Question
The Faith of Abel
Hebrews 11:4
(Read Genesis Chapter 4 for a background)
Read verse 4 and think about the following statements: 1) By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did; 2) by faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings; and 3) And by faith he still speaks even though he is dead. How are the above statements related to one another?
Consider the statement: “By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice…” This passage presupposes that it is good to offer a “better” sacrifice to God. What good does the act of offering do for the one who offers?
It was “by faith” that Abel did what Cain was not able to. What (or whom) might Abel have believed in?
The second statement (“By faith Abel was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings”) indicates that it is a worthy proposition for one to be commended by God as a righteous man. Why (is it worthy)? What practical application(s) can we find for our walk in the Lord?
Think about the third statement: “And by faith he still speaks even though he is dead.” What message do you think Abel still has for us?
Manuscript
Message
The Faith of Abel
Hebrews 11:4
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.
Through last week’s message we learned that faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. And our hope and what we are certain of is the message that God has given us of salvation in and through his Son, Jesus Christ, the hope to live in the eternal presence of God. Without true faith a person is destined to compromise with sin and this world. So the author says that we are called to live by faith from first to last. But how does faith work, practically, in our daily lives?
From this passage on, the author gives practical examples of faith working in the lives of our spiritual forefathers. Today we begin by looking at Abel and his faith. May God help us to learn from his faith so that we may live by faith as well. Let’s see how his faith worked in his life.
1. By Faith Abel Offered a Better Sacrifice (4a).
Look at the beginning of verse 4. “By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice than Cain did.” This passage tells us that by faith Abel offered a better sacrifice than Cain. Faith produced something in Abel and enabled him to make a better sacrifice. Who are Cain and Abel? Genesis 4:1-5 tells us about these brothers. Let's look at these verses:
1Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, "With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man." 2Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4 But Abel brought 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.
Here we see that both Cain and Abel brought sacrifices to God, but these sacrifices were not of the same quality. The passage says that Cain brought "some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord." Now, it makes sense that Cain brought an offering of fruit to God since he was a farmer. There's no problem with fruit, but notice that Cain simply brought "some" of the fruits he harvested. Now, let's compare this with the offering of his brother, Abel. The passage says, "But Abel brought fat portions from some of the first born of his flock." Again, it was natural for Able to make an animal sacrifice since he was a shepherd. The difference here, however, is in the words "first born of his flock." While Cain just brought some of the fruits he harvested, Abel selected the firstborn of his flock. This may not seem like a big difference. After all, they both brought offerings to God, so what's the big deal?
Yet Genesis 4:4 shows that there is a big difference in God's eyes between these two sacrifices. It says, "The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor." In our eyes, there might not be a big difference between one offering and another, but God looks at offerings and makes a critical distinction between offerings. What is the difference between Cain's offering and Abel's? What prompted Abel to bring the firstborn and Cain didn’t bring the first-fruits? Hebrews 11:4 tells us that the difference is faith. Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain because of his faith. To do what Abel did took faith. Because of his faith in God, Abel brought the best, the firstborn—but not just the best, he brought the best of the best, the fat portions, the tastiest part, to God. Faith worked in him, and it brought him and his best before God.
This passage shows us that genuine faith produces better sacrifices. This means that if you really believe in God then you will offer the best and first of what you have to God. In Hebrews 1-10, we learned who God is, what he has done for us, and the hope that we have in Him through Jesus Christ. If we really believe these things, our faith will be shown in the quality of the sacrifices we make to God, in the things we give to God. Those who have genuine faith offer God their first and best just like Abel did, but those who don't really put their faith in God can only make the kind of offering that Cain made--just giving something out of a sense of obligation and holding onto the best for themselves.
The most obvious practical example of a sacrifice we offer to God is our tithe. It's easy for tithing to become a routine that we do out of obligation but not out of faith. When we make our offerings without faith, it's easy to forget to tithe, to give less than 10% of our income, or to have a sense of loss even as we make the offering. But when we have genuine faith in God, we are happy to give our tithe. When our pay check comes, the first thing we do is set aside 10% for an offering, and when the basket comes around on Sunday, we joyfully make this humble offering as our expression of faith in God who provides us with all things and is worthy of our best. When we have genuine faith in God, we can tithe even when we don't have enough money to live on because we believe in God who is able to take care of his children and provide them with all they need.
