1. Abel’s Faith

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Hymns: RHC 178 At the Cross, 441 Faith Is the Victory, 432 Faith of Our Fathers

Hebrews 11:1-4 (KJV) 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. 4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

 Faith of Our Fathers Series

Abel’s Faith

OUTLINE

  • He was Righteous (v4a)
  • He Being Dead Yet Speaketh (v4b)

 

INTRODUCTION

The Reformer John Calvin defined biblical faith said, “Faith is superior to human intelligence. It comes by the illumination of the Holy Spirit. Faith, therefore, us a singular gift of God in two respects, both as the mind is enlightened to understand the truth of God, and as the heart is established in it. For the Holy Spirit not only originates faith, but increases it by degree till he conducts us by it all the way to the heavenly kingdom.”

Carl McIntire gave well the background of Hebrews 11 when he said, “The severe trials of the Christian in the first century led to the writing of that portion of the Bible called the eleventh chapter of Hebrews. Affliction, reapproaches, and imprisonment had come upon those who had named the despised name, Jesus Christ. In rapid fulfilment of His words, “They shall put you out of the synagogues,” these people had been hounded from their place of meeting, and all their earthly goods spoiled.

To encourage and comfort such a people, the servant of Christ, author of Hebrews, reminded them that it was but a little while, “and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry”; but now while they wait for His glorious return they must live by faith.”

He further explained, ““The just shall live by faith”. This is the inscription above the entrance to the eleventh chapter of Hebrews. In three different places in the New Testament, these words are quoted from the prophet Habakkuk. In Romans, the emphasis is upon the word “just,” those who because of their faith are declared by God to be just in His sight. In Galatians, the emphasis is upon the word “faith”, for there the apostle Paul points out in detail “that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham,” and “ye are all the children of God by faith in Jesus Christ.” But in Hebrews the emphasis, if it is placed anywhere, is upon the word “live”. Of course, all that Paul teaches in Romans and Galatians is contained in Hebrews, too.”

He encourages concerning the purpose of Hebrew 11, “Others had lived by faith in circumstances just as stringent and acute, if not more so. Their testimony should be of help to those now who were tempted to fix their eyes upon earthly loss. Thus we have brought to our minds real men and women, in different circumstances and succeeding periods in the history of the race, who did actually live and triumph through faith. The definition given of faith is short, but the living illustrations of faith are the cloud of witnesses. Abstract definition has its place, and most assuredly so here, but the living embodiment of that definition is powerful beyond dispute. A living witness is the best argument. This is what Jesus wanted when He said, “Ye shall be my witnesses.”

He applied, “Today men need faith. Unbelief, indifference and apostasy have come in like a flood, and threaten to sweep all before them…Men of faith, like gold coins, have been taken out of circulation. Precious privileges for which our fathers fought for centuries are surrendered in an hour, with no resistance…Faith is seldom defined, defenced or illustrated in the pulpit. It has gone with the wind.”

Speaking of Abel, he said, “It seems rather strange that the first witness called whose testimony should comfort those who were suffering for the faith is one who, because of his faith, was murdered. What comfort is there in that? It was first-degree murder. He was the first person ever to die for Christ. The argument which separated the two is the same which divides the home today. The issues involved here are those which precipitated the modern religious controversy. Abel is murdered because he committed the awful offence of just believing God. Jealousy, hate, temper, murder flow in rapid succession from the sinful heart of Cain as he rises against his brother. Abel represents the children of light; Cain the children of darkness. The controversy centres around Abel’s testimony. “By faith Abel offered…a more excellent sacrifice.”

 

(1) He was Righteous

4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

 Genesis 4:1-12 (KJV) 1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. 2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. 8  And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. 9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? 10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.
11  And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand; 12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.

 Abel by faith offered a blood sacrifice to God according to the stipulations of parents – Genesis 3:21 (KJV) 21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

It was by a blood sacrifice of an animal that took away their reproach after they rebelled against God by disobeying His Word to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Abel by faith was pronounced righteous because He gave a blood sacrifice that was pleasing to God.

Whereas Cain gave a sacrifice of his own concoction. One that he thought will bring him acceptance with God. He was wrong. He came to God based on his own wisdom, by his own understanding.

The Chinese character for righteousness is the lamb over me, well depict Abel’s sacrifice pointing to Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross at Calvary.

 

(2) He Being Dead Yet Speaketh

… by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

  9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? 10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground. 11  And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand; 12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.

The first covenant home set up by Adam and Eve was devastated when we saw one sibling killing another, Cain killed Abel. It must have grieved the hearts of the parents to see such carnage in the home. The Bible says Cain was very wroth (very angry). What happened? If we can perform an open heart surgery to examine the heart of Cain, like what the Apostle Paul did in examining his own heart, he concludes that this is what he called “the works of the flesh”. He described these in great detail in order to help us to see true selves in verse 19-21.

You will notice the following traits found in the heart of Cain, “hatred”, “variance” – contention, wrath – boiling anger, envying, murder!

And such like, of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, I have explained this to you before, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

There is no possibility for one who does these sins and have not repented of them to go to heaven!

 

CONCLUSION

  • He was Righteous (v4a)
  • He Being Dead Yet Speaketh (v4b)