Genesis 4:6-7a. How to be Accepted by God

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Genesis 4:6-7a “And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth and why is thy countenance fallen?  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door […]”


    Although God did not accept Cain’s offering, He took the time to talk to Cain. He did not leave him to his darkness, but reasoned with him and warned him of the danger of his course. What an amazing, merciful and gracious God! What privilege, and what opportunity He gives to every proud and wayward sinner!  

    As usual, God doesn’t arrive making accusations, (accusing is Satan’s business, see Revelation 12:10) but rather asking questions. This is such a wise way to deal with people! If everyone adopted such an approach, many misunderstandings would be resolved and there would be far less strife among us. 

    Of course, unlike us, God is not asking because he doesn’t know, rather the questioning is an opportunity for review and self-analysis. “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?” You need to check yourself, and see where you have failed to do the right thing. 

    Well-doing neither wins nor buys salvation, but it is an inseparable component of the salvation package. Contrary to popular “Christian” theology, God rhetorical question to Cain teaches that well-doing is a condition of divine acceptance, and that neglect of right-doing means that sin is at your doorstep (James 4:17). Once sin is entertained at such proximity, it doesn’t wait around or knock politely! It comes bursting in, whether it forces the door, or floods under the crack at the bottom.

    The story of Cain shows us that well-doing becomes impossible when we reject the lamb, Jesus Christ. Jesus is at your door and sin is at your door. Unlike sin, Jesus won’t come in unless you open the door for him (Revelation 3:20). But if Jesus reigns in your life, His right doing will be yours, and He will keep your door. If you continually open your heart to Him, there will be no space for sin or Satan, and Christ’s victory will be yours. Why don’t you invite Jesus into your heart just now? 

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Ezra James
The Word of God is bread from heaven. God sent it, but we must gather it, appreciate it, digest it, and live by it. These days it is increasingly scarce. Many are starving for it and don't know it because they keep feasting on bad bread that doesn't satisfy. But if we would learn to carefully gather up the fragments of the True, Heavenly Bread of Life, we would always enjoy a feast of crumbs, because even God's crumbs are miracles mighty to save (Mark 7:24-30). ESPAÑOL: La Palabra de Dios es pan del cielo. Dios lo envió, pero debemos recogerlo, apreciarlo, digerirlo y vivir por él. Hoy en día es cada vez más escaso. Muchos están muriendo de hambre por falta de él sin saberlo porque se alimentan de pan falso que no satisface. Pero si aprendiéramos a recoger cuidadosamente los fragmentos del Verdadero Pan Celestial, Pan de Vida, siempre disfrutaríamos de un banquete de migajas, porque hasta las migajas de Dios son milagros poderosos para salvar (Marcos 7:24-30).