TRANSMITTING A LEGACY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS—I
—Genesis 4:26—5:1-32
Genesis records the transmission of a legacy of righteousness.
We must transmit a legacy of righteousness to our progeny.
How are we to transmit a legacy of righteousness to our progeny?
4 devices for transmitting a legacy of righteousness to our progeny.
1—A device for transmitting a legacy of righteousness is my...
RELIANCE/Call(4:26)
Explanation: (4:26)
To whom do you depend/call/rely on in time of crisis/trouble?
4:26—“And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; & he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the LORD.”
With Enosh’s birth, others now begin to call upon “the name” of YaHWeH. This is no mere occasional mention of YaHWeH’s name as in Cain’s lineage—[Note—1)Mehujael = “smitten by God” & 2)Methusael = “who is of God.”] The word translated “began” signifies a boring or prying initiative. Thus this line’s “call” is an authentic seeking after YaHWeH’s will. Thru the Sethites YaHWeH has produced a viable transferable witness.
This assumes that Cain’s line did not call on the name of YaHWeH. They did not see fit to profess the personal God, whom Cain had rejected.
This is a telling & pivotal statement & one which definitively sets apart &/or reveals the polarity between the lineages of Cain over against that of his brother Seth.
There is indeed hope for mankind in Seth/Enosh ff. as his legacy produces “comfort” for mankind thru a man by the name of Noah(Chapts. 6-9).
Argumentation:
Ps. 46:1-3—“[A Psalm of the sons of Korah] God is our refuge & strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar & be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah”
Ps. 60:11-12—[Of David]“Give us help from trouble, For the help of man is useless. Through God we will do valiantly, For it is He who shall tread down our enemies.”
Jn. 5:2-18—“Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool & stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, & knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed & walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, & walked. And that day was the Sabbath. The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.” He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed & walk.’” Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed & walk’?” But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, & said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” The man departed & told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, & sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, & I have been working.” Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.”
2Cor. 4:6-12, 15—“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God & not of us. We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed-- always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you.”.....“For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.”
If we are truly thankful for God—His person & work— then we are also RELIANT upon Him. If we are RELIANT upon Him then we will absolutely “Call” upon Him!
Zeph. 3:8-9—““Therefore wait for Me,” says the LORD, “Until the day I rise up for plunder; My determination is to gather the nations To My assembly of kingdoms, To pour on them My indignation, All my fierce anger; All the earth shall be devoured With the fire of My jealousy. “For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, That they all may call on the name of the LORD, To serve Him with one accord.”
Eph 3:13-21—“Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven & earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted & grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width & length & depth & height-- to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever & ever. Amen.”
Isa. 31:1—“Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, And rely on horses, Who trust in chariots because they are many, And in horsemen because they are very strong, But who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, Nor seek the LORD!”
Isa. 50:7-10—““For the Lord GOD will help Me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed. He is near who justifies Me; Who will contend with Me? Let us stand together. Who is My adversary? Let him come near Me. Surely the Lord GOD will help Me; Who is he who will condemn Me? Indeed they will all grow old like a garment; The moth will eat them up. “Who among you fears the LORD? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness And has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD And rely upon his God.”
1Jn. 4:15-17—“Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, & he in God. And we have known & believed the love that God has for us. God is love, & he who abides in love abides in God, & God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is[totally reliant upon God], so are we in this world.”
2Chr. 32:7-8—[King Hezekiah to ]““Be strong & courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us & to fight our battles.” And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.”
Php. 3:3-4, 7-14—“For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, & have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so..... But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, & count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ & be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him & the power of His resurrection, & the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind & reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Confide/Confidence
Illustration:
When I was around 5-7yrs., I was running barefooted with one of my cousins, thru a field of clover in full bloom/A bee stung me on the very tip of my big toe/I hollered & limped crying all the way home(~a city block)/The first person I ran to was my Momma!/I knew she would make everything better/She spoke consolation to me & bandaged me up/Transmitted RELIANCE
Application:
?You have a Transmitting RELIANCE?
?You Transmitting a Legacy of Righteousness?
2—A device for transmitting a legacy of righteousness is my...
LIKENESS(5:1-3)
Explanation: (5:1-3)
:1—“This is the book of the genealogy of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God.”
