4/19/2026 Let Us Understand the Meanin

04.19.2026. Sunday Sermon Rev. Jeungbok Lee
Text: Genesis 5:1–5, 21–27
Title: Let Us Understand the Meaning of the Genealogies in the Bible

Genesis 5:1–5
This is the book of the genealogy of Adam. When God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. Male and female He created them, and He blessed them and called their name Man on the day they were created. When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. After he fathered Seth, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died.

Genesis 5:21–27
When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. After he fathered Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him. Methuselah lived 187 years and fathered Lamech. After he fathered Lamech, Methuselah lived 782 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Methuselah were 969 years, and he died.

Please also refer to the genealogy in Luke chapter 3. The genealogy in Luke is recorded in reverse order from that of Genesis 5.

As we read the Bible, there are sections that make us feel uncomfortable or puzzled. One of them is the genealogy. The repeated pattern of “so-and-so begot so-and-so… and lived and died” can feel tedious. Therefore, we sometimes skip over it without reading, or quickly scan it with our eyes. Also, the difficulty of pronouncing the names in the genealogy can make it hard to read carefully. However, the genealogies recorded in the Bible are “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16) and are the Word of God. Within them is a condensed message of God’s grand plan of salvation and His message to humanity.

Today, through the genealogies in Genesis and the Gospel of Luke, we will examine the spiritual meaning that God gives to us.

1. Genealogies are evidence of real history.
The recording of names in the Bible means that those events truly happened in history. Therefore, we must be confident that the events following the genealogies also truly existed in history.

Genesis chapter 5 begins with the words, “This is the genealogy of Adam.” What does this mean? It means that Adam was a real person, and his descendants were also real people. Therefore, their lives and deaths were real events. Thus, we must believe that the events of the Bible are not mere stories or myths, but history accomplished by God through real people. The flood of Noah in Genesis chapter 6 is the same. In verse 6:9 it says, “This is the genealogy of Noah,” and describes how Noah and his family alone were saved from the flood. Some may question whether the flood was real or not, but the genealogy of Noah declares that the flood was an actual historical event.

2. The genealogy of Adam in chapter 5 shows that Adam’s family continues the image of God.
Genesis 5:1–5
This is the book of the genealogy of Adam. When God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. Male and female He created them, and He blessed them and called their name Man on the day they were created. When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. After he fathered Seth, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died.

Genesis 5:1–5 carries very important meaning. God created man in His own image, and Adam, who bore the image of God, gave birth to a son in his own image. Through this passage, a very important truth is conveyed to the readers of Scripture: although humanity fell into sin, God did not allow the image of God to be cut off. The image of God continued through Adam’s son Seth and through Seth’s descendants.

In contrast, in Genesis 4:16–24, which records the descendants of Cain, there is no mention of the image of God. There is not even a reference to Adam as their ancestor. In other words, the descendants of Cain, who departed from God, are like a morning mist that appears for a moment and then disappears in history. Of course, the image of God is not determined merely by bloodline. As seen in Genesis 4:26, those who call upon the name of the Lord reveal the image of God regardless of lineage. Seth likely resembled Adam in appearance, and Cain also would have resembled Adam. However, only those who worship God and live in godliness can truly be called bearers of God’s image.

3. The genealogy in chapter 5 shows the human reality—sin and death.
When we read Genesis 5, two characteristics are repeated. First, people lived for hundreds of years. Second, nevertheless, they all eventually died. The simple conclusion is that no matter how long a person lives, death cannot be avoided because of sin.

Let me explain these two characteristics in more detail. First, there is the question of why people lived for hundreds of years. It must be clearly stated that this sermon is not a study of chronology or of the relationship between long lifespans and environmental conditions. There is no way to confirm whether time was measured in the same way before the flood as it is now. It may or may not be true that the climate and environment were better then, resulting in longer lifespans. What is truly important is the question: “Why did people live so long?”

In Genesis 1:27–28, God created humanity in His image and commanded them to “be fruitful and multiply.” A long lifespan was necessary to fulfill this command. Even though humanity had fallen, God still granted long life so that people could multiply and fill the earth. In the early period after creation, only a small number of people likely existed on the earth for a long time. God desired that the earth be filled with people, and so He blessed them with health and longevity so they could bear children over a long period.

