Freedom in Christ – Day 2

Freedom in Christ — 4-Week Bible Study
① Our Need for Freedom → ② Christ, the Source of Freedom → ③ Living in Freedom → ④ Freedom that Endures

Day 2 — Hiding from God

The first family shows how sin spreads and how guilt drives us further from our Creator.

Genesis 4:1 - 12

1The man knew Eve his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Cain, and said, "I have gotten a man with Yahweh's help."

2Again she gave birth, to Cain's brother Abel. Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

3As time passed, it happened that Cain brought an offering to Yahweh from the fruit of the ground.

4Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of its fat. Yahweh respected Abel and his offering,

5but he didn't respect Cain and his offering. Cain was very angry, and the expression on his face fell.

6Yahweh said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen?

7If you do well, will it not be lifted up? If you don't do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it."

8Cain said to Abel, his brother, "Let's go into the field." It happened when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and killed him.

9Yahweh said to Cain, "Where is Abel, your brother?" He said, "I don't know. Am I my brother's keeper?"

10Yahweh said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries to me from the ground.

11Now you are cursed because of the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.

12From now on, when you till the ground, it won't yield its strength to you. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth."

David wrote Psalm 51 after being confronted by the prophet Nathan about his sin with Bathsheba. These opening verses record his direct confession and plea for God’s mercy.

Psalms 51:1 - 4

1Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

2Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin.

3For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly before me.

4Against you, and you only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight; that you may be proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge.