FEAR OF DEATH, OR THE CROSS' VICTORY OVER DEATH?

June 5, 2011
MF Blume

Hebrews 2:14-15 KJV Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; (15) And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Imagine being in bondage all our lifetimes because of the fear of death.

Living entire LIVES, that end in death, with a focus on the death at the end rather than enjoying the life while we have it!

What a twisted way to live.

What a wasted life.
Do not waste your life living in defense of that live and fretting over that life rather than ACTUALLY LIVING THAT LIFE!

Notice the Lord came and died on the cross in order to destroy the devil through death since the devil had the power of death.

What a thought!
THROUGH DEATH destroying him who had the power of death.

The biggest difference between sinners and saints is the sinners’ fear of death and the true saints’ genuine enjoyment of and living life to fullest.

People think enjoying life is sinning as much as you can.
There is pleasure in sin.
But they fear death.
They cringe at the thought of meeting God.
They have to force themselves not to think of it.
But really enjoying life is not being afraid of death and wasting moments of that life by fearing death.
Why think of death during the times of your life?

Genesis shows a powerful contrast through a life of not fearing death as opposed to those who feared death.

Last week we spoke of contrasts between Genesis 11 and Genesis 12.

Making self a great name and city, as opposed to God making Abram a great name and city.

You can follow the lineage of two families in the earth from the point of Adam’s children.

One son follow the father’s pattern of failure, while the other seemed to notice what God did in response to the failure and followed it.

Genesis 2:9 KJV And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 3:6-7 KJV And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. (7) And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

Genesis 3:17-21 KJV And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; (18) Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; (19) In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. (20) And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. (21) Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

Adam disobeys God and eats fruit of the knowledge of good and evil.

He sees his nakedness that he was formerly unashamed of before he sinned.
And makes aprons to cover himself.

God clothes them with COATS OF SKIN.

An animal’s life was taken in order to clothe Adam.

After they’re cast from the Garden, Adam and Eve have two sons, Cain and Abel.

Abel keeps sheep and Cain tills the ground.
Why did Abel keep sheep?
They did not eat meat at that time.
Mutton was not on their diets, for the fruit of the Garden and the herbs of the field.
Keep in mind that GOD CLOTHED ADAM WITH COATS OF SKINS.
Apparently it was a SHEEP that was slain to inspire Abel to keep them and provide clothing for man’s nakedness.

And when the boys sacrificed to God, we find they sacrificed that which they worked with.

Abel offered the FIRSTLINGS of his flock of sheep to God.
Cain offered FRUIT OF THE GROUND.

Man was made from DUST OF THE GROUND, and clothes himself with vegetation from FRUIT OF THE GROUND, and his son CAIN offers FRUIT OF THE GROUND in sacrifice.

God does not accept it.

Recall that God CURSED THE GROUND for Adam’s sake instead of directly cursing Adam like He directly cursed the woman.

And Cain offers something OF THIS CURSED GROUND, where man’s flesh was made from, to God.
Cain offered the very thing Adam mistakenly tried to clothe himself with.
Abel offered the very thing GOD CLOTHED ADAM WITH INSTEAD.

Notice this carefully.

There is a strong association of what COVERED and what is SACRIFICED.
Cain takes Adam’s mistake of COVERING HIMSELF WITH VEGETATION and sacrifices it, while Abel repeats God’s CORRECTIVE COVERING (SHEEP) and sacrifices it.

Hebrews 11 says BY FAITH Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain.

Hebrews 11:4 KJV 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.

The context of faith in Hebrews 11 is EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN (v. 1).

Abel had no visible grounds to know God would accept his sacrifice and not Cain’s, but he did.
How did he know?
People who get revelations from God take time to seek God and focus on Him.
Abel took the time and got revelation, whereas Cain did not.
DO YOU TAKE THE TIME?

Spiritually, CLOTHING is directly related to SACRIFICE.

JESUS’ RIGHTEOUSNESS IS GIVEN TO US BECAUSE HE DIED OUR DEATHS.

We are said to be CLOTHED WITH ROBES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (Job 29:14; Psalm 132:9; Isa 61:10).
The white robes of the saints in Revelation are RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Notice ABEL obtained witness that HE WAS RIGHTEOUS (something the bible says clothes us spiritually) by his sacrifice.

