I’ve been taught to pay particular attention to the book of Genesis. It’s the book of beginnings . . . the book of foundations . . . the book of “first mention.” I’ve been told to take note of when something is first mentioned in the Bible . . . when a word or term is first used . . . this introductory use is often filled with foundational instruction and understanding. And, though I probably would just as soon consider something else this morning, I’m spending a bit of time considering the “first mention” of sin.

Now sin is apparent in Genesis 3 . . . the serpent sowing seeds of doubt as to whether “God has indeed said” (3:1) . . . the serpent contradicting God and appealing to Eve’s vanity and pride (3:4-5) . . . Eve eating . . . Adam eating . . . it’s all there. But the first use of the word sin doesn’t occur until Genesis 4. The first teaching on the dynamics of sin is in the context of Cain’s bitterness towards his brother Abel and the fact that Abel’s sacrifice was accepted and Cain’s wasn’t. It’s in that context that we have the first mention of sin . . .

“Sin lies at the door. And, its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” – Genesis 4:7b

Pretty ominous, huh? Other translations say that “sin is crouching at the door” . . . the idea being of sin lying in wait, ready to pounce. More than some scary “boogie-man” hiding under the bed, sin is pictured more as a predator . . . stealthily stalking its prey . . . waiting for the opportune moment to spring and attack. It’s desire being to consume and control. Sin is so much more than “a mistake” . . . it is a cruel master . . . a destroyer. It infiltrates as pleasure . . . it masquerades as independence . . . it feeds off of pride . . . it deceives with a message of, “Now, this is living!” In fact, it is counter-life. The pleasures of sin only lasting for a season . . . the wages of sin are death (Romans 6:23a).

And so God warns Cain . . . and by extension all those who would heed this “law of first mention” . . . sin lies at your door . . . it wants to control you . . . but you must rule over it . . . you must subdue and master it. Easier said than done . . . ya’ think? Here’s Paul’s cut on it: “I have discovered this principle of life–that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?” (Rom. 7:21-24) So how was Cain to turn the tables on the sin predator and rule over it . . . how was he to gain control over the beast that lies in waiting seeking to control and devour?

Another “first mention” in Genesis . . . “Then men began to call on the name of the LORD” (Gen. 4:26). Isn’t that the key to mastering this relentless predator? Whether you understand this to mean that they “proclaimed the name of the Lord” or, “identified themselves by the name of the Lord” or, “they prayed to the Lord” or, “they worshiped the Lord” . . . the key to ruling over sin, to gaining mastery over this insatiable master, is to call on the name of the Lord. The God who diagnosed sin and its dynamics in Genesis 4, is the God who would solve the sin problem through the sacrifice of His Son and the empowering of His Spirit. The wages of sin paid in full on Calvary . . . the power over sin given to all who repent and own Christ as Savior and King.

In that Name is redemption from the price of sin — the price being paid fully by God’s own Son. In that Name is freedom from the bondage of sin . . . having been given new life in Christ, we are no longer slaves to sin.

The dynamics are the same . . . sin lies in wait . . . its desire is to control us . . . we are still called to rule over it. Our is to choose to not submit to it . . . to avail ourselves of the power of Christ in us to rule over it . . . to “not present our members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present ourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and our members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over us, for we are not under law but under grace.” (Romans 6:13-14)

Sin lies at the door . . . I learn that in Genesis. I’m reminded too in Genesis, that there is a God who can be called upon . . . the Author of Salvation . . . the Rescuer from Sin . . . to Him be all glory for His amazing grace! . . . amen!