By faith, we can not only bring better material sacrifices to God, but also better sacrifices of service. I remember that when I first became a Christian my heart was full of God's grace, so I worked hard to share the good news of Jesus with everyone I knew and many people I didn't know. I invited people to Bible study and taught them even though I didn't know very much. Even though I had a lot of school work to do and a part-time job, I always gave myself first to the Lord, and my heart was full of joy when I did this. Why did I sacrifice my time and energy like this? It was because I had faith that God exists and that in Jesus Christ is true and complete life. There have been times since then that I sacrificed my time and energy in the name of serving God. Yet in reality I was not doing these things by faith, but out of a sense of obligation, so I couldn't really give my first and best to God in doing these things. Only when I really offer myself to God by faith can I make better sacrifices.
We often say, "Have faith in God!" But another way to say this is, "Give your best to God!" A lot of people hold on to their best and just give their leftovers to God because they don't have faith. We should not be like Cain who held onto the best for himself because he couldn't trust that the best thing he could do was give his best to God. God is good. He wants what is best for you. When you offer your best to God, you will never lose. God is the only one who can give you what is truly best for you, and this is what he gives to everyone who lives by faith in him. Abel could offer his best to God because he was confident that God is the source of all that is good.
The point is that when we have faith in God, we can give our best to God. God is worthy of our best. God has given his best to us so we should give our best to him. What's your best? Give it to God!
2. By faith Abel was commended as a righteous man (4b).
The key verse tells us not only what Abel did, but also how God responded to Abel's faith. Look at the second part of verse 4: "By faith he was commended as a righteous man when God spoke well of his offering." Faith produced a reaction from God.
The fact that Abel was commended by God as a righteous man might not seem like a very practical result of living by faith. It sounds kind of good, but what we usually want to talk about is how God will bless our faith with blessings here on earth, such as a stable job, good relationships with others, a better car, and so on. But the truth is that being commended by God as a righteous man is better than all these things because this is how we come to be accepted by God.
When we look around us, we see that everyone is working hard to be accepted by other people. We work hard to create an image for ourselves that other people will like. Some people go for success, thinking that they will be accepted by others if they are successful. Other people work hard on their appearance, thinking that if they look a certain way they will be accepted. But instead of finding acceptance, they always feel inadequate. They constantly compare themselves to others and go up or down in emotions depending on what others think about them. They are like restless wanderers. Why do they live like this? It is because their relationship with God is broken. They try to be accepted by people, not knowing that what their hearts truly long for is to be accepted by God. This was Cain's problem. He didn't understand that being accepted by God was what he truly needed and what would make him happy.
We see this truth in the life of our Lord Jesus. Jesus came into this world, but he never fit in. Instead of following the ways of the world, pursuing honor and praise from people, he taught people the word of God and showed them the way to be saved. Sometimes people listened to Jesus' message, but they often rejected him and even hated him. Ultimately, Jesus offered his life as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. Why did Jesus live like this? He lived like this because he sought to be accepted by God rather than men.
Abel also sought God's acceptance above the things of this world, and God accepted him because of his faith. Even though Abel was a sinful man just like you and me, God commended him as a righteous man because of his faith. Abel enjoyed a completely restored relationship with God. This is what God does for everyone who lives by faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus died for our sins, and the only thing we need to do to be commended by God as a righteous man or woman is to live by faith in Jesus. When the problem is sin is solved, and our relationship with God is restored, how do we feel? We feel great! It is eternal life to know God. Even when it's raining outside and things look gloomy, we can't help but sing: "I'm singing in the rain; just singing in the rain."
Do you want to be accepted by God? Yes? Have faith in Jesus Christ and you will be commended by God as righteous. This is the number one fruit of living by faith. This righteous standing represents the ticket to the kingdom of God. And the blessings that come to those who have this standing are not only for the future but for the present time. Jesus said that God’s kingdom is not somewhere up there but it is in our hearts. Do you have joy and peace; the joy that is so intense that you can sing joyful songs even in difficult times? This is the joy we have when we live by faith in God.
3. By faith he still speaks (4c).
Look at the last part of verse 4. "And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead."
What happened to Abel after he made his offering by faith? He was killed by his brother Cain. We can look at this and wonder what benefit Abel's faith was to him. It seems that God did nothing to help him. But the passage shows the true fruit of Abel's faith. It says, "And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead." Even though Abel was killed by his brother, he is alive today because of his faith. Ultimately, we all die. But those who live by faith in this life will continue to live after death. This shows us that the true fruit of living by faith is eternal life.
Recently I became discouraged because it seemed like I was sacrificing my life for God's kingdom, but God wasn't helping me with my practical needs, such as with my school issues and finding a job and having a fruitful ministry. It seemed like I live by faith only to become a loser. But this passage shows me that living by faith doesn't mean that God's going to make my life here on earth easy and trouble free. But the true hope of those who live by faith is eternal life. This helps me not to have a sense of loss in living by faith, but encourages me to offer my first and best to God in every situation, even though I don't have a prestigious job or look like a loser, but live by faith in Jesus in whom is life.
