1. IN THE BEGINNING… God of the Second Son 5

2. Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Mt 18:22 [ Blasphemy ≈ Cheapening ] “I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for injuring me. If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times.” 4:23-24 “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Mt 18:21 “if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over.” 4:15 God’s Provision was always grace, not vengeance The Blasphemy of Lamech: Vengeance not Grace

3. “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” 4:6-7 Doctrinal observation Common notion: Believe in God, & worship Him your own way But Cain believed in God And Cain sacrificed to God Yet God rejected Cain’s sacrifice Cain did not do what was ‘right’ Appropriate Worship

4. Murder: The Accusation of Blood “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.” 4:10 Question is not for God – He knows… Counsel for prosecution is actions of the guilty Same situation at the Judgment…? Note Cain’s response: selfish self-sympathy!

5. and he ate it… and they hid from the LORD God Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him “Where are you?” “The woman you put here with me - she gave me…” “Cursed is the ground because of you” So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden “Where is your brother?” “I don’t know… am I my brother’s keeper?” “[the ground] will no longer yield its crops for you. ” So Cain went out from the LORD’s presence… east of Eden. Crime and Punishment AdamCain

6. Crime and Punishment AdamCain Crime:Disobeyed GodDisobeyed God Introduced Death Question:DuckedDuckedResponsibility Punish-Earth infertileEarth infertile ment:Exiled from God Death in the world, God shows dead world (infertile) Forgiveness conditional on confession - always has been - lesson for our salvation

7. Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man.” Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. 4:1-2 Principle: Man loves the firstborn God loves the Second Son FOUR details of Cain’s birth c.f. Abel has apocryphal reference Even today: Birthdays…? God of the Second Son

8. God of the Second Son #1: Brothers in Scripture Firstborn: Pride of Man2 nd Son: Approved of God CainAbel Nahor/HaranAbraham IshmaelIsaac EsauJacob AaronMoses “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!” … “But my covenant I will establish with Isaac” 17:18,21 “Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated” Mal 1:2-3 “[Aaron] will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him.” Ex 4:16

9. EliabDavid “Surely the LORD’s anointed stands here before the LORD” But the LORD said to Samuel, “I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Sam 16:6-7 Many scriptural patterns in 7’s Thus Eighth son = “2 nd Firstborn” Also 2 nd King of Israel to 1 st born Saul ReubenJoseph Important precursor… - also Joseph, first born from 2 nd wife SaulDavid God of the Second Son #1b: The “Second Firstborn”

10. AdamJesus Christ New element: DEATH and LIFE within this pattern the son of Adam, the son of God. Lk 3:37 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son… Jn 3:16 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 1 Cor 15:21-22 1 st born = Death 2 nd born = Life (sets to rights the incident of Cain and Abel) God of the Second Son #2: The “Second Firstborn” of God

11. Second(born) covenant Everlasting life in Resurrection 1 st covenant2 nd covenant [God] has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant--not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Cor 3:6 First(born) covenant Death sentence in sin’s condemnation Hence a reason for a covenant that ‘failed’ God of the Second Son #3: Covenants of Promise

12. “But about the resurrection of the dead--have you not read what God said to you, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.” When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching. Mt 22:31-33 Nahor Ishmael Esau Abraham Isaac Jacob God is not the God of the dead (condemned by law) The Speaker is the Second Son of God! Jesus reveals the source of LIFE of the 2 nd covenant God of the Second Son #3: Covenants of Promise Revelation to the Sadducees

13. 1 st Creation2 nd Creation In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. Heb 1:1-2 God of the Second Son #4: Creation! Hence a reason for a creation that dies: to point to Christ

14. 1 st birth2 nd birth Born of a womanBorn of water & Spirit Guaranteed to dieLife through resurrection Incorporate understanding from earlier patterns “He is not the God of the dead but of the living” Mt 22:32 “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies…” Jn 11:25 There is some level at which, if we are not baptized into Christ, God is not “our God” !! God is presented as Creator 1:1 and Father 1:2 God of the Second Son #5: Our Lives!

15. Physical Brothers in Scripture: Cain and Abel Spiritual Brothers in Scripture: Adam and Christ Death Life Covenants:LawGrace Creations:Natural Spiritual Births:I am BornI AM Born Again God of the Second Son