Obedience to God is Power

1 This is the written account of Adam`s line.  

When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. 2 He created them male and female and blessed them. And when they were created, he called them “man.” 3 When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth.

Genesis 5:1~3

Today’s sermon title is <Obedience to God is Power>.

Let us turn to Genesis chapter 5 in the Holy Bible.

1. (Part one) The basis of the account of Adam’s line

The Bible says that Adam’s line leads through Seth, not Cain.

This is because God remembered Abel’s obedience and continued Adam’s line through Seth’s obedience. The basis for this is shown in Genesis 4.

25 Adam lay with his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, “God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.”

26 Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time men began to call on the name of the LORD.

Genesis 4:25-26

Amen.

Adam named his third son Seth, and he confessed that God gave him his third son “in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.” Seth then also had a son, and he named him Enosh.

At that time men again began to call on the name of the LORD.

This indicates that Abel’s obedience had been well communicated, and more people began seeking God.

Do you remember the sermon title from last week?

<God remembers our obedience forever> Amen. That’s right!

God also remembered Abel’s obedience forever, and due to that obedience, he continued Adam’s genealogy, (though not through Abel, who was killed by Cain, but through Adam’s third son, Seth, who God granted Adam “in place of Abel.”)

2. (Part two) Adam’s line (through Seth vs. through Cain)

I found some interesting thoughts when I was browsing the Internet recently.

One of them was a really negative comment about the church.

“I really hate Christians, If you love God so much, die and go to heaven to be with God!”

I’m very interested in this idea.

What kind of answer would you give to this comment?

The person who asked this question thinks that God exists only in heaven, not on earth.

If this were true, we should all try to die quickly and go to heaven where God is.

But, if heaven were a place you could only go to once you die, then no one would want to go to heaven quickly. But that is not all heaven is.

So then, what is heaven?

Heaven is where God is, yes.

But, where else is God?

God is also in our homes, in the church, at school, (at work, in the garden, in the restaurant, in the coffee shop, in birth, in life, in death, in weddings, in funerals, even during war, God is there. In fact, God is everywhere at once, in all time and all space. He is not limited by such things.)

This means that God’s power affects not only the dead but also the living. (And that is a key point to remember.)

The life that accompanies God not only gets to accompany him up to heaven, but also accompanies him here and now, on this earth. And there is such amazing grace that we can experience here on earth.

These lyrics come from my favorite praise song.

♬♪ 1 Since Christ my soul from sin set free, This world has been a Heav’n to me; And ‘mid earth’s sorrows and its woe, ‘Tis Heav’n my Jesus here to know. Chorus: O hallelujah, yes, ’tis Heav’n, ‘Tis Heav’n to know my sins forgiv’n; On land or sea, what matters where? 

Where Jesus is, ’tis Heaven there.

Link : 

Living with God is revealed to us as practical power.

Today’s sermon title is better understood by comparing Seth’s genealogy with Cain’s genealogy.

This idea is shown quite clearly in Seth’s genealogy.

2-1. (First,) at an individual level

The first interesting thing we can notice in both genealogies is about individuals.

The Bible records the names and descendents of each of Adam’s sons, both Seth’s genealogy and Cain’s genealogy are recorded. But information about life span is only written in Seth’s genealogy.

And their lifespans are quite long compared to modern day lifespans. Seth’s descendants are recorded to have lived an average of 900 years!

(Do you see how) God gave health and blessings of longevity to the obedient family (tree)? No one died in youth nor from an accident because God guarded them and took care of them.

The Bible even records the ages at which they died. This shows that God was responsible for the deaths of Seth’s descendants. And this is a blessing to those who obey God.

But now take a look at Cain’s lineage (in Genesis chapter 4).

The ages and deaths of Cain’s descendants are not recorded in the Bible. This indicates that God’s attention has left their lives. God does not pay attention to those who do not obey him.

We have to remember that.

Isaiah 54:5 says, 

5 For your Maker is your husband — the LORD Almighty is his name — the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.

Amen.

The Old Testament describes God as a husband and Israel as a bride.

You should not expect that your partner will always love you just because you are married. You should also make your best efforts to love your partner. That way, your marriage can last long and happily.

The same is true of the relationship between God and me. If you just casually think, “God will always love me,” it is the wrong idea.

(God loves all people, this is true, but) God is more caring and affectionate to those people who also express love to him.

Cain and his descendants were people who did not respond to God’s love. So God no longer responded to them. He removed his attention from them. And that’s why the Bible doesn’t record their ages nor their deaths.

So, at an individual level,

The first winner is Seth’s line.

2-2. (Second,) on a worldly level

The second interesting thing we can notice in both genealogies is about the world.

This is something that is shown in Cain’s line, but not Seth’s, and it’s all about their achievements.

Genesis 4:16-22

16 So Cain went out from the LORD`s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. 17 Cain lay with his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city, and he named it after his son Enoch.
18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech. 19 Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.
20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock. 21 His brother`s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and flute.
22 Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain`s sister was Naamah.

As you can see, Cain’s descendants all had outstanding skills and achievements. 

Many of them were brilliant. Historically, Cain’s descendants have made great achievements in human development.

But now take a look at Seth’s descendants.

Not one of them had their skills nor achievements recorded except Noah, who made the Ark by God’s command in Genesis 6. In the history of the world, Seth’s descendents appear to have been ordinary people.

So, on a worldly level,

The Second winner is Cain’s line.

2-3. (Third,) on a heavenly level

The third interesting thing we can notice in both genealogies is related to God.

