The Doctrine of Cain
(1)-The first baby in the human race was Cain. The first baby in the human race was
never born twice, he was only born once. In other words, he was never born-again.
Therefore, the illustration of Cain in Jude 11 refers to the unbeliever type of apostasy.
See Gen 4:1-9, and Heb 11:4.
(2)-Like many unbelievers with a religious trend, Cain was a legalist. He attempted to
be saved by what he did. He was the first one to attempt salvation by works, and, of
course, he never made it. The salvation God offers to every member of the human
race is by grace through faith with no works or deeds connected to it. Eph 2:8-9,"By
grace you are saved through faith not by works." Rom 3:20,"By the deeds of the
law shall no flesh be justified in his sight." Therefore, God rejected Cain's works,
which caused Cain to develop mental attitude sins. Gen 4:5-7,"...on Cain and his
offering he (God)did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face
was downcast. Then the Lord said to Cain, 'Why are you angry? Why is your
face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do
not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door..."
(3)-Approbation lust cannot stand rejection. Lust is the English word for "a strong
desire" in Gen 4:7. The rejection of approbation lust is recorded in Heb 11:4.
(4)-Because of Cain's frustrated approbation lust, he committed the first murder. Gen
4:8,"Now Cain said to his brother Abel, 'Let's go out to the field.' And while they
were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and murdered him."
I Jn 3:12,"Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one (Satan) and murdered
his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and
his brother's were righteous."
The first person murdered in the human race was a believer, and he was murdered by
the first apostate in the human race. And this is why Jude uses this as an illustration.
Apostates don't like you and will kill you if they can. Why do believers run around
with apostates? The Bible tells us that they do not like us, and that they do not like
what we stand for. They may put up a front, but deep down inside no apostate likes
truth, or anyone who stands for the truth. Remember this and never forget it: people
who talk the most about brotherly love are the best haters you have ever seen.
(5)-The acceptability of Abel's offering plus the rejection of Cain's offering aroused
jealousy in Cain(I Jn 3:12). Cain was actually jealous before he found a way to get rid
of his brother. Jealousy is a mental attitude sin, and it is a part of the emotional revolt
of the soul. Anytime anyone has jealousy or hatred in his soul, he is a potential
murderer.
(6)-Cain desired the approbation of God on the basis of his own works. In other
words, Cain wanted to be saved, but it had to be his way, not God's way. And God is
not obligated to recognize or even tolerate any way except His way, which in this case
God's salvation was portrayed through the death of an animal. Cain set up his own
rules by which God was to honor him. His fruits and vegetables were probably the
best anyone had ever seen, they probably would have won first prize at the county
fair, but God said He would not in any way recognize Cain's offering. We must do it
God's way, or we might just as well forget it. The way of God is grace, the way of
Cain is legalism.
(7)-Therefore, the way of Cain is the long road of misery. Self-induced misery, and
self-inflicted misery: he brought this all on himself by himself. This is the law of
volitional responsibility.
(8) -Cain could not or would not kill an animal, but he found it very easy to kill his
brother.