The Bad Example of Cain

Cain’s underlying sin was his arrogant insistence that he could come to God on his own terms. This is the “way of Cain” of which Jude speaks—self-sufficiency, insisting on coming to God on one’s own terms, murderous jealousy of those who truly seek God and are accepted by him, and “repentance” only of the consequences of these sins and not of the sins themselves. It all starts with an attitude of self-sufficiency.

The story of Cain is found in Genesis 4:1-15.  Cain’s underlying sin was his arrogant insistence that he could come to God on his own terms.  Therefore, Cain is a near perfect example of a Biblical character who relied on his own “dead works,” and, hence, manifested only a defective form of repentance before God. Cain, it will be recalled, fell down a slippery slope of sin that started with his arrogance. Cain obviously was on speaking terms with God prior to his sin, because, even after his sin, God spoke to him directly seeking his repentance¹. Both Cain and his brother Abel understood they were to bring an offering to God. Abel brought an acceptable offering of fat portions from his flock², an animal sacrifice that correctly acknowledged that Abel was unable to save himself and was awaiting God’s perfect sacrifice for his sin. Cain, by contrast, brought some grain he had produced, the fruit of his own labors. Cain brought an offering to God on his own terms, one designed to remind God of his own works, not to remind Cain of his need for a savior. God accepted Abel’s sacrifice, but did not accept Cain’s sacrifice³.

The writer to the Hebrews explains that Abel showed true faith by offering a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, and through that faith God gave him the continuing testimony that he was righteous⁴.  In the same context, Hebrews defines faith as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen⁵.”  Abel showed faith, by this definition, by giving the animal sacrifice he understood God wanted, as a sign of righteousness before God that he could not see, rather than trying to buy God’s favor with the work of his own hands like his brother Cain.  This same context in Hebrews also states that it is impossible to please God without faith, because anyone who comes to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him⁶.  Once again, Abel sought God, while Cain sought to bribe God into accepting him doing things his own way.  As Jude said earlier, false believers reject things they can’t see and understand.  Cain could not understand God giving him righteousness apart from his works, and could not see the eternal reward, so he rejected them, and went his own way, using his offering to assert his own self-sufficiency before God. 

So, at this point, God offered Cain his first opportunity to repent. God saw that Cain was angry that his offering hadn’t been accepted, asked him why he is angry and warned him that sin “crouches at his door,” but then assured him he was still able to repent and do the right thing⁷. Faced with God’s rebuke and assurance, the acts of repentance that would have accompanied salvation in Cain’s life were quite simple. All he needed to do was overcome his murderous anger, take his focus off his brother, place it on God, and bring God a right sacrifice. God wanted Cain to make the same recognition of his own insufficiency and dependence on God that Abel had.

However, Cain’s response was to yield to his jealous anger. If God was going to play favorites, and accept Abel but not Cain, Abel had to die! Cain, the first murderer, killed his brother⁸. Here, again, God gives Cain not one but two opportunities to repent. God first asks Cain where his brother is, and Cain gives an evasive answer that manifests his total lack of concern for his brother⁹. God, who knew exactly what Cain had done, then confronted Cain with his sim and spoke judgment on him–still in an effort to induce repentance¹⁰.  Although God’s judgment on Cain was severe, it was clearly an attempt to induce repentance in that God let Cain live. The legal precept announced just a few chapters later in Genesis would have called for Cain’s immediate execution¹¹. God permitted Cain to live, though as a fugitive and wanderer. In response, Cain himself recognizes that he should die for his sin, and expresses his fear of this consequence to God, and God provides Cain a mark so that those who find him will not kill him, and promises sevenfold vengeance on anyone who kills Cain¹².

However, even after all of God’s merciful attempts to bring Cain to repentance, Cain never repents of his self-sufficiency, his “dead works.” He also never truly repents of the sin of murdering his brother. He only “repents” of the severe consequences his acts brought on himself.  This is the “way of Cain” of which Jude speaks—self-sufficiency, insisting on coming to God on one’s own terms, murderous jealousy of those who truly seek God and are accepted by him, and “repentance” only of the consequences of these sins and not of the sins themselves.  It all starts with an attitude of self-sufficiency.

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