But the truly important point is the second: although all people lived long lives, they all eventually died. Death was the judgment for sin. No matter how healthy or long-lived they were, death could not be avoided. Because they had healthy bodies for so long, they may have thought death was far away, but in the end, everyone died.

After Adam’s fall, death reigned over sinful humanity with overwhelming power. Death ruled until Jesus Christ atoned for our sins on the cross.

In summary, through the sin of one man, Adam, sin entered all humanity, and death reigned over all people. That is why everyone died without exception. Romans 5:17–19 explains well why, even though people lived long and healthy lives bearing the image of God, they still died:
“For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.”

4. The genealogy in chapter 5 shows the way to overcome death in a world where death reigns.
Genealogies are records of the dead. Yet one person is recorded differently.

4.1) The genealogy of Adam is a march of death. But when it comes to Enoch, that march suddenly stops. Through Enoch, God shone a bright light to all people under sin and showed them the path they must walk—the life of walking with God.

What did Enoch’s walk with God look like? It was not lived in a special place or through a completely different lifestyle from others. Like others, he married and had children. His outward life looked the same, but his heart and attitude were entirely different. Whether he ate or drank, he did everything for the glory of God and sought to live in a way that pleased Him.

Many Christians today mistakenly think that walking with God requires doing something extraordinarily great, such as going as a missionary to a place where Christianity is persecuted. However, walking with God is not about doing extraordinary things. Enoch walked with God by placing God first in every area of his daily life.

Therefore, do not consider walking with God as something grand. It is living every moment according to God’s will, giving Him the highest place in our lives. In fact, the Holy Spirit dwells within all believers and is always with us. Thus, for Christians, the only choice is either to walk in a way that pleases God or to grieve the indwelling Holy Spirit. May all the members of our church live according to the Spirit and become those who please God.

4.2) Concerning Enoch who walked with God, it says, “God took him, and he was not.” What does this mean? God exempted Enoch from death. In other words, Enoch, a descendant of Adam, was granted exemption from the sentence of death brought by sin, because God, the Judge, withdrew that sentence. Through his life, Enoch demonstrated that in an age ruled by death, the only way to overcome death is to walk with God.

The author of Hebrews evaluates Enoch’s life as a life of faith that pleased God.
Hebrews 11:5
“By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.”

In the Old Testament, the prophet Elijah of northern Israel, who also walked with God and proclaimed His word, was taken up to heaven without seeing death.
2 Kings 2:11
“And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.”

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ, whose name is Immanuel—“God with us”—declared complete victory over death. He not only died in our place but also overcame death through His resurrection, giving us the hope of eternal life instead of death.

5. Genealogies ultimately point to Jesus Christ.
Through the genealogy in Luke chapter 3, when we trace the genealogy of Genesis 5 in reverse, we see that the history of God’s plan of salvation reaches Jesus Christ.

Luke 3:23, 38
“Jesus… being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli… the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.”

Genesis 5:1–3
When God created man, He made him in His own likeness… Adam fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.

Through countless generations, God continued His plan of salvation without stopping. From long ago, God prepared for the birth of Jesus Christ and patiently endured sinful humanity. Through Jesus Christ, God restores His image to those who believe in the grace He has given. Despite the many disasters, diseases, wars, and death caused by human sin, God has not stopped loving humanity, looking to Jesus Christ.

Therefore, the genealogies in Genesis 5 and Luke 3 are records that demonstrate God’s faithfulness—the fulfillment of His love for humanity through salvation.

6. Conclusion and exhortation.
The genealogies of the Bible are by no means boring.

First, through genealogies, the Bible tells us that God works in real history.
Second, genealogies show that the image of God has not been cut off but has continued to Jesus Christ, who is the exact image of God.
Third, the record of death in genealogies clearly shows that humanity is under the power of death because of sin.
Fourth, however, genealogies also reveal that God did not abandon humanity destined to die, but prepared and sent Jesus Christ long ago to accomplish salvation.

Finally, those individuals in the genealogies who are given special mention carried out very important aspects of God’s will. Therefore, if we read carefully the individuals who are highlighted in the genealogies, it will greatly benefit our faith.

From now on, whenever the members of our church read genealogies, I pray in the name of the Lord that you will discover the treasure of God’s grace hidden within them.

Let us pray. (End)