INTRODUCTION: From the beginning pages of the Old Testament, the message has been the same: there is only one way to a right relationship with God. This message of “exclusivity” is revealed in five themes found in the Old Testament that are reiterated in the New Testament.

I. The Oneness of God (Deuteronomy 6:4)

Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!”

II. The Holiness of God (Isaiah 6:1-5)

Habakkuk 1:13 “Thine eyes are too pure to approve evil, and Thou canst not look on wickedness with favor. Why dost Thou look with favor on those who deal treacherously? Why art Thou silent when the wicked swallow up those more righteous than they?”

III. The Sinfulness of Man (Jeremiah 17:9)

Genesis 3:6 “When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.”

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AVOIDING THE WAY OF CAINJude 11

October 25, 2015 | D R . RO B E RT J E F F R E S S

Romans 5:12 “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned — ”

Genesis 6:5 “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”

Psalm 14:1, 3 “1 The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; there is no one who does good. 3 They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?”

IV. The Need for Sacrifice (Leviticus 17:11)

Genesis 3:7 “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.”

Genesis 3:21 “The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.”

Leviticus 17:11 “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement?”

Hebrews 9:11-12 “11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”

V. The Exclusivity of the Sacrifice (Genesis 4:3-5; Jude 11)

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AVOIDING THE WAY OF CAIN Jude 11October 25, 2015 | D R . RO B E RT J E F F R E S S

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Genesis 4:3-5 “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 And 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; 5 but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell.”

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.”

Jude 11 “Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.”

Six Characteristics of the “Way of Cain”

1. “The way of Cain” refers to any individual who attempts to approach God on his or her own terms rather than on God’s terms.

2. “The way of Cain” describes any religious system that attempts to earn God’s favor by works and rituals rather than by reliance on God’s grace.

3. “The way of Cain” is any religious system that appeals to our pride rather than our desperate condition before God.

4. “The way of Cain” emphasizes humanity’s goodness rather than humanity’s sinfulness.

5. “The way of Cain” says there are many paths that lead to God rather than one path.

6. “The way of Cain” leads to eternal death rather than eternal life.

Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”

Conclusion

AVOIDING THE WAY OF CAIN Jude 11October 25, 2015 | D R . RO B E RT J E F F R E S S