Genesis 4:1-25 – The Right Way to Come to God, presents Adam and Eve’s first child Cain, which reveals the truth that we cannot worship God any way we choose. Why do you go to church? Why do you volunteer time for community service? Is it to make yourself look good or is it your response to God’s love for you? Cain’s offering was rejected not because he brought the wrong stuff, but because he gave an offering to promote himself instead of worshiping God. Anger takes root in Cain’s heart and leads to his brother’s murder. Can your anger really lead to such a terrible crime? Sin separates us from God and we deceive ourselves when we think we have no sin. However, there is good news! God is not hard to please and He offers divine forgiveness for our sin. Genesis 4:1-25 – The Right Way to Come to God is found with a repentant heart, which results in God accepting you.
THE RIGHT WAY TO COME TO GOD
Why Did God REJECT CAIN’S WORSHIP?
CAIN APPROACHED GOD BY SELF-MERIT
The Apostle Paul wrote: “As it is written: There is none righteous, no, not one. There is none who understands. There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one. Their throat is an open tomb, with their tongues they have practiced deceit, the poison of asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood. Destruction and misery are in their ways, 17 and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
Romans 3:10-18, (NKJV) https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/rom/3/10-18/s_1049010
In the Book of Luke is says: He (Jesus) spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men: extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
CAIN APPROACHED GOD WITH NO PROVISION FOR HIS SIN
WE CANNOT COME TO GOD ANY WAY WE CHOOSE
GOD IS NOT HARD TO PLEASE, sinners can come to Him and receive divine forgiveness
The Prophet Isaiah wrote: “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
Moses wrote: “For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.”
Deuteronomy 30:11-14, (NKJV) https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/deu/30/11-14/s_183011
If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
Romans 10:9-11, (NKJV) https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/rom/10/9-11/s_1056009
(We do not come to an unapproachable God. We come) to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
Hebrews 12:24. (NKJV) https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/heb/12/24/s_1145024
4/3/2022 – 10:30 Service Pastor David Menard
