The other day I was looking at the story of Cain and Able in Genesis. I always wondered why God accepted Able's offering and not Cains. Now Cain and Able are not mentioned any other place in the Old Testament, but oddly enough, there are a few scriptures in the New Testament that deals with them and even gives us some revelation on their story!
As I began to take a look at where the Bible talks about Cain and Able in the New Testament I came accross Hebrews 11:4. This passage tells us that Able gave a better offering than Cain because Able gave by faith. As I began pondering this scripture, a thought came to me. I thought to myself, if Able gave by faith, then we have to conclude that Able and Cain were both TOLD by God what was required for a sacrifice! Immediately Romans 10:17 came to my mind: "Faith comes by hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." So in order to have any kind of faith Bibically defined faith, we must first hear what God requires and abide by it. This is exactly what Able did! Able believed God and showed his faith in God's word, by bringing the appropriate sacrifice. The sacrifice that God required.
Now Cain on the other hand believed that he could give God whatever he believed God desired. Cain's relationship with God was a one way street. In fact Cain did not have a relationship with God, Cain had a relationship with his own perception of God. Cain worshiped God according to his own thoughts and perception. In other words, we can say that Cain worshiped HIMSELF. (Keep in mind that sacrifice is a form of worship, even in the New Testament! Please see Romans 12:1 for that one.)
It's evident that Cain did not have his faith in the word of God but in the works of his own labor, which yielded fruit. Cain believed that his own toils and works would suffice as a proper sacrifice. Of course God was not interested in Cain's fruit, because God required the blood of his own creation! In fact, without blood there is NO remission of sins. (Hebrews 9:22) If there is no covering of sin, then God cannot accept it. The blood must be applied for anyone to stand before God, our own fruits will never do.
God's word is the only place that tells us the importance of the blood of God's lamb. It is also the only place that tells us how the sacrifice of God is applied. So many people debate this, but to get to the heart of the issue, we must listen to God's word. We must know what God requires. If we are not doing this, we are only worshiping ourselves. In fact 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us that we are to cast down any false imaginations that is exalted over what God teaches us! I don't care what your pastor says, I don't care what you family says, I don't care what the Jesus T.V. series says. At the end of the day, I am accountable to God for my own soul!
When I stand before God someday, I really do not care to stand before him, presenting an offering like Cain. I don't want to be caught with an offering of human perception. I don't want to be caught with an offering of unacceptable fruit that came from the vain labor of human will. No, I want to stand before Jesus like Able, presenting an offering of faith. Faith in the blood that was shed for me for the remission of sins, which was applied when I was baptized in His Name! (Baptized in His name for the remission of sins, found in His word, Acts 2:38.)
As I began to take a look at where the Bible talks about Cain and Able in the New Testament I came accross Hebrews 11:4. This passage tells us that Able gave a better offering than Cain because Able gave by faith. As I began pondering this scripture, a thought came to me. I thought to myself, if Able gave by faith, then we have to conclude that Able and Cain were both TOLD by God what was required for a sacrifice! Immediately Romans 10:17 came to my mind: "Faith comes by hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." So in order to have any kind of faith Bibically defined faith, we must first hear what God requires and abide by it. This is exactly what Able did! Able believed God and showed his faith in God's word, by bringing the appropriate sacrifice. The sacrifice that God required.
Now Cain on the other hand believed that he could give God whatever he believed God desired. Cain's relationship with God was a one way street. In fact Cain did not have a relationship with God, Cain had a relationship with his own perception of God. Cain worshiped God according to his own thoughts and perception. In other words, we can say that Cain worshiped HIMSELF. (Keep in mind that sacrifice is a form of worship, even in the New Testament! Please see Romans 12:1 for that one.)
It's evident that Cain did not have his faith in the word of God but in the works of his own labor, which yielded fruit. Cain believed that his own toils and works would suffice as a proper sacrifice. Of course God was not interested in Cain's fruit, because God required the blood of his own creation! In fact, without blood there is NO remission of sins. (Hebrews 9:22) If there is no covering of sin, then God cannot accept it. The blood must be applied for anyone to stand before God, our own fruits will never do.
God's word is the only place that tells us the importance of the blood of God's lamb. It is also the only place that tells us how the sacrifice of God is applied. So many people debate this, but to get to the heart of the issue, we must listen to God's word. We must know what God requires. If we are not doing this, we are only worshiping ourselves. In fact 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us that we are to cast down any false imaginations that is exalted over what God teaches us! I don't care what your pastor says, I don't care what you family says, I don't care what the Jesus T.V. series says. At the end of the day, I am accountable to God for my own soul!
When I stand before God someday, I really do not care to stand before him, presenting an offering like Cain. I don't want to be caught with an offering of human perception. I don't want to be caught with an offering of unacceptable fruit that came from the vain labor of human will. No, I want to stand before Jesus like Able, presenting an offering of faith. Faith in the blood that was shed for me for the remission of sins, which was applied when I was baptized in His Name! (Baptized in His name for the remission of sins, found in His word, Acts 2:38.)