Work

• Perkins, Gavin

• 2011-06-05

• Moore Theological College

• Perkins speaks on Genesis 4:1-26. He addresses the confusing nature of the chapter, where God seems to favour Abel unfairly. Perkins proposes the idea that their offering is a matter of the heart rather than simply a religious act. Abel's sacrifice was more generous, giving the best part of the best lamb to God. Both Cain and Abel believed God was there, but Abel had faith (Hebrews), and Cain did not. Abel rested himself in God's provision and trusted Him, while Cain offered God a sacrifice to earn his blessing, placing God in our debt. Perkins emphasises that one is serving God because they know and trust him, and the other is serving God because they are trying to earn his blessing. This means that not every religious act is the same. God asks Cain questions and pleads with him not to give in to sin, which is personified as an animal. God tells Cain not to let the animal overwhelm him and kill him. Eventually, sin will become a force that will overpower. Perkins describes sin as not just being alive but also crouching in the shadows, waiting. Perkins then brings in God's righteousness, where those who have been wronged cry out for justice, and God is righteous and cannot just let it go. Those who we have mistreated and wronged, their blood, cries out for justice. While Abel's blood cries out for justice, Jesus' blood has paid the price. Perkin emphasises how Christ's blood means that God cannot condemn those who are in Christ as it would be unjust for him to punish them because Christ has died. It is justice for him to receive into his family those who trust in Christ. God cannot do anything else, Jesus does not plead for our mercy but stands at His side and asks Him to be just and not to punish the same sin twice.

• English

• Moore Theological College
• Christ Church St Ives

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• Sound

• https://images.quartexcollections.com/moore/thumbnails/preview/81c56808-fd5b-4886-b413-3152ce1400e5 
• https://archives.moore.edu.au/documents/detail/217017 

• In copyright - educational use permitted. This item may be used for the purposes of research and study. Please acknowledge Christ Church St Ives and that it is held by Moore Theological College