1. Genesis 4
Two Humanities

2. Adam and Eve with Cain and Abel
by Fra Bartolomeo ( )

3. Cain Slaying Abel by Peter Ruebens (1608-1609)

4. Cain and Abel by Keith Vaughan (1946)

5. Genesis 4 Thy Seed and Her Seed (Genesis 3:15) Two Suits of Clothes
The Ultimate Separation
Acceptable and Unacceptable Worship
The Historicity of Cain and Able
The Culture of the Ungodly Line
The Culture of the Godly Line

6. Read Genesis 4

7. Thy Seed and Her Seed (Genesis 3:15)
All schisms in humanity began with the God-Man schism
The seed is personal, a “he”
The term “seed” generally refers to males (Is this a reference to the Virgin Birth?)
Jesus fulfilled Genesis 3:14 (read Hebrews 2:14)
Jesus will have “children”
Jesus is thus to be the second Adam and the second founder of the human race

8. Two Suits of Clothes First leaves (Genesis 3:7)
Followed by animal skin (Genesis 3:21)

9. The Ultimate Separation
Many separations are the result of the Fall
The last separation was Jesus to his Father (Matthew 27:46)
Promised beforehand (Genesis 3:15)
Before the Fall Man went directly to God on his own merit
Now only by the merit of Jesus Christ (as grace) can we approach God

10. Acceptable and Unacceptable Worship
Genesis 4:1 – Cain is born
Genesis 4:2 – Abel is born
Cain murdered Abel

11. The Historicity of Cain and Able
The NT considers Cain and Abel as historical figures (1 John 3:12)
Two lines of humanity
God offered him Cain a way out (Genesis 4:6-7)
Murder occurred at the point of belief (one believed, the other did not)

12. The Culture of the Ungodly Line
Genesis 4:11-24 tells of the developing culture of Cain
Verse are not a chronology
Verses 23 & 24 provide a summation of the ungodly line

13. The Culture of the Godly Line
Begins with Seth (Genesis 4:25)
“At that time men began to call on the name of the LORD” or possibly by the name of the Lord
Several points to make:
Adam & Eve threw away the opportunity to come to God on works; now grace is the only way
Everyone now stands in the place of Cain or Abel
Seth brings the first narrowing of the Messianic line
Cain reveals a complete lack of love
Our first step as Christians is to cross over from the line of Cain to the line of Abel

14. Discussion Questions
Does Cain’s punishment fit his crime?

15. Discussion Questions Does Cain’s punishment fit his crime?
What is the legacy of Cain?

16. Discussion Questions Does Cain’s punishment fit his crime?
What is the legacy of Cain?
In what ways do we see that legacy in our world?

17. Discussion Questions Does Cain’s punishment fit his crime?
What is the legacy of Cain?
In what ways do we see that legacy in our world?
What does this tell us about violence – in the family, in America, in the world – as we start the 21st century?

18. Discussion Questions
RHETORICAL - Who plays the role of Cain in the stories we tell each other?

19. Discussion Questions
RHETORICAL - Who plays the role of Cain in the stories we tell each other?
Does religion play a part in this process?

20. Discussion Questions
In exile, Genesis tells us, Cain went on to build cities, create music, and make technological advances.
Does this story tell us anything about the relationship between progress, violence, and civilization?