Hebrews 11:1-3 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
After explaining faith and how it works. The author continues to encourage his readers by reminding them of examples of faith in earlier days. The author will point out, there were many men and women who had nothing but the promises of God to rest on, without visible evidence that these promises would ever be fulfilled. Yet the promises meant so much to them that they adjusted the whole course of their lives in light of the promises God made.
These men and women were so convinced that God could and would fulfill what He had promised, they acted as if they were already a present reality. In other words, they were men and women of faith.
It may seem impossible to please a perfect, all-knowing, all-powerful, holy God but there is a way, and that way is faith. The actions of these Old Testament saints will show us that faith pleases God and that He rewards all those who seek Him and follow Him by faith.
Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
Cain and Abel were Adam and Eve’s first two sons and were born after the fall. Abel and his older brother Cain brought their offerings to God. Abel, the shepherd (rancher), brought “of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions” and Cain the agriculturalist (farmer) brought “an offering of the fruit of the soil.”
Genesis 4:3b-5 Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
The first thing that stands out to me is that Able brought first fruits of his flock, and Cain simply brought an offering. And I believe that gives us the first look at his heart. (To understand God is to put Him first in all things)
Both the sacrifices of Cain and Abel seem to have been offered as acts of worship. Both recognized an obligation on the part of the created to honor the creator.
Yet clearly, Cain offered his sacrifice out of obligation without faith, and Abel’s sacrifice though also offered out of obligation, was offered in faith by a life that was being lived in obedience to God.
So, what we see here is an attitude of obedient faith verses an attitude of selfish, ungrateful obligation.
God pointed out to the angry-downcast Cain why his offering was not looked on with favor: Genesis 4:6-7 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” (God knows his heart) (a Chance to repent)
If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? God is saying Cain what your doing is not right, but if you get it right you will be accepted.
The Sin and Doom of Ungodly People and then a call to Persevere Jude 1:5-7 Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord at one time delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. Exodus 32 Golden Calf-3000 died—Numbers 14 Refuse to go into the promised land——Numbers 21 Serpents6 And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. 7 In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
Jude 1:11 Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; Cain’s heart
Love and Hatred 1 John 3:11-12 For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.
(Jealousy-angry-disobedient. Cain never surrendered his heart to God.
Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
This verse shows us that Abel’s faith led to three things:
- TRUE WORSHIP
- TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS
- TRUE WITNESS.
Sacrifice is acceptable to God not so much for its type but when it is the outward expression of a devoted and obedient heart. By faith, Abel brought God a better offering. That’s True Worship
Abel had the kind of faith that invited God to move in on his behalf and make him righteous. The only thing that obtained righteousness for Abel was his faith.
The only way we can become righteous today is by faith because righteousness only comes by faith. Faith is the only thing that changes a man’s relationship with God. By faith he was commended as righteous, That’s True Righteousness.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
Death is never the last word in the life of a righteous man or woman. When we leave this world, whether righteous or unrighteous, we leave something behind. We leave this world with either a legacy of faith or a legacy of unfaithfulness.
And we have the perfect comparison here in Cain and Able. Able left a legacy of faith and Cain left a legacy of unfaithfulness!
Dead men and women do tell tales. They are not silent but still speak to those who are willing to listen.
Abel still speaks today to twenty-first-century man. This man who lived when the earth was new, who was of the second generation of mankind, has something to teach a modern, sophisticated, technological man.
And even though this event took place around six thousand years ago, Abel still today bears witness that faith produces obedience and that worship offered to God in faith is always acceptable to Him.
Even though Cain out of hatred, anger, disobedience, and jealousy, violently murdered his brother, Abel, because he refused to change his attitude from fulfilling his own selfish desires to fulfilling God’s, Abel’s testimony of faith cannot be silenced.
And neither will yours… And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
That’s True Witness
In CLOSING
A life that is pleasing to God may be lived out in many ways but at its root is one thing above all, it is a life lived by FAITH in God and FAITH in His promises.
As you obey God, don’t be surprised if others regard you as “different.” Your obedience makes their disobedience stand out. (Faith-Light-Righteousness)
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