Results of the Fall

Introduction:

Last week, we saw one of the most tragic moments in the history of the Earth. Adam and Eve sinned and death came to Eden. Today, we pick up that story with the aftermath and see how complete and total the fall of man was.

Cast out

Genesis 3:22–24 ESV

Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—” therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.

God sent Adam and Eve away

No longer could they walk in the Garden with God

They were now cut off and cast out.

The Spiritual and Physical no longer were unified.

God sealed the way to the tree of life

He shut the door!

He put the cherubim with a flaming sword to keep all humanity out.

Adam and Eve were barred

All of their descendants were as well.

Behold, the price of sin!

The Spread of Death

Genesis 4:1–16 ESV

Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.” Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” Then the Lord said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

We now go to the 2nd generation of humanity

Cain and Able Worshiped

V. 3, the brothers, Cain and Able bring offerings to worship the Lord

Cain- plants- fruit/veggies

Able- animal

Both offered life:

One from the Plant Kingdom

The other from the Animal Kingdom

Modern human reasoning (age old paganism) says all life is equal). This text makes it plain that such reasoning is a lie!

God Responds

Able’s sacrifice was accepted

God wanted the animal sacrifice and wanted the best

Hebrews 11:4 ESV

By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.

Able was obedient

Able had followed God’s pattern

It is what He did in the garden

Adam and Eve used leaves as coverings

God killed an animal to cover them

The brothers had learned to offer sacrifices

Cain’s offering was rejected.

There is much debate over exactly why Cain’s offering was rejected.

plant not animal

not the first fruits

Suffice it to say,

Cain decided to do his own thing

He offered what HE wanted and did it his way.

This was not acceptable to God.

It was a flaw in the one offering and his motives which was most offensive.

Cain Murdered His brother Abel.

He gave into rage

Genesis 4:5 ESV

but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.

rather than repent, he got angry!

He was mad at God

1 John 3:11–12 ESV

For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.

Cain was of the evil one.

murder revealed his heart

Hate motivated him

where love should been, there was hate.

God challenged him

Genesis 4:6–7 ESV

The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”

God confronted him over his attitude

I love the promise:

If you do well will you not be accepted?

Cain had a choice:

repent, worship God’s way and be accepted

stand in his rebellion

Anger turned to murder

Genesis 4:8 ESV

Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.

Cain rejected the advise from God

Instead of repenting, He took i tout on Able

God punishes Cain

Genesis 4:9–16 ESV

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” Then the Lord said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

Cain responds to God’s inquiry with sarcasm

“am I my brother’s keeper?

Cain’s punishement

cursed from the ground

He could no longer plant and harvest

He became a wanderer and scavenger

Cain’s fearful response indicates that enough time had passed before the events of ch 4 to have a larger population.

God protected him by the mark

NO idea what it was, but it was an obvious sign from God, don’t touch!

Cain suffered the rest of his life.

Conclusion:

What application can we make from this?

We inherit sin.

Ro 5:18-21

Romans 5:18–21 ESV

Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We are not free to make up our own way to God.

God will only receive worship on His terms.

John 14:6

John 14:6 ESV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 4:21-24

John 4:21–24 ESV

Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

In Scripture, God had strict instructions and violation of them were deadly.

Aaron’s sons and strange fire

Uzzah touched the ark of the covenant to steady it and died.

Ananias and Sapphira died for lying about their offering.

Sin has consequences

Eternal death

Ro 6:23

Romans 6:23 ESV

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Eternal damnation is hell awaits those who die apart from Christ.

a just God must apply the standard to all

Discipline in this life

heb 12:4-11

Hebrews 12:4–11 ESV

In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Remember 1 Cor 11 as Paul discussed the Lord’s supper?

1 cor 11:30-32

1 Corinthians 11:30–32 ESV

That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

Logical Consequences

There is a physical/earthly component to sin’s consequences

The broken lives and homes testify to this.

Some things can’t be undone and consequences not escaped.

prison terms

damage to bodies and death

Conclusion: