The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Cain

  • Lesson 11: The Abandonment of God’s Truth Revealed: Jude

    Key Verse

    Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

    —Jude 1:21

    Key Verse Thought: Read the Key Verse. As we look at the book of Jude in this lesson, we will understand that he warned of apostasy, or abandonment of God’s truth. As we read, we will learn that this apostasy comes mainly because of false teachers and unbelievers. After reading the Key Verse, we are to recognize that the only way to stay with the truth of God’s Word is to do what this verse teaches – especially to “Keep yourselves in the love of God”. Doing this is what will help us not to believe false teachers who oppose God and the things of God

    Emphasis: As we look at this lesson, we are to understand that there will be false teaching, but Christians are to contend for the integrity of the truth of God’s Word. In Jude, we are to remember the judgment that befell upon those who rejected God’s Word. Christians are to keep themselves in the love of God, obeying God’s Word, as a witness to the lost world.

    Lesson Summary: The book of Jude is the eighth book in the final division of the New Testament: The Nine General Letters to the Jewish Church. Jude, who was also the half brother of Jesus, wrote it.

    Jude called for Christians earnestly to contend for the faith. He wrote warnings to Christians that there were false teachers who had not only rebelled against the teachings of Jesus, but that were leading people from the truth of the Gospel message. This is called apostasy. In order for Christians to understand just what apostasy is, Jude remembered a few previous apostasies: the Israelites in the wilderness, one-third of the angels, and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha. Jude then recognized the apostasy that was occurring in his day. He compared this apostasy with three: Cain, Balaam, and Korah.

    Jude then recalled the life of Enoch, the seventh from Adam. He not only walked with God daily, but he understood and preached against the ungodly. Enoch understood that the Lord would return one day – and he warned others.

    After remembering that God knew apostasy would come, Christians are encouraged to build their lives upon the Christian faith and keep themselves in the love of God. By living a Christ-like life, Christians can be a witness to the lost world – and Christians are commanded to live a life that makes a difference in others by revealing Jesus to them. God will hold Christians accountable for this.

    Jude ended with the promise that God would enable Christians to do these things.

    Y3Q4 – Lesson 11 Questions

    Y3Q4 – Lesson 11 Children’s Worksheets

    The Biblical Path of Life – Year Three is available through Amazon.

  • The Heart of the Matter

    “O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!”
    Deuteronomy 5:29

    Do you remember the first murderer in the Bible? His name was Cain. He had a brother named Able. We do not read much about them, but what we do find in God’s Word should help us much if we will only understand.

    “And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD” (Genesis 4:3). We read that Cain understood he was to bring an offering before God, so he brought an offering. “And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering” (Genesis 4:4). Abel, too, understood he was to bring an offering. However, we can read a difference. The Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering. Why? “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh” (Hebrews 11:4). There is something very important to consider here. One must remember that God does not only look upon outward actions, He looks upon the attitude of the heart. Remember what we can read: “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). Man looks on the outside, God looks on the heart.

    God knew Cain’s heart. God knew Abel’s heart. It is always a heart issue with God. We can see what comes from Cain’s heart as we continue to remember. “But unto Cain and to his offering he (God) had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell” (Genesis 4:5). Cain was angry. Read the warning God gave Cain: “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” (Genesis 4:6-7). If Cain would respond correctly to God, he would be accepted of God. On the converse, if he did not respond correctly sin lie at the door. Cain had a choice: To obey God, or allow the sin to rule his life.

    Read what Cain chose: “And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him” (Genesis 4:8). He chose to kill his brother, Abel. When God came to him, he immediately had a choice. He could confess and ask forgiveness. “And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9). Do you think God would have forgiven Cain if he had only asked? Remember: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Instead, Cain lied to God. “And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden” (Genesis 4:16). Cain chose to leave God.

    See what Jesus said about Abel in the New Testament: “That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar” (Matthew 23:35). Jesus declared Abel was righteous. Next, read some insight we gain on Cain in the New Testament: “Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous” (1 John 3:12). Cain was of the wicked one, Satan, and he killed his brother because he chose his own works, which were evil.

    Remember what God later told Moses: “O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!” (Deuteronomy 5:29).

    Have you realized that God sees the heart and not the outward acts of your attempts at righteousness?

    How to be Saved