The Background of Redemption - Part 2
Genesis 3-12
Genesis 4 pictures sin taking root in the first family, pitting brother against brother. Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and never returned. His descendents partook of his nature. Righteous Seth, generated a linage that entered God"s presence for worship, fellowship, and service (Genesis 4:25-5:32). Tragically, the time came when the sons of God (the righteous progeny of Seth) began to view with covetous eyes the daughters of men (the unrighteous offspring of Cain), and they took them as wives (Genesis 6:1-2). This union led to the description of the world in Genesis 6:5, "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."
Only eight righteous people emerged from the wicked world that God destroyed with a global flood. And even after they were spared, we read of an occasion that seems so out of place. Noah lay in his tent drunken and exposed, one of his sons responds with irreverent behavior (Genesis 9:20-27). This sordid incident is a reminder that the problem from Genesis 3:6 is still present. The destruction of all those evil people could not erase the fact that sin was still a problem for mankind.
The descendents of Noah attempt to build a tower in Chapter 11 but because of their self- exaltation God stops them from their goal and scatters them throughout the world. Notice what God says about them in verse 6, "And the LORD said, "Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them."
As we enter Genesis 12, God is making a promise to Abraham. We read of the genealogy of Shem, and through him we are introduced to Abraham. To this great man God made three momentous promises. 1. To make a great nation of his linage. 2. To give that nation the land of Canaan. 3. To bless all the nations of the earth through his Seed. "Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ." Galatians 3:16
Consequently, Genesis 3:6, 3:15, & 12:3 constitute the background for the rest of the Bible and all of human history. Just as the forbidden tree of Genesis 2:17, gave man the opportunity to show his fidelity to God, every law, precept, and command from Genesis 3:6 onward is God"s providing man a means of expressing his love for God in the obedience of faith. Paul says that faith is the means of accessing the grace of God (Romans 5:2). He then describes that faith as the "obedience of faith" (Romans 16:26), the "work of faith"
(1 Thessalonians 1:3), and "faith working through love" (Galatians 5:6).
Those in heaven will be there because they submitted to God"s grace in the obedience of faith and enjoyed the benefits of God"s plan to cure the problem of sin. Those in hell will be there because they never responded to God"s grace in obedient faith, or having done so, failed to persevere to the end.
1. How does sin manifest itself in Genesis 4?
2. In Hebrews 11:4, it says that Abel"s sacrifice was by faith. "Faith comes by hearing the word of God, Romans 10:17. Based on that information, did God tell Cain and Abel what kind of sacrifice He expected? Also consider 1 John 3:12.
3. Why did Cain become so upset about the rejection of his sacrifice?
4. Who were the "sons of God" of Genesis 6?
5. Describe the world of Genesis 6.
6. What sordid incident following the flood is a reminder that sin is still
present in man?
7. Why did the people want to build the Tower of Babel?
8. Why did God keep them from building the tower?
9. When God said that "nothing would be withheld from them" what did He mean?
10. What are the three promises made to Abraham?
11. How did God keep His three promises to Abraham?
12. List the three passages that constitute to background for the rest of
the Bible.
13. List three ways that Paul described faith.
14. What is the culminating act of obedience to the gospel that allows
God"s grace to grant remission of sins?
The Background of Redemption - Part 2
Genesis 3-12
Genesis 4 pictures sin taking root in the first family, pitting brother against brother. Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and never returned. His descendents partook of his nature. Righteous Seth, generated a linage that entered God"s presence for worship, fellowship, and service (Genesis 4:25-5:32). Tragically, the time came when the sons of God (the righteous progeny of Seth) began to view with covetous eyes the daughters of men (the unrighteous offspring of Cain), and they took them as wives (Genesis 6:1-2). This union led to the description of the world in Genesis 6:5, "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."
Only eight righteous people emerged from the wicked world that God destroyed with a global flood. And even after they were spared, we read of an occasion that seems so out of place. Noah lay in his tent drunken and exposed, one of his sons responds with irreverent behavior (Genesis 9:20-27). This sordid incident is a reminder that the problem from Genesis 3:6 is still present. The destruction of all those evil people could not erase the fact that sin was still a problem for mankind.
The descendents of Noah attempt to build a tower in Chapter 11 but because of their self- exaltation God stops them from their goal and scatters them throughout the world. Notice what God says about them in verse 6, "And the LORD said, "Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them."
As we enter Genesis 12, God is making a promise to Abraham. We read of the genealogy of Shem, and through him we are introduced to Abraham. To this great man God made three momentous promises. 1. To make a great nation of his linage. 2. To give that nation the land of Canaan. 3. To bless all the nations of the earth through his Seed. "Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ." Galatians 3:16
Consequently, Genesis 3:6, 3:15, & 12:3 constitute the background for the rest of the Bible and all of human history. Just as the forbidden tree of Genesis 2:17, gave man the opportunity to show his fidelity to God, every law, precept, and command from Genesis 3:6 onward is God"s providing man a means of expressing his love for God in the obedience of faith. Paul says that faith is the means of accessing the grace of God (Romans 5:2). He then describes that faith as the "obedience of faith" (Romans 16:26), the "work of faith"
(1 Thessalonians 1:3), and "faith working through love" (Galatians 5:6).
Those in heaven will be there because they submitted to God"s grace in the obedience of faith and enjoyed the benefits of God"s plan to cure the problem of sin. Those in hell will be there because they never responded to God"s grace in obedient faith, or having done so, failed to persevere to the end.
"Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and never returned. His descendents partook of his nature."
Who was the mother of these descendents? Supposedly there were no other people in the world at this time except Cain's parents.
"Righteous Seth, generated a linage...."
With who? Not one of his sisters I hope.
"And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."
So for the victimless crime of having evil thoughts, nearly all of humanity, including children and babies who were certainly innocent of even that offense, were mercilessly slaughtered by God.
"Noah lay in his tent drunken and exposed"
Why should Ham be punished when it was Noah who got drunk and exposed himself?
"The destruction of all those evil people could not erase the fact that sin was still a problem for mankind."
Maybe it was not the evil of mankind that was the real problem.
"To give that nation the land of Canaan."
The problem was that there were already people livingthere, but that problem was solved by killing all of the Canaanites, including women and children.
Yep sisters, Adam called her Eve because she was the mother of all that was living. You all ready know this stuff from the DNA thing.
Its was actually mercy God showed with the flood. Each generation being brought up and dieing going to hell. The innocents died only only to go to heaven, so really he saved them. If Noah, being a preacher of rightousness, could not convince the rest, imagine that
Portrait of God 3
