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INTRODUCTION
ILLUS: Who is the first Christian to influence your life? Many of us will say parents, or
grandparent. Some may say a friend, coworker. Some say a spouse.
TEXT. The writer of Hebrews devotes a whole section presenting the Hall of Fame of
Faith. Today we will look at the first name listed.
To set the stage for subject of faith let us be reminded: Hebrews 11:1-2.
Faith = believing the word of God. Faith is accepting what God says is true - things yet to come in
the future that God has promised, and things that are real but invisible to us - the supernatural
world.
ILLUS: All of us live by faith in our every day life — trust circumstances, and people,
things — but all fallible. Can you completely trust All Powerful God? QUOTE:
“Faith is not a leap into darkness but a step into light.”
Two weeks ago we saw that faith helps us understand where we came from — a special creation of
God Hebrews 11: 3. And faith guides us to where we are going —
eternal life found in salvation through Jesus Christ Hebrews 11:6.
Now we start the list of Heroes. The first person is Abel. Hebrews 11:4.
Abel is the fourth person to walk the earth, first example of faith in history. His parents were
Adam and Eve, brother Cain. Parents are not listed as examples of faith and certainly not his
brother. Abel is the first Famous Folk of Faith.
To grasp the meaning we need to let several Scriptures speak to us:
- Genesis 4:1-10 “Abel and his offering...Cain and his offering”
- Matthew 23:35 “the blood of righteous Abel”
- 1John 3:12 “Cain...evil one...his deeds were evil, brother’s were
righteous”
- Jude 11: talks about evil men “Woe to them! For they gone the way of
Cain”
- Hebrews 11:4 NIV “By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did.
By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And
by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.”
What does Abel teach us about faith that we can practice now?
1. Faith is Dedication to God
- Faith always has as it’s object God/Christ, faith trusts/believes in God.
- “By faith Abel...”
- Abel was a man of God, Cain was not.
- Abel was a righteous man, Cain was not.
- Abel was dedicated to God, Cain was not.
- Abel came to God in faith, Cain did not.
- Abel’s heart was right with God, Cain’s was not.
- Are you Abel? Or are you Cain? Who are you like?
- Faith is an act of the will, a deliberate decision, a whole life dedication to God.
Faith is not an emotional reaction, or a ritual action, or one time act. It is a heart
felt, mind focused, life changing commitment to God.
- Faith gains approval of God — faith in God is thus first, righteous deeds follow.
Faith is first. “By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than
Cain.“ Abel’s heart was right with God, by faith he came to God.
- Romans 10:17 “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
- At some point Abel/Cain must have heard the word of God — through Adam and Eve or
directly from God. Abel thus accepted it as true word of God, had a relationship with
God, and lived in obedience accordingly.
- Abel was sees and declared by God as righteous.
- We in NT times rest upon Romans 3:21-22 — faith in Jesus gives us
righteousness. There is nothing we can do to be righteous, only what we can believe
— in Jesus. Jesus has done all the work, we simply accept it.
- Our salvation stories all different. But common threads — Scripture that speaks to
us, deliberate decision to believe, prayer, never the same after.
- Faith in the Word of God changes lives. Always good if a new Christian can point to a
verse of Scripture, or a growing Christian can testify of new Scriptures that are
speaking to them. The power of Scripture to change us.
ILLUS: Marriage Makeover — George Kenworthy 3 Questions for
counseling
- Do you believe there is a God?
- Are you willing to apply the principles of God’s Word into your
life?
- Will you pray for the Spirit of God to strengthen you and your spouse?
The power of faith in God - 90% success rate. Other 10% - disobedience
- The people who gain approval of God have first faith in God, dedicated.
2. Faith is Demonstrated in Worship
- Abel had faith. God accepted Abel first, then He accepted his offering.
- Cain did not have faith. God rejected Cain first, then rejected offering.
- There is a lot of analysis, comparing scriptures, and reading between the lines of this
story to figure out what was required by God in the sacrifices.
- QUOTE: Ryrie: “Nothing is said here or in Genesis 4:3-5
as to why Abel’s sacrifice in itself was more acceptable, though the fact
that it involved blood is significant” (Hebrews 12:24) (p. 1959).
MY NOTE: However, that reference is not the blood of
Abel’s sacrifice, but the blood of Abel’s death.
- QUOTE: Believer’s Bible: “Abel must have had some
revelation that sinful man can approach God only on the ground of shed
blood” (p. 1011), then made reference to Gen. 3:21 the sacrifice of
animals for skins to cover sin.
- QUOTE: Tyndale commentary: “There was no precedent to
blood sacrifices and there is no evidence to suggest that God had instructed the
brothers what kind of offerings they should make” (p. 228).
- My view is the primary emphasis in this chapter/this story is Abel’s dedicated
faith, the demonstration of that faith in worship is secondary.
- Yet, after faith first, there are differences in the offerings.
ILLUS: We understanding farming. Grain farmers, livestock farmers. The Jewish Law
talks about grain offerings and blood offerings. I could believe that a grain
offering is acceptable in worship. I identify with Cain “a tiller of the
ground” more than Abel “a keeper of flocks.” I rather play in dirt
and give away my sweet corn/potatoes, than butcher an animal.
- There is an indication of the quality of the offerings in Genesis 4
- v. 2 - describes their different occupations
- v. 3 - describes Cain’s offering “the fruit of the
ground”
- v. 4 - describes Abel’s offering “firstlings of his
flock...fat portions”
- Because of his faith, Abel had a better offering. Faith first.
- Abel’s faith leads him to bring to God the first fruits of his flocks, the best;
Cain apparently didn’t bring the first fruits of his grain, just some.
- One of several texts in OT Exodus 34:26 “You shall bring the very first fruits
of your soil into the house of the LORD your God...”
- Do you understand the concept of tithes and offerings — is off the top? Not the
leftovers after expenses.
- So often Christians give out of their leftovers, not sacrificially.
ILLUS: I don’t need it anymore, out of date, wore out, let’s give it to
church. Remember the widow in Luke 21:2 gave “all that she had to live
on” — sacrificial. Remember the Hymn: “Give of your Best to
the Master”
- Faith first, then worship. True worship comes from the heart of faith. Our first
response to God’s grace and love in our life is sacrificial worship
- Cain’s heart was not right with God AND his offering was not sacrificial
- Cain was given opportunity to make it right, but instead murdered Abel.
- Abel is the first person martyred for faith. His obedience cost his life.
- Immediately after his death, God says his “blood is crying to Me from the
ground.” After his death, His blood spoke to God, and the writers of Hebrews
tells us it is still speaking.
- Actually, anyone of faith, their testimony can still speak after death.
ILLUS: We speak with respect about the many saints in glory. We updated Memorial
Board — great faith stories there. Memories live on, faith stories still
continue. What will people say about you and your faith?
CONCLUSION
TITLE: Are you Abel? A play on words. Thought of a Hymn
Hymn: “Are Ye Able,” Said the Master.
Refrain: “Lord we are able. Our spirits are Thine. Remold them, make us, Like Thee Divine. Thy
guiding radiance Above us shall be A beacon to God, to love and loyalty.”
You can be Able if you have personal faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior.
Is your faith like Abel’s? If it is like Cain’s you need to repent and be saved.
Are your offerings to God like Cain’s (something) or Abel’s (sacrificial)?
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