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2 The Abel Problem 1John 3:10-12

3 10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; 12 not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous. 1 John 3:10–12 (NASB95) 10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; 12 not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous. 1 John 3:10–12 (NASB95)

4 Different ways People attempt to deal with sin IntroductionIntroduction ✓ Some simply ignore their sins ✓ Some seek to justify their sins ✓ The Child of God seeks to banish sin from their life

5 John responds to those who seek to deal with Sin Improperly IntroductionIntroduction ✓ Points us to the One true advocate ✓ Emphasizes the need for true obedience ✓ Emphasizes the need for us to turn our hearts from this world

6 John offers Illustration of both sides of this problem IntroductionIntroduction ✓ He destroys the idea that those in sin are in fellowship with God ✓ He demonstrates the connection between righteousness and love of the Father ✓ He demonstrates the connection between brotherly love and righteousness

7 Both Cain and Abel Sinned Before God Background - Cain and Abel ✓ The offering Abel made was “by faith (Hebrews 11:4) ✓ Every time we see a blood offering in Scripture it is in connection with a sin offering

8 4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks. Hebrews 11:4 (NASB95) 4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks. Hebrews 11:4 (NASB95) Background - Cain and Abel “without the shedding of blood there is no remission” Heb 9:22 “...for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement” Lev 17:11 “and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better that the blood of Abel” Heb 12:24

9 Both Cain and Abel Sinned Before God Background - Cain and Abel ✓ The offering Abel made was “by faith (Hebrews 11:4) ✓ Every time we see a blood offering in Scripture it is in connection with a sin offering ✓ Everything we know of God leads us to believe Cain received the same instruction

10 E n m it y Abel Cain Recognized that he Needed God’s forgiveness Refused to acknowledge need for forgiveness Background - Cain and Abel Repented of his sins Sought Atonement for His sins through obedience Refused to Purify Himself Offered a Deficient Sacrifice with no Atonement Value

11 5 You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him John 3:5–6 (NASB95) 5 You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him John 3:5–6 (NASB95) The Abel Solution ✓ We must recognize the holiness of the one in whom we claim to have life

12 7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; 8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:7–8 (NASB95) 7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; 8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:7–8 (NASB95) The Abel Solution ✓ We must recognize the holiness of the one in whom we claim to have life ✓ We must choose righteousness

13 9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 1 John 3:9 (NASB95) 9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 1 John 3:9 (NASB95) The Abel Solution ✓ We must recognize the holiness of the one in whom we claim to have life ✓ We must choose righteousness ✓ We must not sin

14 29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him... 3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. 7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; 8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 1 John 2:29–3:9 (NASB95) 29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him... 3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. 7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; 8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 1 John 2:29–3:9 (NASB95) Practice sin

15 10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; 12 not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous. 1 John 3:10–12 (NASB95) 10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; 12 not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous. 1 John 3:10–12 (NASB95) The Abel Problem ✓ Cain chose to remain in sin ✓ We must deal with sin in the proper way or we do not deal with sin at all ✓ Cain hated his brother because of Abel’s righteousness

16 E n m it y Walking in the LIght Walking in Darkness 1JOHN 1:6-10 Committed Sin Repents Seeks God Admits Need for Atonement Confesses Sin Fellowship With God Committed Sin No Repentance Does not Seek God Does Not Admit Need For Atonement Confesses no Sin No Fellowship With God

17 E n m it y Walking in the LIght Walking in Darkness 1JOHN 3:10 Loves God Loves His Brother Abides in Life Hates His Brother Hates Righteousness Abides in Death