1. The Choices of Cain Genesis 4:1-16

2. Cain Chose to Offer God Vain Worship (Gen. 4:3-5) He did not sacrifice in faith, Heb. 11:4 – Will-worship is presumptuous, Col. 2:23 – Shows a lack of faith in God, Matt. 15:6-9 Worshiping God without authority is vain, Jno. 4:23-24 (Col. 3:17) – Easter, Christmas, instruments in worship, half-hearted pretense… – God sees our worship, Gen. 4:4-5 2

3. Cain Chose to Increase His Sin (Gen. 4:5-8) Sin is not forced upon us – we choose it, Gen. 4:7; Rom. 6:4-6, 12-14 The sins of Cain included: – Anger, Gen. 4:5 (Col. 3:8; Eph. 4:31-32) – Envy, Gen. 4:4-5 (Titus 3:3; Gal. 5:21) – Hate, 1 Jno. 3:11-12, 15 – Murder, Gen. 4:8 (Mk. 7:20-23) 3

4. Men try to deceive and fight against God, Heb. 4:13 We lie to God when we: – Claim to love Him but do not love our brother, 1 Jno. 4:20 – Claim to give as God has prospered us, but don’t – Claim to be His people yet live worldly – Say “I’ll do better” (repent) but keep on sinning – Sing godly sentiments but live ungodly lives God is not mocked! Gal. 6:7-8 Liars do not escape God’s wrath, Rev. 21:8 4 Cain Chose to Lie to God (Gen. 4:9)

5. He chose sin instead of repentance, 4:7-8 – Sin is ready to lunge upon us, capture, control and devour us, 1 Pet. 5:8 – God brings sinners under punishment, Gen. 4:10- 12; Rom. 1:18; 2:5; 2 Ths. 1:8-9 Cain: No longer succeed as a farmer and banished to a life of wandering Cain had no sorrow for his sins – Only sorrow over his punishment! Gen. 4:13-14 Yet, God showed mercy, Gen. 4:15 (cf. us, 2 Pet. 3:9) 5 Cain Chose to Leave the Presence of God (Gen. 4:16)

6. Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, 4:16 – Sin severs fellowship with God, Isa. 59:1-2 – The hardening effect of sin cannot be denied, Heb. 6:4-6; Eccl. 12:1 – We must not allow sin to destroy our fellowship with God – and our souls! 6

7. Cain was Faithless: He did not know God! Thought he could worship God his way and be accepted Thought he could murder his brother without responsibility and accountability Thought he could lie to God Cain “acquired” his destiny by choosing to sin against God and man – What outcome are you choosing for your life? 7