In this message, Treavor Kamstra continues his series through the book of Genesis, focusing on Genesis 4, which follows the fall of mankind in chapter 3. He emphasizes that sin not only separates us from God but also fractures our relationships with one another.
He reiterates that after Adam and Eve’s fall, all people are born into sin, not merely becoming sinners through their actions. This inherent sin nature is demonstrated not just in disobedience to God but also in the breakdown of human relationships. Genesis 4 vividly shows this in Cain’s jealousy and murder of his brother Abel, marking the first act of human violence in the Bible.
Treavor highlights two key failures of humanity:
Failure to love God – seen in Adam and Eve’s disobedience.
Failure to love others – seen in Cain’s hatred and murder.
He ties this to Jesus’ teaching that the greatest commandments are to love God and love our neighbor — and Genesis 3–4 shows humanity failing at both. God’s original commands were meant for protection and flourishing, but mankind, thinking they knew better, chose rebellion instead.
The message is ultimately a sobering reflection on how quickly sin escalates from distrust of God to violence against others. Yet, it sets the stage for understanding the depth of human need for redemption — a theme that runs throughout Scripture.
Key Themes:
The inherited sin nature after the Fall (Genesis 3).
The escalation of sin from disobedience to violence (Genesis 4).
The relational consequences of sin — both vertical (God) and horizontal (others).
God’s commands are for our protection and well-being, not restriction.
A call to humility and repentance in light of our natural rebellion.