There are a lot of people who offer their lives to God expecting that God is going to bless their lives, and help them, so that if they sacrifice their time to serve God, they're always going to be successful in school studies or work, and never have to worry about any kind of troubles, God will take care of them. So when things don't go as they expect, when they don't get the grades they expected, or they lose their job, they lose faith and they give up, because they can't see the value, the point, of sacrificing their lives, since it doesn't seem that God is giving them anything. This is Cain’s attitude. He expected that because he did something, God should do something for him. So, some people feel content with what they can do, thinking that they’re doing something great. But God is pleased and accepts those who live by faith.
Today, we’ve learned that faith works practically in our daily. It produces a better sacrifice, garners righteousness from God, and gives up the real hope of eternal life. May God help us to live by faith and give our best to him. May God bless our faith to draw near to him.
One Word: By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice
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Biblenote
The Faith of Abel
Hebrews 11:4
(Read Genesis Chapter 4 for a background)
This passage is very important in that it talks about the relationship problem we have with our neighbors. This relationship issue can be resolved by us getting into a right relationship with God the Father first, and then we can relate ourselves with our neighbors in a loving way. Abel set a positive example, whereas Cain set a negative example (for us to avoid).
Read verse 4 and think about the following statements: 1) By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did; 2) by faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings; and 3) And by faith he still speaks even though he is dead. How are the above statements related to one another?
** The first statement talks about the way for us to get into a right relationship with others, that is, by first getting into a right relationship with God. It even talks about the way for us to get right with God the Father, the source of our life.
The second statement talks about the fruit, that is, as we approach God with faith, God blesses us so that we can be in a right relationship with many.
The third statement talks about the message which is still ringing in our ears, that is, through faith in the Lord that we can love our neighbor even to the point of shedding blood.
Consider the statement: “By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice…” This passage presupposes that it is good to offer a “better” sacrifice to God. What good does the act of offering do for the one who offers?
** The good that comes out of us making “better” offerings to God is that as we strive to give ourselves to the Lord we can draw near to God; as we draw near to God, we come to know God better; as we come to know God better, we come to draw from him his love mercy compassion love and power, with which we can turn around and love ourselves, and our neighbors better.
It was “by faith” that Abel did what Cain was not able to. What (or whom) might Abel have believed in?
** In view of Hebrews 1:6, faith is faith in God who exists and richly rewards those who earnestly seek him. This is “VERY” important for all of us living in a fallen world. Since the fall of the first man Adam, the human race came to be kicked out of the Garden of Eden. This might put a lot of negative thoughts into peoples’ minds against God. But in fact this (eviction) is God’s expression of love, for without resolving one’s sin problem it is even a torturous thing for one to live in the Garden of delight for good. After all God shed blood to forgive the sins of Adam and Eve. So God still loves them. He is still looking for his children to fully repent and come back to him. Eventually in this love God sent Jesus. Jesus, in search of lost sinners, came and gave his life as the ransom sacrifice for many. So Abel’s faith is an example of the faith we are called to have in Jesus. After all can anyone love anyone deeply without first learning of the example of the love our Lord Jesus has for us?
The second statement (“By faith Abel was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings”) indicates that it is a worthy proposition for one to be commended by God as a righteous man. Why (is it worthy)? What practical application(s) can we find for our walk in the Lord?
** It is absolutely worthy, for it is when we get right with God that He can provide us with all we need for life, especially the Spirit of love and power, the love that loves ourselves and our neighbors in the way God loves us, and the power with which to serve others all in their interest.
** We need to turn to God in and through Jesus that we can get right with God the Father. Then through faith in the Lord, we can get into a right relationship with God. Then we have in our hands a complete solution to the problem of “acceptance”. [An acceptance problem is the problem of one feeling “rejected” by others (God, your neighbor, parents, family members, classmates, etc.).] At the root of this problem is the doubt about God and his love.
Think about the third statement: “And by faith he still speaks even though he is dead.” What message do you think Abel still has for us?
** The message Abel speaks ever so loudly is the message of faith, love, and hope, for it is when Abel believed in God’s total goodness, especially God’s loving kindness in which God forgives men of their sins as men turn to God in repentance believing in his sin-forgiving love, that one can love himself, find his self worth before God and men. Then, he can operate as a normal human being, capable of loving others with a sound mind.
In our generation especially on the college campuses we see so many people suffering from an acceptance problem. Remember that Cain is the first son of the first couple. And it turned out that he murdered his brother. This problem continues in our generation. We do have a serious relationship problem. But Abel’s message gives us the hope to overcome this problem.
The end
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