From the pulpit, 11-18-17

Sparks from the Gospel Anvil

Genesis 4

It is in this chapter we see a picture of the heart and core of the Gospel. Both of these men, Cain and Abel, were spiritual men; both were worshiping God. They were both sons of fallen Adam, because they were both born after the fall. In that respect, Abel had no advantage over Cain. So it is with us today, we are all children of fallen man, as we have all been born since the fall, and like Cain and Abel, none of us have any advantage over the other by birth in the flesh.

They were both sinners and one had just as good a chance to get back to God as the other. Remember that at this time Cain was not a murderer in his heart nor in deed; as he did not become angry with his brother until after God rejected his offering. So do not judge Cain in the light of his crime which occurred after God rejected him. That Adam was a subject of grace and saved when both Cain and Abel were born, contributed nothing to Cain or Abel; as we cannot inherit spiritual blessings by our natural birth of the flesh.

So, Adam, although a subject of grace, his nature had not been changed and both sons born after the flesh, were sinners and must be born again. So, we are told in Romans 5, that all are sinners and in 1 Corinthians 15:48, that Adam was the dead humanity. But Romans 5 also tells us that through one man’s obedience, the free gift of eternal life has been made to many. We personally had nothing to do with Adam’s sin, neither have we anything to do with Christ’s obedience. As children of Adam we get our human nature, disobedience and self-will. As children of God through Jesus, we get our divine nature, which does the will of God.

Cain brought the fruits of the earth as he was the tiller of the soil and I believe that he brought the very best that he could produce; no doubt it was a beautiful display of all the earth could produce, it was the first county fair. It was very beautiful, just such an offering as would have been recommended by the wisdom of man; as it represented skill, toil and labor on Cain’s part.

But God rejected it because the earth was cursed, for God could not accept the fruits of a cursed earth. We have those that the Book of Jude that follow in the “way of Cain;” those who offer to God the works of their dead nature – the good deeds of the natural man – the worship of the flesh.

The prophet Isaiah declares that our “righteousness is as filthy rags.” So it is but an insult to God to offer Him anything that is cursed. Also, Cain’s offering was a bloodless offering. Hebrews 9:22 reminds us that, “Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins.”

The first blood that was shed since the creation of man was when God slew an animal and clothed Adam and Eve. Adam tried to clothe himself and his wife with a garment which they had made, but found themselves fleeing from the very presence of God at the sound of His voice and so will all flee who try to clothe themselves in their own garments – ashamed to meet God. For since the day that the shedding of blood clothed Adam and Eve, to the present time, there has never been a person clothed in garments which were sufficient to appear before God, except by the shedding of blood. For God is not served by man’s hands as though He needed anything, “seeing He Himself giveth to all life and breath and all things.” (Acts 17:25). So, Cain’s bloodless offering which was produced by his own hands was not acceptable.

In Abel, we see that it was nothing that he could provide or anything that he did that made His offering acceptable to God. Abel’s offering is a reminder that Abel believed that death separated God and him. He acknowledged in other words, that what God said, “In the day when you eatest thereof thou shalt die,” was true and that because of Adam’s disobedience death now reigned.

This was an acknowledgement of the guilt, which you do not see in Cain’s offering. No sinner can approach God today who does not acknowledge in his own heart that they are condemned. The penitent thief on the cross acknowledged the justice of his condemnation, while the impenitent thief railed at the Lord Jesus Christ for not saving him.

Abel’s offering not only showed that he believed God’s claim and attributes could be met by the spotless offering – God’s demands. But it shows us that the sinner’s deepest necessities could also be met by this offering of God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is in this we see the deepest doctrines of the cross.

When Christ, the Lamb of God offered Himself on the cross and God’s demands are met to the fullest, and henceforth, God was reconciled, and when the sin offers the Lamb of God that died on Calvary, to God as his offering, he finds his deepest needs are met. I believe that God was and is still satisfied by the death of His one and only Son on the cross and that is the only way that anyone will ever enter into heaven.

(Lieutenant Charles Smith is commanding officer of the Salvation Army of El Dorado).

• • •

Ancient Words — Thanksgiving Chains

Paul received the Macedonia call in Acts 16:6-10. This vision of a man standing and begging him to come to this northern Greece territory prompted Paul and his companions to travel to Philippi, a Roman colony then, and also a leading city of the district of Macedonia. Looking for a place of prayer in Philippi, Paul meets the woman, Lydia, who is a dealer in fabrics and purple cloth. God opens the heart of Lydia to Paul’s message of the gospel and she and members of her household are baptized and the beginning of a church congregation in Philippi begins.

Continuing to meet at the place of prayer, Paul meets another woman whose chance meeting leads to a much different outcome for Paul. The woman, or slave girl as she is called, was a fortune teller (I think of a gypsy), and made a great deal of money for her owners in Philippi. Paul comes to know this girl (consumed with an evil spirit) better and eventually drives the evil spirit away. Disrupting a money making business in a Roman colony had its consequences for Paul and his companion Silas. The two are seized, dragged, severely flogged and thrown into prison by the magistrates of Philippi. They were placed in the inner cell of the prison and fastened with chains.

With an attitude of thanksgiving, in spite of the chains, Paul and Silas sing and pray at midnight and no doubt provide a refreshing sound to the other prisoners in confinement. From these chains and the praises of thanksgiving that ensued, the church in Philippi grows with the miraculous story of the jailer’s conversion (and his family) and the addition of the jailer’s family to the disciples in that city.

Several years later, Paul again finds himself in chains in possibly the worst of prisons in downtown Rome. His “thanksgiving” attitude has not diminished as he writes (or has written through dictation) several letters from his cell. Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon and Philippians are all thought to have been written by Paul while in prison in Rome about 60 A.D.

The Philippian church hears of Paul’s imprisonment. To help, they dispatch a church member, Epaphroditus, to travel the great distance to Rome bringing gifts to their beloved Paul. They are fully aware that it was through Paul’s chains years earlier that the gospel saving message of Jesus Christ was presented in Philippi and they stand ready now to assist Paul in Rome as he once again is shackled with chains. Paul’s response is seen in the four chapters of the Philippian letter which Epaphroditus will carry back to Philippi. The words of “joy” and “rejoice” are used 14 times and throughout the letter, the reader sees nothing but thanksgiving, praise and hope. No despair, no doubt, no complaining, no fussing…..all is well with Paul in spite of his chains and thanksgiving abounds!

As written in the Ancient Words: Phil 1:7, “It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and whether I am in chains or defending and conforming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.” Phil 1:13, “As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.” Phil 1:14, “And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.” Phil 1:17-18, “The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, C hrist is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice!” (Chains or not)!

(Scott Johnson is pastor at East Faulkner Church of Christ and author of the BRG Bible. Bible questions can be sent to [email protected]).

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