you might have great reasons to hate—but Jesus warns of the danger of that. that is a toxic way to live, and if you stay in it, will consume and harden your heart so that your relationship with God is at stake.
Description of Love - we have talked about a negative example with Cain
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
that is 15 descriptions of love!
Look at that list again...
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
so if you wonder, am I loving towards one another? look at this list!
let me try to summarize or highlight some traits from Gen 4, 1 John 3, and 1 Cor. 13.
Traits of Love
It is more than a feeling but it includes feelings. We often say “love is not a feeling. It is a decision—you have to choose to love—all very true! You can’t always trust your feelings. but we see here that there is a feeling element.
1 Corinthians 13:4—says love does not envy. vs. 5 - it is not easily angered. envy, anger, feelings… it doesn’t mean you will never feel those things—but you have a desire to work on them when they crop up.
in 1 John 3:17
17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?
pity—a strong feeling...
furthermore—we saw with Jesus—anyone who is angry with his brother or sister will be subject to judgment. that’s getting at our heart. this doesn’t mean we can always control when we get angry—but I think it’s what we do when that anger comes. do I let it simmer, and fester, and boil up. does it grow into bitterness and resentment.
even 1 Peter 1:22 (if time)
22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.
I know feelings can be confusing; we don’t always ask for them, nor should we always trust them or be ruled by them. but feelings and emotions can be a great gift from God. they can be a sign or signal to what is going on in my heart. like a check engine light going on in your car—you got to look below the hood in your soul. (Psalm 42 - the writer says why are you downcast o my soul?)
if you go back to Cain & Abel in Genesis 4—in vs. 5— we see that Cain was very angry—verse 6 God says “Why are you angry...why are you downcast?” If Cain took the time to truly look at his feelings, to see what was going on his heart—then the story might have ended up differently.
so part of love is feeling oriented. and if your feeling a certain hate or animosity towards someone — what do you do?
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
If you are hating someone—even if they are your enemy—pray for them.
It’s hard to pray for someone you hate—but over time, if you pray for them for God’s work in their life—it’s harder to stay resentful at them. (let’s pray)
It (Love) is practical (or action-oriented (some would say “decision based)
17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? (doesn’t stay at pity)
18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
Love is more than a feeling; it’s more than words—it is action-oriented.
and John imagines an example where if you see a brother or sister in need (now that’s talking about your Christian brother or sister—could apply to all humans—but especially those we call family in the church). once we are moved by pity in love—we are to do something—more than just words or speech but actions and in truth.
now, I know sometimes people push back on that this kind of scenario—shouldn’t we be careful how we help others? yes—we don’t want people to become dependent—we want to empower—not just give a fish but teach them to fish—all true.
or another objection—I can’t help every person I see in need—that’s impossible. I have heard it said that not everything from heaven has your name on it. I can’t respond to all the needs and causes everywhere—I can’t be just as passionate about sex trafficking, or feeding the homeless, or abortion, or name the important cause.
but this is why I think John is so personal—just look at your family—your church family. where can you meet a need.
one of the needs that one of the Sunday School classes has been trying to meet is for Brad and Jalisa Abnet. Brad and Jalisa courageously shared their story at the end of December last year—if you missed we can get you the link. It is their journey as a family with their daughter Elise who has been through tremendous health challenges and still does. One of the things they are doing and you can join them, is to help provide meals, help clean, help do laundry, help fulfill practical needs. that is loving in action, and practical-ness. if you want to help, I would encourage you to do so.
so love is action—Jesus said If you love me, you will obey my commands
how can you show love like that?
3. It seeks forgiveness not revenge.
1 Cor. 13 - it keeps no records of wrongs.
vengeance is all about me. that is in contrast to 1 Cor. 13 love—it is not self-seeking.
it always hopes and always perseveres.
This again is getting at the heart.
I could preach a whole series on forgiveness and I did a couple Christmases ago...
but we don’t have to strike out like Cain to get vengeance...
sometimes we do it by ignoring people...giving the silent treatment...withholding love and affection...growing cold towards someone...
and I get it there are really complicated situations concerning forgiveness—if you have been abused or a crime against—I get it...but love has a heart that wants to forgive, because we have been forgiven so much.
def. of forgiveness—to take a person of your hook and put them on God’s hook.
4. It is so humble that it even roots for others. (Rom. 12:15, Genesis 4:6-8)
How do you react when others do better than you at something?
How do you react when others do worse?
whether we admit it or not, we hate feeling like we are losing, even if it is not a competition.
and we love it when we feel like we are winning.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
that’s a powerful verse on love.
Cain did not do this—
12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.
Kevin DeYoung, pastor and writer say this:
I’ve often thought that one of the surest signs of Christian maturity is that we can root for each other. Love delights in the truth, which means we ought to thrill to discover that others parent better, exercise better, do school better, do church better. But I know the green-eyed monster as much as anyone. I can feel jealousy in my bones when someone excels at something I am supposed to be good at–preaching, writing, pastoring, reading, blogging, etc. I want to be genuinely excited to see gifts in others, even gifts that outshine my own. I want to cheer the truth wherever I see it being promoted, even if it means others get noticed instead of me. I don’t want to be like Cain, but sometimes I am.