Sacrifices are actually LIVES TAKEN IN DEATH AS THOUGH THEY WERE OUR LIVES.

They are taken because OUR lives deserve to be taken due to sin.
Apply that to Abel’s intentions.
He did not have a bible like we do and learned about sacrifice from a book.
He saw what God did and what Adam did, in providing their clothing, and somehow got a revelation and he applied that to SACRIFICE.
Like he saw God physically cover Adam by the death of a sheep and applied that spiritually to his SOUL and sacrificed sheep to COVER HIS SINS.

It’s as if CAIN tried covering up SINS with the same thing Adam tried covering up his physical flesh – vegetation.

No blood shed.
No animate life taken.
No concept of a life for a life.

Cain was following the footsteps of his father Adam.

Flesh offering flesh’s best, whereas sacrifice confesses flesh is sinful and deserves DEATH.

We really have to see sacrifice as ourselves dying due to sin and we are acknowledging that.

Jesus died in our places… so we can say we actually died with Him.

He was buried and we were buried with Him.
And then He resurrected.
This is God putting us back to the ground where we came from and starting all over again by raising us up as NEW CREATURES just as he originally took man from the dust of the ground.

Notice Paul speaks of this and connects it with having GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS.

2 Corinthians 5:14 KJV For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

So, dying by proxy through a sacrifice is how we get GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS, thereby showing us that an offering of FRUIT OF THE GROUND without DEATH is boasting of SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

It’s like the fruit of the ground stands for ourselves as well, in a twisted and self-righteous manner.

“Here God, look at this! I do not need to die. I just need to provide you with MY FLESHLY BEST – MY righteousness!”
Meanwhile Abel confesses he had to die because he had no righteousness to boast of, and to be righteous He had to obtain God’s own righteousness.

(Mormons have a visitor’s centre at their Salt Lake City Temple where stands a statue of Adam and Eve kneeling before an altar with FRUIT on it, while a lamb sits by alive and well watching).

Works as opposed to God providing righteousness through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

And Cain kills Abel out of jealousy.

Then fear of death ensues.

Genesis 4:10-17 KJV And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. (11) And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; (12) 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. (13) And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. (14) 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. (15) And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. (16) And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. (17) And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

HE BUILT A CITY!

We do not realize today that ANCIENT CITIES WERE FOR PROTECTION.
They were WALLED PLACES.
Cain has a son.
It inspires him to built a city and name the city after this son of his.
Thinks of fragile life.
He has a child now.
Self glory is still in Cain’s heart.
Like the men in Genesis 11 we spoke of last week who sought to make themselves a great name and make themselves a city with a tower.
FEAR OF DEATH GRIPPED CAIN.
But how twisted is this fear of death!
Cain insolently responds to God as to where Abel is after he killed him, saying he did not know, and asked God if he was Abel’s keeper.
Shrugs off the death of Abel so easily.
BUT IS SO CONCERNED OVER HIS OWN DEATH that argues with God about people wanting to kill him.
After killing Abel, nothing but DEATH seems to be on Cain’s mind!
Even though God said He’d avenge Cain’s death if anyone did it, since God’s judgment was enough, Cain builds a CITY.

Meanwhile SETH is born and actually is considered Adam’s son INSTEAD OF ABEL (“Seth” means “SUBSTITUTED”).

IOW, Seth would not have been INSTEAD OF ABEL if Abel never died.
His entire identity is based upon Abel’s death.
And he has a son, like Cain had a son.
His son’s name is ENOS (which means MORTAL MAN).
And Seth is inspired by the birth of his son to do something as Cain was inspired by his son’s birth to build a city.
And what Seth does also involves A NAME just as Cain’s city was called by the name of his Son Enoch.
But while Cain did it out of self glory, and fear of death, SETH DOES SOMETHING FOR GOD’S GLORY and the fragility of life!
MEN START CALLING ON THE NAME OF THE LORD!

Genesis 4:25-26 KJV And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. (26) And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.

Life is fragile!

But instead of building great walled cities to protect ourselves and forever look over our shoulders for fear of death, waiting our lives fearing for deaths,
…LET US CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD!
Not build a city after OUR NAMES, but call on GOD’S NAME!

When you read onward of Cain’s lineage you read of skilled artisans and inventors of musical instruments and ranches and metallurgy.

Genesis 4:19-22 KJV And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. (20) And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle. (21) And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. (22) And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.

