In the last module, we said that Adam acquired a knowledge of what is morally good and what is morally evil after eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
This knowledge enables man to know what is right or wrong morally without being specifically instructed externally.
It is a law written in every man’s heart (Romans 2:14-15).
The big issue was that man had died spiritually after eating of the fruit of that tree.
God said he would die the very day he ate of that tree.
KJV Gen 2:16-17
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
BBE Gen2:16-17
16 And the Lord God gave the man orders, saying, You may freely take of the fruit of every tree of the garden:
17 But of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you may not take; for on the day when you take of it, death will certainly come to you
Man didn’t die physically that day so the death God spoke about which happened that day wasn’t physical death.
It was spiritual death- A separation from God hence God’s sustaining life ceases to flow to you.
Isaiah 59:1-2
- Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
Adam was no longer in union with God and he couldn’t access God’s sustaining life hence it became possible for him to continue down the path of aging towards physical death.
Sin had produce it’s fruit which was death: first spiritual death then soulish and physical death.
James 1:14-15
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Death and corruption had set in on all three aspects of man: spirit, soul and body.
His spirit died first as he became seperated from God and God’s sustaining life.
His soul became subject to death through corruption in his mind, will, emotions and intellect such that he naturally rebels against God’s law and finds it difficult to subject himself to it.
Romans 8:6-7
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
His body started down towards the process of death as aging towards physical death set in.
It took 930 years for Adam’s body to finally get to the point of death but his spirit had died earlier the day he ate of the fruit of the tree.
These three dimensions of death due to sin were passed on to all men through Adam because in Adam, all men sinned.
Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Have you ever considered how it was possible for Cain not to have done well in his offering but Abel did well?
We are not told God specifically instructed them to offer a sacrifice to Him.
I believe the knowledge of good and evil in their hearts prompted them to do this.
God told Cain his offering would have been accepted if he had done well.
This means Cain knew exactly what he was supposed to do.
He wasn’t ignorant of how he would do well but he didn’t do it hence his offering was rejected.
Gen 4:6-7
6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
Notice God’s warning to Cain. Sin was already waiting to use Cain’s anger against him.
Sin was at his door with a desire for murder presented to Cain.
However, God said Cain had power to rule over that sin.
He didn’t have to give in even though it was difficult not to because of man’s fallen nature!
Many times, we fall into sin not because we couldn’t have overcome but because we didn’t choose to exercise power over that sin.
Cain’s lust conceived anger which lured him to plan the murder of his brother Abel.
God warned him about it but he didn’t pay sufficient attention to the warning.
The degradation of the fall was at work and Cain rolled along with it to murder his brother Abel.
God judged and punished him for it.
Cain couldn’t have sinned if there wasn’t a law he was to obey?
Sin is the transgression of the law.
1John 3:4
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for SIN IS THE TRANSGRESSION OF THE LAW.
Cain had God’s law he was to obey.
First he had the law of God expressed as the knowledge of good and evil written in his heart.
Second, God specifically warned him against committing murder.
He had sufficient instructions to pull away from sin but he didn’t.
God’s law was violated and he was punished for it.
This was long before Moses or the Israelites ever came on the scene.
God’s law was already in force and men were judged by it.
Understanding this is key as we proceed through the Old Testament down into the new testament.
To be continued….
Shalom Greetings!
Oghogho Ikponmwosa
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