John Piper:
So what would it be like for any of us to be like Cain? It would mean that anytime some weakness or bad habit in our lives is exposed by contrast to someone else’s goodness, instead of dealing with the weakness or the bad habit, we keep away from those whose lives make us feel defective. We don’t kill them. We avoid them. Or worse, we find ways to criticize them so as to neutralize the part of their lives that was making us feel convicted. We feel like the best way to nullify someone’s good point is to draw attention to his bad point. And so we protect ourselves from whatever good he might be for us.
But John’s point is: Love doesn’t act like that. Love is glad when our brothers and sisters are making progress in good habits or good attitudes or good behavior. Love rejoices in this growth. And if it happens to be faster than our own growth, then love is humble and rejoices with those who rejoice.
So the lesson for us is: Everywhere you see some growth, some virtue, some spiritual discipline, some good habit, or good attitude, rejoice in it. Give thanks for it. Compliment it. Don’t resent it. Don’t be like Cain. Respond the opposite from Cain. Be inspired by other people’s goodness.
Love is humble. Love delights in other people’s good. Love doesn’t protect its own flaws. Love takes steps to change them. What a beautiful fellowship where everyone is rejoicing in each other’s strengths, not resenting them! This is what the love of God looks like when the new birth gives it life in the people of God (158-159).
How to Become a Person of Love
how can we be formed into a people that truly love one another from the heart
and this is where communion or the Lord’s Supper comes in.
If you need elements and would like to partake please raise your hand.
reminder—this is for anyone who is a believer in Jesus; if you have said yes to Jesus as Savior and Lord you are encouraged to join. if you have not or are not sure, we ask that you honor God’s Word and not partake but we are glad you are here and encourage you to think on what I am about to present.
If you go back to Genesis 4—we see 2 truths—one ugly and one beautiful.
what is the bad, ugly news—sin is intensifying and is horrible.
It is a beast.
it leads to all kinds of consequences—hate and murder
Cain finds out that it leads to wandering and exile.
14 Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”
vs. 16—Cain lived in Nod—which means wandering.
can you relate? when you and I live a life of sin, which is a life built on me rather than God—it leads to intense restlessness and wandering. some of you know exactly what I am talking about. You are pursuing so many things in life that you think will bring joy— “If I just have this job, or this material thing, or this promotion, or this relationship and romance, or _________ “ I will have joy—but like Cain you feel like a restless wanderer.
that image continues through the OT—when God led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt on the way to the Promised Land—the Israelites did not trust God (like Cain did not), and he punished them with wandering:
13 The Lord’s anger burned against Israel and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until the whole generation of those who had done evil in his sight was gone.
we know also later in Israel’s history—that they did not trust God—so 2x in the OT, God brought in outside nations to punish them—to send them into exile and wandering in a foreign land—never at rest, never home.
but then in the NT, there is someone who comes to help solve our wandering and restlessness
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
how does Jesus give us rest—first by enabling a way back to God, the way of Abel.
that if we trust in Jesus to save us, surrender to Him, we are forgiven and made right with God.
we do this—because Jesus gave His body and blood in our place, symbolized on the cross.
that’s the good news!
if you go back to Genesis 4—we see sin intensify even more—
Cain will have kids—and in verse 23, look at what his great, great, great grandson Lamech says:
23 Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, listen to me; wives of Lamech, hear my words. I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for injuring me.
24 If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times.”
Lamech first takes 2 wives—bigamy—which God is against.
and then there is a generational pattern of sin—that Lamech continues in.
he knows Cain’s story. and he knows that God protected Cain when Cain killed Abel.
so if God did that then—-even though Abel did nothing to Cain—so Lamech picks up on that—
but God is not done.
verse 25
25 Adam made love to his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, “God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.”
26 Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on the name of the Lord.
God provides another son—-named Seth—which means “Granted.” someone to replace Abel—through whom one day—the Son of God, Jesus would come.
Sin never has the last word—it’s no match for God—no matter how intense gets in your life, in your family’s life, in your generations of your family’s lives, God still advances HIs plan to bring a Savior—Jesus Christ.
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,
24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
body = bread
blood = the cup
you may be here thinking—I agree with your proposal on love intellectually—help my heart and my actions to follow! Amen—that’s a great place to start! B/c it’s hard to love people—people are difficult, disappointing, and annoying. and then if you have been really hurt by someone or someone is an enemy, it’s hard, and if that happened in the context of the church family where we have high expectations for each other—then it’s really hard.
yet God calls us to love one another
I think communion helps us—b/c I think— what if God felt towards me what I am feeling towards my enemy? where would I be?
what if God paid me back what I deserve? He has a right to! where would I be? but He gave His precious Son with His precious blood—and when I eat of the bread and drink of the cup, I am beholding, gazing in awe of Jesus.
16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
final plug - women’s event May 2nd.