Cain’s descendants have a record of sin. A representative of disobedience is Lamech, one of Cain’s descendants.

Genesis 4:23(-24)

23 Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, listen to me; wives of Lamech, hear my words. I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for injuring me.
(24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.)

At first glance, Cain’s descendants appear to have lived decent lives without sin, unlike Cain.

But Cain’s disobedience was carried on through his descendants to Lamech who was guilty of the same sin and crime as his ancestor Cain.

Through this history of both Seth and Cain, we must realize two key messages:

1. First, If we obey God, our obedience will be carried on through our descendants as they also obey God.
2. Second, If we do not obey God, our disobedience will be carried on through our descendants as they also disobey God.

So, you see, it’s not just a personal problem about whether or not to obey God.

My personal attitude also has a big impact on people around me, and on those who come after me. If I obey God today, (ten generations of my family may also obey God in the future. But the opposite is also true. If I disobey God today, ten generations of my family may also disobey God in the future. So your decision about whether or not to obey God is a serious one indeed, with lasting and serious consequences.)

You see that Seth’s descendants have a record of obedience. A representative of obedience is Enoch, one of Seth’s descendants.

Genesis 5:21-24

21 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. 22 And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years 24 Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.

After Enoch gave birth to his child, Methuselah, he became a person who walked closely with God and fully obeyed him. Maybe God helped Enoch realize God’s own fatherly heart through Methuselah.

God was moved by Enoch’s complete obedience.

So God invited him into the kingdom of heaven without suffering physical death.

This was Enoch’s Amazing grace from God!

Complete obedience to God brought Enoch the grace of avoiding death, and complete obedience to God also brings us the grace of avoiding eternal death, (through faith in Jesus Christ).

Now, although we only seem to be able to get the names and ages of Seths’ descendants in Adam’s genealogy, we can see through Enoch and Noah that the obedience of Seth’s line has been well communicated.

So, on a heavenly level,

The third winner is Seth’s line.

3. (Part Three) The Final Winner 

Ok, now, Let’s check out the score of the showdown so far.

Seth’s descendants have won on both the individual level, and on the heavenly level.

And Cain’s descendants have won on the worldly level.

So, does this mean that obedient people can’t win in the world? Can’t those who are obedient to God beat those who are disobedient?

In the end, the obedient may appear to lose in the world, but eventually they will win.

Cain’s descendants may have had outstanding skills and achievements that everyone would envy.

But what was the result? The last record of that family tree was recorded as a sin through Cain’s descendant Lamech.

Why was this the result of Cain’s line?

It’s a direct result of Cain’s disobedience. Cain did not want to rely on God. So he turned to himself as master and accomplished great things through his own efforts. But because he did not rely on God, he did not have gratitude.

Eventually he became arrogant, and he was guilty of a terrible sin against God and his brother, Abel, who interfered with his own desires. God eventually turned away from him, and Cain’s disobedience was passed on to his descendants.

In the end, Cain’s line was cut off from the Book of Life.

While we respect historically outstanding people, and many of us desire to become like them, we must still remember Cain’s descendants.

No matter how historically significant your contributions to the world have been, if your underlying motives are to satisfy your own selfish desires, then the end result will lead to the destruction of yourself and your descendants.

This is a life without joy and blessing from God.

But what about Seth’s descendants?

The only information recorded in the Bible for Seth’s line are the names and ages of his descendants.

Compared to Cain’s descendants, most of them lived normal lives that had no significant historical influence.

But the result of their obedience was eternal life.

Seth’s descendants obeyed God. They lived a God-centered life relying on God. And they were blessed by God with longevity and peace, so they always lived gratefully to God.

Their obedience was passed on from generation to generation, and their descendants, as well as the people around them, received a good influence. Finally, their names were recorded in the Book of Eternal Life.

Now, here is the surprising fact.

Cain’s descendants, who made historically outstanding achievements, ultimately disappeared into history. Because of their disobedience, they were cursed by God.

But those people in Seth’s line lived relatively normal lives, and their obedience ultimately changed the course of world history.

This happened through Noah.

When those who did not obey God were erased from the Book of Life, Adam’s descendants, through Noah and his family, were at the center of changing world history!!

So in our three level scoreboard, Seth’s descendants overwhelm Cain’s descendants in all fields because God was with the obedient.

People who live a life of obedience to God can change world history.

This is the power of God that comes to those who obey!

4. (Part Four) The Power of Jesus = Complete Obedience

Now, think of Jesus who has obeyed God completely and perfectly. Was his life a success?

After Jesus began his ministry, he spread the good news of the kingdom of heaven for three years and healed many people. But as his end approached, the people turned against him, all his disciples abandoned him, he was beaten and spit upon by the Roman guards, and ultimately, he died a lonely and painful death on the cross.

From a human perspective, this is a complete and perfect failure. But this was a process, a means to an end, and not a final result.

The complete obedience of Jesus has been transformed into the power of Jesus. He has conquered death and God has raised him from the grave. In fact, this is his success and the perfect completion of his mission to save our lives.

And through Jesus’ full obedience, the gospel and salvation of the cross was passed on to the whole world.

1 Corinthians 1:18

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

So you can see, Obedience to God is Power!

How can a faithful man not succeed before God? Whether he’s alone or with someone else, it’s always the same. He lives with integrity because he knows that he stands before God.

God remembers our obedience forever!

Let’s shout the title of today’s sermon three times together!

Ready! Go!

• <Obedience to God is Power!>
• <Obedience to God is Power!>
• <Obedience to God is Power!>

Let’s pray.