Sin lieth at the door
Genesis 4:3-13. “And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. 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: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 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. 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. And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand; When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear.”
As we start off with the sin offering as represented with Cain in the scriptures above. “Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.” Then we see Abel. “And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof.”
Then we see the response both of the two boys received from God. “And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect.”
As we look further into these verses I believe we will find some truths that will help us. First off it appears evident that Abel knew what offering to bring. I’m confident that his father Adam told both boys that God would only accept an animal blood sacrifice, seeing that was the way God had addressed his and Eve’s sin. Genesis 3:21. “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” The animals would have given their lives and blood. God did not skin them alive.
Not only Abel would have known this but his brother Cain also. So, “Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof.” Here we see the blood sacrifice that Abel brought. The fat means that Abel had already identified himself with his sacrifice in killing it because, the fat is only available after it was killed. Also notice it is said that he “brought of the firstlings.” This means one of two things, firstlings, plural, or it means, of the firstlings. Which could have been just one of the flock. Either way, I believe we shall see that he brought two firstlings of his flock. We will show this just a little later after we look at Cain and his offering.
“But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect.” It is very important to notice how God will always connect the person with his offering. The same is true today with us believers and our offering, Christ Jesus. The only offering that God will accept at the hands of those that profess to be saved is His Son Jesus Christ. We are guilty of His blood which He shed freely for us.
Back to Cain and his offering. I’m sure Cain knew what to bring. It is quite evident that he chose to bring something different. Regardless of Cain’s view. Romans 2:11. “For there is no respect of persons with God.” His respect is with the offering, not the person. Cain found this out when God would not accept the offering he brought. Then Cain gets, as you might say, bent out of frame and mad at God. “And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.” Then God asked Cain three questions. “And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?” Here we have a fallen creature standing before a Thrice-Holy God and is wroth without a cause. Perhaps it’s the pride syndrome he inherited. Then God asked, “why is thy countenance fallen?” One thing for sure, to reject God’s way is only a downward spiral with no peace and joy in the heart. Then God asked, “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?” Here is where some people want to inject works into salvation. “Doest well,” what these people fail to see is God is only referring to the offering of Cain, not Cain himself. “For there is no respect of persons with God.” God respects the offering of man, not the man himself.
Now then lets look at the firstlings again that Abel brought. Whether or not Abel brought firstlings (plural) of his flock may not be real clear in that respect, but I believe scripture will prove out that there were two present there. And there is a reason we believe that.
“and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.” When God said, “and if thou doest not well,” He is referring once again to his offering. Abel did well, for he brought a blood sacrifice which God accepted. But Cain did not do well because his sacrifice was without blood and therefore it was not accepted. All this of course points to God’s only Begotten Son shedding His blood for us on the Old Rugged Cross that we cherish.
Back to the firstlings. God had said unto Cain, “and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.” Some suppose that, what God means here is that sin lieth at the door of Cain’s heart. Well, I believe it is much bigger than that. For one thing, it is already established in the fact that both boys were already required to bring an offering for sin. And doing well have already been ruled out. God does not accept works as the way of redemption. When God said, “sin lieth at the door.” He is saying unto Cain. I cannot accept the offering you brought, but there is a sin “offering,” lying at the door of this tent. Abel, knowing that God would not accept the offering of his brother Cain, he brought one from his flock for him. When God used the term, “sin lieth at the door.” the sin here is referring to the sin offering. And all Cain has to do is lay his hand on it and identify himself with the blood offering and kill it and offer the blood and the fat thereof just like Abel did. Then God will accept the offering of Cain just as He did Abel and his offering. To add more evidence to this truth, God looks to the door where, Abel must be standing and says. “And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.” It is evident that Abel must have been at the door with the sin offering as God was speaking. Hebrews 9:28. “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” The without sin in this verse is a reference to the sin offering of Jesus Himself on the cross, the first time He came, but the next time He comes, it is without the sin offering. This time He is going to The Throne, not the Cross. The offering of Abel pointed to the offering of Christ Jesus on Calvary. Abel loved his brother enough to bring an offering for him, like as Christ has provided Himself an offering for sin for us.
What is so sad here is the fact that Cain refused to do this, in the stead of, substitute as we did the page concerning Abraham and Isaac. But not may days down the road from here, this very Cain that refused the sin offering brought by his brother Abel, turns right around and sheds the innocent blood of Abel his brother. Cain was the first antichrist, because in rejecting the blood sacrifice which points to Christ and His shed blood on the cross. This same pattern has played out down through the ages and will be carried out to the full extent when the man of sin, the antichrist comes on the scene after the Church is caught out.
Genesis 4:8-14. “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. And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand; When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.”
So many today are following in Cain’s footsteps. Still trying to bypass the blood sacrifice and please God with their good works, while at the same time willing to punish the Bible believing Christian when we tell them their good works will not satisfy God as the means of salvation. It does not have to be that way. There is a sin offering at the door for them and you, should you happen to be lost. Just accept the sacrifice that God has given so freely for you, His dear Son, Christ Jesus. Even now, He is at your heart’s door knocking. Turn Him not away. He is your only hope of getting out of this world alive and that for all eternity. Call on Him while He is near. John 6:37. “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
You might say, well, how do I know if The Father gave me to The Son? Well, that’s very simple. Do you have any desire whatsoever to come to Him? Do you want to be saved? Do you realize you are a sinner and willing to confess to God that you have sinned and come short of the glory of God, which all are guilty? If so, He is calling you. He will not call you then turn you away. He promised He will not turn you away.
Romans 10:8-13 “…… The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
The sin offering lieth at your door. Christ Jesus is your sin offering.