The following portion of Scripture deals with the descendants of Adam. It is considered a separate “book” or intentionally permanent recording of “the generations of Adam.” The generations of Adam are pertinent in that these generations are recorded in such a way as to show how they lead to or produce “Noah.”
The significance of Noah is detailed in chapters 6-10ff.
God created man. There was a particular time-frame within which He made man. God “made”(hse aw-saw’) mankind on the 6th day of creation(Gen. 1:24-31). He was “formed”(ruy yaw-tsar’) “of the dust of the ground”(Gen. 2:7).
Gen. 2:7—“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, & breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; & man became a living being.”
However the day also must also encompass much more than merely the 6 days of creation as the “book” is concerned with those “generations”(beyond Adam alone, though he lived 930 yrs.(:5)) “in the day” of man’s creation.
Mankind was made “in the likeness of God.”(twmd dem-ooth’). This is a word which adds dimension to the idea of man being made in God’s image & vice-versa (Gen. 1:26-27).
*Seth likewise bore the “likeness” & “image” of his father Adam(:3). There must then minimally be physical, mental, emotional, relational & spiritual, aspects to our being made in God’s image. However man is given to sin—which plays off of our flesh—whereas God is not for He is neither flesh nor finite.
“Book/Written account”—rpo say’-fer—2) Missive, document, writing, book—2a) Missive—2a1) Letter (of instruction), written order, commission, request, written decree, 2b) Legal document, certificate of divorce, deed of purchase, indictment, sign, 2c) Book, scroll, 2d) Book-learning, writing. Strong—properly, Writing (the art or a document); by implication, A book.
“Genealogy/Generations/Line”—hdlwt tow-led-aw’—1) descendants, results, proceedings, generations, genealogies. Strong—(plural only) Descent, i.e. Family; (figuratively) History.
“Adam”—Mda aw-dawm’—Adam = "red"—1) First man.
“God”2X—Myhla el-o-heem’—1) (plural)—1a) Rulers, judges, 1b) Divine ones, 1c) Angels, 1d) Gods; 2) (plural intensive - singular meaning)—2a) God, goddess. 2b) Godlike one, 2c) Works or special possessions of God, 2d) The (true) God, 2e) God.
“Created”(See :2)—arb baw-raw’—1) to create, shape, form; 2) To be fat. Strong—a primitive root; (absolutely) To create; (qualified) To cut down (a wood), select, feed (as formative processes). Used 54X.
“Made”—hse aw-saw’—1) To do, fashion, accomplish, make. Strong—a primitive root; To do or make, in the broadest sense & widest application. Used 2633X.
“Likeness”(See :3)—twmd dem-ooth’—N. f.—1) Likeness, similitude—Adv.—2) In the likeness of, like as. Strong—Resemblance; concretely, Model, shape; adverbially, Like.
:2—“He created them male & female, & blessed them & called them Mankind in the day they were created.”
Man(mankind, humanity) consists of both male & female. They were “created” this way by God’s perfect design.
God bestowed “blessings” to man or rather ‘endowed’ mankind with an ability to fulfill a God-ordained purpose. Thereby the creation of man pleased God in every respect. Man’s creation was perfect(ly)(1:31) according to God’s design.
God “called”(named) His creation “Mankind”(Man) at the time of their creation. All of mankind is of the same kind & essence, as are the members of the Godhead—Father, Son, Holy Spirit—of the same kind & essence.
“Created”2X(See :1)—arb baw-raw’—1) to create, shape, form; 2) To be fat. Strong—a primitive root; (absolutely) To create; (qualified) To cut down (a wood), select, feed (as formative processes). Used 54X.
“Blessed”—Krb baw-rak’—1) To bless, kneel; 2) (TWOT) To praise, salute, curse. Strong—a primitive root; To kneel; by implication To bless God (as an act of adoration), & (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) To curse (God or the king, as treason).
“Called”—arq kaw-raw’—1) to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim. Strong—a primitive root [rather identical with arq kaw-raw’ through the idea of accosting a person met]; To call out to (i.e. properly, Address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications).
“Mankind”—Mda aw-dawm’—1)Man. mankind. Strong—Ruddy i.e. A human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.).
From—Mda aw-dam’; to show blood (in the face), i.e. flush or turn rosy.
:3—“And Adam lived one hundred & thirty years, & begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, & named him Seth.”
