“Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother.” 1 John 3:12 NIV
This is the only explicit Old Testament reference in John’s letters, and the only proper name used, except for references to Jesus Christ or God. John chose Cain because he was the first person born on this earth under the curse of sin. His hatred toward his brother typifies the self-centred, evil bent of the fallen human heart. While our self-centredness seldom goes to the extreme of murder, the roots are there. Hebrews 11:4 says that Abel offered a better sacrifice by faith. Since faith is always a response to God’s revelation, we must assume that God had revealed to Cain and Abel the proper kind of sacrifice that He required. Abel obeyed by faith. Cain, in defiance and disobedience, brought an unacceptable offering. When his brother’s offering was accepted and Cain’s was rejected, his envy began to manifest. Even though God confronted Cain and encouraged him to repent (Genesis 4:6-7), Cain ignored the warning. As a result, he murdered his brother. People do not begin as neutral or basically good and then decide either to choose or reject God. People are born into this world in a state of spiritual death (Ephesians 2:1). They need the new birth to pass out of death into life. The only other time that phrase appears is in John 5:24, where Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.” So, John begins with Adam’s firstborn, Cain, who typifies the hatred of the fallen human race.
PRAYER THOUGHT
Lord, let the reality of my new birth be shown in my love for others.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Lord, let the reality of my new birth, through the power and ministry of the Holy Spirit, be shown in my love for others. AMEN
I.B.R.A. Readings
Numbers 35:9-15
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