Unfortunately there are many false or deceived teachers, preachers, and ‘prophets’ today who loudly proclaim that Jesus abolished the Law? Is that true? Is it important?
What does Jehovah have to say about this? As we continue our study of the causes, costs, and consequences of sin, we must face these questions head on or directly.
Even John MacArthur was in error on the Law and sin in a recent sermon. Let us see what or who is right.
First, what is sin?
1 John 3:4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.
This could not be more clear, but what does it say? Sin is lawlessness or without the Law. By ignoring, disobeying, or misinterpreting the value and meaning of the Law we fall into the trap of redefining sin. Disobedience to the Law is Jehovah’s means of condemning sinners. Without the Law there would be no sin.
This was the sticking point for John MacArthur, when he said that there was no Law before Mount Sinai in Exodus 20. If that was true, how could Jehovah condemn to death the entire world, less 8 people, to die in a worldwide flood?
Since disobedience is the key to Jehovah’s righteous judgment and condemnation, the Law had to be known in some form and to some degree! The story of Cain and Abel should help inform us on this very unfortunately controversial matter.
Genesis 4:1 Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, "I have gotten a manchild with the help of the LORD." 4:2 Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
4:3 So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground.
4:4 Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; 4:5 but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell.
4:6 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?
4:7 "If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it."
4:8 Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. Now as we carefully read this very familiar passage, let us look at it in regards to sin or lawlessness.
First, who instructed them to offer sacrifices? Second, why did Cain’s sacrifice not satisfy Jehovah? Third, Jehovah uses a warning of sin i.e. lawlessness crouching at the door!
What should we conclude? Even though we have no written evidence of Jehovah instructing Adam, Eve, Cain or Abel in the Law we do have evidence that they acted in accordance to what could only have been told them by Jehovah.
Acceptable vs. unacceptable sacrifices.
Cain’s displeasure in having his sacrifice being refused or considered unworthy. We could also say that while Abel followed the Law of Jehovah as he knew it, Cain made up his version i.e. he invented religion instead of trying to deepen his personal relationship with Jehovah. The world continues to do this today with all the ‘religions’ that are man’s way of creating Jehovah in their own image.
We have Jehovah’s warning about the sin being dangerously close to Cain. Finally, we have the end result of sin when it is not addressed according to Jehovah’s righteous commands.
Cain killed his brother! His anger at Jehovah was directed to his brother. Jehovah then punished Cain.
Gen 4:10 He said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to Me from the ground.
Genesis 4:11 "Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. 4:12 "When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; you will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth."
The one remaining question would be why did Jehovah not kill Cain? We have no written biblical answer to that question. But we do have some other references to inform us.
1 John 3:11 For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; 3:12 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.
Hebrews 11:4 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.
What can we now say about sin and Cain? Cain was the evil one! What is evil? How could his deeds be considered evil if there was no understanding of the Law of Jehovah and therefore no definition of what is evil? Clearly Cain knew better because Jehovah had made it known to Adam and Cain.
3:5 You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. 3:6 No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.
3:7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;3:8 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.
3:9 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.
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.
Here we have a final understanding of the dangers and nature of sin. Sin is unrighteousness. Not loving your brother, both natural and spiritual, is sin and unrighteousness. Cain did not love Abel, as he murdered him.
If all of us don’t constantly strive to practice righteousness, by default we are practicing unrighteousness.
This once again brings to mind a much used phrase, “Practice makes perfect”. But, that is not really true. Only perfect practice makes perfect results, i.e. skills, lifestyle choices, and righteousness!
What are you practicing today?
What are you getting better at by your practice?
To be continued next Saturday.