*Seth was made in the “likeness” of Adam. Seth was made according to Adam’s “image.” This speaks to our understanding of the use of these same terms regarding Mankind’s being created in the “image” & “likeness” of God(1:26-27). As our sons are a product of ourselves, they are very real “images” of their father(& mother) & also bear their “likeness.”
Both Adam & Eve named Seth(4:25—where Eve names). Adam is the head of this family & Eve is his willing partner.
As God named His creation, so do people “name” theirs. It seems everything mankind does is associated with a picture or an image of God. No wonder some who reject God come to the aberrant conclusion that they themselves are gods.
“Lived”—hyx khaw-yaw’—1) To live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health. Strong— a primitive root [compare hwx khaw-vah’]; To live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive.
“Years”—hnv shaw-neh’ (in pl. only) —1) Year—1a) As division of time, 1b) As measure of time, 1c) As indication of age, 1d) A lifetime (of years of life). Strong—A year (as a revolution of time).
“Begot”(See :4)—dly yaw-lad’—1) To bear, bring forth, beget, gender, travail. Strong—a primitive root; To bear young; causatively, To beget; medically, To act as midwife; specifically, To show lineage.
“Likeness”(See :1)—twmd dem-ooth’—N. f.—1) Likeness, similitude—Adv.—2) In the likeness of, like as. Strong—Resemblance; concretely, Model, shape; adverbially, Like. Used 25X.
“Image”—Mlu tseh’-lem—1) Image—1a) Images (of tumours, mice, heathen gods), 1b) Image, likeness (of resemblance), 1c) Mere, empty, image, semblance (fig.). Strong—from an unused root meaning to shade; A phantom, i.e. (figuratively) Illusion, resemblance; hence, A representative figure, especially an idol. Used 17X. This is the same word used in Gen. 1:26-27. (CONT...)2—A device for transmitting a legacy of righteousness is my...
LIKENESS(5:1-3)
“Named”(See :2—“Called”)—arq kaw-raw’—1) to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim. Strong—a primitive root [rather identical with arq kaw-raw’ through the idea of accosting a person met]; To call out to (i.e. properly, Address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications).
“Seth”—tv shayth—Seth = "compensation"(See 4:25).
Argumentation:
Gen. 1:26-28—“Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, & over the cattle, over all the earth & over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male & female He created them. Then God blessed them, & God said to them, “Be fruitful & multiply; fill the earth & subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, & over every living thing that moves on the earth.””
Gen. 3:22-23—“Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good & evil. And now, lest he put out his hand & take also of the tree of life, & eat, & live forever”-- therefore the LORD God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken.”
Gen. 9:5-6—““Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, & from the hand of man. From the hand of every man’s brother I will require the life of man. “Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man.”
Js. 3:8-10—“But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God & Father, & with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing & cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.”
Eccl. 7:29—8:1—“Truly, this only I have found: That God made man upright, But they have sought out many schemes.” Who is like a wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, And the sternness of his face is changed.”
1Cor. 11:3-10—“But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, & the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one & the same as if her head were shaved. For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image & glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. For man is not from woman, but woman from man. Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man. For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.”
2Cor. 3:18—“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
Eph. 4:21-24—“if indeed you have heard Him & have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, & be renewed in the spirit of your mind, & that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness & holiness.”
Col. 3:8-17—“But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, & have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all & in all. Therefore, as the elect of God, holy & beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, & forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; & be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching & admonishing one another in psalms & hymns & spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
Col 1:15-17—“He[Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven & that are on earth, visible & invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him & for Him. And He is before all things, & in Him all things consist.”
Illustration:
My experience when first moving to East Rowan area/While waiting to pick up our kids at school, I noticed some of them looked just like like the kids I graduated with/I remembered them at 18 yrs. of age!/undisputed Transmitted LIKENESS
BUT...Are they Transmitting the Likeness of God?
My son Matthew/Has my temperament, my wavy blonde hair/Transmitted LIKENESS
Application:
?You have a Transmitting LIKENESS?
?You Transmitting a Legacy of Righteousness?
CONCLUSION:
Action:
A device for transmitting a legacy of righteousness is my...
1. RELIANCE/Call(4:26)
2. LIKENESS(5:1-3)
Presented 10/16/2011am to:
Needmore Baptist Church
1620 Mt. Vernon Rd.
Woodleaf, NC 27054