After all, they were without God, and tried enjoying life the best they could by substitutes like music and sciences.

But they still had a fear of death like CAIN.

Genesis 4:23-24 KJV And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. (24) If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.

Just like Cain, a twisted over-concern for his own death and a careless concern for the death of an older man and a younger man.

While he reassures his two wives of his safety, he does not stop to consider maybe the two men he slew had wives and families and are gone now.
And instead of thinking he killed TWO MEN, while Cain only killed one, he is even more twisted to say that God would protect him more than He protected Cain since Cain would be avenged sevenfold, whereas he should be avenged 70 times 7 since he killed them out of self defense.
His reasoning was that Cain flatly murdered someone out of mere jealousy, and God said He’d avenge Cain’s death sevenfold, whereas Lamech killed out of self-defense.

WHAT A TWISTED FORM OF THE 70 X 7!

Matthew 18:21-22 KJV Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? (22) Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Jesus used the figure in FORGIVENESS.

Lamech used it in VENGEANCE!

Genesis 4:10 KJV And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.

Ever wonder what Abel’s blood was crying?

Hebrews 12:24 KJV And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Abel’s blood cried VENGEANCE, but Christ’s blood cries FORGIVENESS!

After Cities built to their son’s names…

Walls of protection, due to still fearing death although God said He would avenge their deaths and marked Cain to ensure people know it…
Creating all kinds of arts and skills and pleasures due to absence from God’s presence…
Seven generations later, CAIN’S LINE IS STILL FEARFUL OF DEATH!
And we do not read any further of Cain’s lineage in the entire Bible.
It stopped with Lamech and his three sons and daughter.
Why?
THE FLOOD CAME.

1.   Adam - Dust of the ground
2.   Cain - possession/possessed,
3.   Enoch - dedicated disciplined
4.   Irad - fugitive
5.   Mehujael - smitten of God
6.   Methusael -demands his death
7.   Lamech - poor made low

If you put the names together, they seem to form a message.

From the dust of the ground, they are possessed and dedicated to being fugitives - smitten of God -- demanding death, and this poor state brings man low.

But look how Seth’s line flows and WHO IS THE SEVENTH FROM ADAM THROUGH SETH!

1.   Adam: Dust of the ground;
2.   Seth: He set or appointed or replacement
3.   Enos: Mortal man or fallen man or frail or subject to all kind of evil in soul & body
4.   Cainan: Sorry or lamenter or possessor or purchaser or one that laments
5.   Mahalaleel: Blessed God or praise of God
6.   Jared: Shall come down or descent
7.   Enoch: Teaching or dedicated or initiated or disciplined or well regulated
8.   Methuselah: When he dies, it shall come
9.    Lamech: Poor made low
10: Noah: Rest, comfort

And it forms a MESSAGE:

Dust of the ground <man is> appointed <as> fallen man subject to all kind of evil in soul & body <in his> sorry <and> one that laments <sinful state>, <but the> blessed God shall come down <and> initiated <by the blessed God> his death shall bring despairing <man> comfort & rest <from their sins>.

AND ENOCH is the seventh from Adam, whose counterpart on Cain’s side, so afraid of death like Cain, LAMECH.

And notice what is significant of ENOCH, keeping in mind the issue of DEATH.

Genesis 5:21-24 KJV And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: (22) And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: (23) And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: (24) And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

Most lived over 900 years.

Enoch has a son at 65, lives only 300 more years, instead of the 800 the rest lives, BECAUSE GOD WANTS HIM CLOSER THAN WALKING WITH HIM ON EARTH…
And ENOCH is significantly said to NOT SEE DEATH.

Heb 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

He did not SEE death, let alone FEAR DEATH!

Two kinds of PEOPLE:
1. Those who are like the ONES WHO slew Christ, Cain’s line – self-glorious, self-centred, fearful of death and subject to bondage.
2. And those who are like SETH – we’re here because our older brother JESUS DIED. Our whole identity is existence solely because He died. THE CROSS IS OUR EXISTENCE.

Cain’s line became EXTINCT… the very thing they feared.

7 means COMPLETION.

We see what Cain’s spirit MATURES INTO.
What it brings to fruition – fear of death brings death.
Abel’s/Seth’s spirit brings RAPTURE AND TRANSLATION to wind up being with God forevermore!