the mark of Cain is like our salvation

Genesis 4

v15

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.

I think of how each of us today is like Cain, because everybody in the world has done something wrong (Romans 3:23), and all of that sin is a very bad thing and worthy of eternal death (Romans 6:23a). I thought is was intriguing that the Lord bothered to protect Cain, but I think that the Lord had mercy on Cain because Cain called on Him.

This just goes to show that, even when we have done really evil things before, when we admit that we are headed for judgment, and sincerely call on the Lord for mercy, He will save us. The Lord put a mark on Cain to save his life from being killed for his sin, and, in the same way, the Lord puts the mark of Christ on us, seals us with His Holy Spirit, and gives us eternal life, if we call on Him for mercy and have faith in Him.

John 6:37

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

the natural need for diligence

Genesis 3

v19

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.

The first part of this verse says, In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread... That reminds me of 2 Thessalonians 3:10:

For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

This element of capitalism has been a part of nature since the ground was cursed: That we need to do hard work in order to earn "a living"--so that we can have food to eat. This is yet another reminder for us to work on being diligent.

Matthew 3 - Application

v10

And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

This makes me think of how I need to not just talk about repenting, but produce actions fitting for repenting (v8).

Matthew 3 - Key

v2

And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

As simple as this message is, this is still a good message for us today: We should be repenting from our sins.

Matthew 3 - Outline

v1-4

John the Baptizer came preaching repentance, to prepare the way of the Lord

v5-6

people from all over Judea came to John to be baptized, confessing their sins

v7-10

John the Baptizer warned the Pharisees and Sadducees to be fruitful instead of just trusting in their lineage of Abraham... or they would suffer wrath and fire

v11-12

John told how Jesus would come after him and be greater

v13-15

Jesus came to John to be baptized

v16-17

God Himself was a witness that Jesus was His beloved Son

the day Adam and Eve died

Genesis 2

v17

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Why does it say that they would die in that day? Because humankind died inside that day, and we have all been born to grow up and walk around without having any true life. Jesus Christ came to restore that life to us. Through faith in Him, we can receive everlasting and more abundant life.

John 10:10

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly.

multiply and have dominion

Genesis 1

v28

And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

I saw that even Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden had a job to do, and weren't supposed to be lazy. I'll work on not being lazy with the jobs I have to do.