The Difference Between Men and Sons of God

 

Thoughts on Genesis 4

Genesis 4 :1 Cain was called a, “Man” from the time of his birth, but Abel was never referred to in this way. Correct me if I am wrong, but the Bible seems to point to a difference between those that served God, calling them sons of God, while the ungodly were just called, “Men”. The Bible also does not follow the genealogy of the ungodly without a reason.

If there is a difference between men and sons of God, what makes them different? “The LORD tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.” Psalm 11:5 ESV

So how does He test us?

Hebrews 12:8 “But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.” Cain was not a son of God because he did not bear his chastisement. It says in vs 13. “… Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.” Cain was cursed and begat men and they were all sons and daughters of men… ungodly, carnal, and the sin of murder bred true.

Jesus used this when He said to the Pharisees, “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him..” John 8:44. The Pharisees were the religious leaders at the time, yet Jesus implied they were not sons of God. I wonder at how many religious leaders today are similar.

Exodus 20:5 tells us that the Lord visits, “the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me.” It’s logical then to expect a reset after the 4th generation, but not so in the case of Cain and his curse. Count the generations of Lamech, a grandson of Cain. Lamech was 5th generation from Cain who also committed murder. 

In contrast, sons of God were not under the curse of Cain and his offspring. Luke 3:38 finishes up Jesus’ genealogy through Joseph ending up with, “Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.” Why Joseph’s lineage and not Mary’s? Mary was Jesus’ blood relative. I think it was because the Lord wanted to stress the relationship between sons of God and their children.

Fathers are critical, they mold their children (No pun intended). it’s important to be a son of God.