First Example of Blessing the Second Born:
Reading in Genesis chapter 2, we see Abel as the first example of the second born receiving the blessing. We also read that God desired to bless Cain. For the moment, let’s put ourselves in Cain’s sandals and hear the words that he heard: ‘The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.” Gen4:3 and 6-7 Reading those words we can picture God encouraging Cain to “do well”, and like Abel, to chose the correct thing. God continued by instructing him to turn from and “rule over” his first fallen nature. Could it be that since Cain brought “an offering“ of his crops, and not a sacrificial lamb as a sin offering , that he did not “do well”? Causing him to express the rebellious nature that the Bible reveals all men have inherited from the fall of Adam and Eve. Gen2:16-17 Gen3:1, 2-3, 4-5, 6, 7, 21
Many might agree, that the instruction: “you must rule over it” . . . is just as applicable for every person today, as it has been, and will be for all people in the years to come! And when considering all the conflicts, doubts and fears plaguing our world today, (which a few years ago we would never have imagined) we might be tempted to identify with Cain’s frustrations? So today, whether we are experiencing the world in a state of pandemic or are looking forward to the return of a condition called “normal”, it seems evident that the temptation of sin is still “crouching” at the door of our hearts. And as of old, sin is always “contrary to” and opposite in nature to what God desires for us. 1Peter 5:8-9 and 11
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As the experiences of the second born in Genesis illustrate the repetition of this “pattern”, the reader may discover a new (or perhaps renewed) understanding of the eternal importance of our second birth over our first. John 3:6-7 Gal.5:17 1Cor15:50-51, 52-53, 54-56 and 57-58 Add to this the solid assurance that it is God’s will that none should perish. 2Peter3:9, 11, 13 Also, an important detail (that cannot be over stated) is that each person must individually “choose” to respond to the Biblical instruction to repent and to put off the old sin nature inherited from the first Adam, and to put on the True Spiritual Nature of the Last Adam. 1Cor15:45-46 and 47-48, 49
“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts” . . . Heb3:13-15 Acts 2:39
Here are the words spoken by Jesus one day as he was answering questions from a crowd of followers by the Sea of Galilee: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” . . . “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John6:28-29 and 44-45 and 46-48 How great it would be, if all the people, in all the nations that are struggling today over religious and political differences, could learn from the repeated pattern of the Second Born! That everyone would recognize it as the eternal pattern that our Heavenly Father has provided for His children’s salvation. An Eternal salvation, that can only result from accepting the invitation to be born again. Rev3:20 and 21-22 We can always learn from a good example, and Jesus certainly made it clear to those who were following him when he spoke of seeing patterns in the sky: Luke12:54-55 “You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?“ We also need to take that question to heart today!
Looking back at the previous examples of the second born receiving the blessing, we can see the “pattern” in the words of Jesus spoken to Nicodemus: ” Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I say to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Jn3:13-15
The next time we feel the effects of the wind, whether it be a cold North wind or a warm summer breeze, we should pause for a moment and realize how swiftly the years are blowing by. And much like the wind Jesus spoke of to Nicodemus, we also do not know where it goes. However, the good news is that we are “still here” with eternity “still there” ahead of us, but the important question is, where will we spend “it” (“Eternity” that is ) ? Will I continue living my life here on earth as an offspring of the first Adam, determined to do it my way? Only to discover that I will be spending eternity separated from God and all the born again believers that have gone on before? Or shall we each “individually” acknowledge and submit our heart and mind to Christ Jesus, and therefor be saved by Grace as we are delivered from our old flesh nature and put on our new nature in the Spirit? 1Cor15:49-50, 51-52, 53 The invitation is open, and the desired response is clear: “I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore chose life,. . ” Deut30:19 Our Heavenly Father will never force us to accept what he desires for all His children. He freely loves us and since we are made in His image, we must each individually use our God given free will to accept the gift of eternal life. A free gift of the Perfect Redemptive Love that He has set before us in His Son Jesus Christ. Jn.3:16-17 and 18 1Cor 15:57
The question before us today is not one of multiple choice, but simply: (I Believe; or I do Not Believe). “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Matt7:13-14 and 22-23, Jn6:28-29 Many believers become concerned after reading Jesus’s words: “For many are called, but few are chosen” Matt22:14 Jn6:37-38, 39 The good news is that God’s Word teaches us the correct answer. Just as on earth you must always be ready to give a response “to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you;”. 1Peter 3:15-22 Likewise, on that day when we stand before our Heavenly Father, He already knows the exact day, hour and minute that we responded to His call to accept Salvation by Grace alone. Eph2:8-9 and 10 As Paul reminds us: when anyone asks how they may be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth, we must believe and declare: “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, . . . “ 1Timothy2:3-4, 5-6 How eternally thankful we are that our Heavenly Father loves us so much that He gives us the only Way to eternal life. Jn14:6 Acts4:12 1John 5:5, 11-12, 13-14 1Tim 3:16
Many people believe that there are certain tasks that they must perform, or works that they must do in order to qualify for heaven. Truth be known: to be among “the chosen”, we must also consciously “chose” to believe and to follow Jesus. “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts4:12 “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son,” ~ Romans 8:28-29, 30 and 31-32 Rom 10:9 and 13-14
Statement of Faith :
Today I believe in my heart, and confess with my mouth that Jesus Christ is my LORD and Savior. And by acknowledging: His crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection and His forgiveness of my sins, I will rejoice in my decision to receive the free gift of salvation and to be “Born Again.” : John 11:25 ~ Rom 10:10-11, 13 ~ 1Peter1:3 and 4-5 and 22-23 ~ John1:12 ~ John 3:16-17 ~ Rev 21:4 ~ 1Cor15:20 and 22-23 ~ Col 1:15-16 ~ 2Cor 5:17 ~ Gal3:26-28 ~ Ps 89:52
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