CAIN AND ABEL
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Why is the story of Cain and Abel so important?
The study of Cain and Abel is very important because it gives us much insight to the rest of the bible. Genesis 4:3-5 says, in the 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 firstling of his flock and the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering; 5. But unto Cain and his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
We can learn a lot about God and His system in these few scriptures. The scriptures said, in the process of time they both came to bring an offering to God. This meant that there was a set place and set time to bring God's offerings. This also showed us that God has always desired an offering from His creation. Now that these things are established, the next thing we must address is:
Why did God respect Abel's offering and not Cain's?
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This will show that Abel obeyed God and Cain did Not. There are many theories on this, some say that Cain's heart was not right. Some say, that Cain did not bring the best of the offering that he had. We can go on and on about someone's theories, or what someone think the problem was or what you feel or believe that the reason was. Let's get away from theories and beliefs. There are ways to prove through God's word why He accepted Abel's offering and not Cain's. God's ways are always consistent throughout the bible. Let's talk about a consistency that existed in this case.
In Genesis 3 after Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden tree, they clothed themselves with fig leaves. When God came into the garden knowing what they had done, He took away the fig leaves and covered them with coats of skin (the fig leaves represented Cain and the coats of skin represented Abel). We could actually end the lesson here, but I know you need more proof.
In Leviticus 4:3 and 8, it says, 3. to bring a sin offering, a young bullock without spot or blemish. Verse 8 says, and he shall take off from it all the fat of the bullock for the sin offering; the fat that covers the inward, and all the fat that is upon the inwards.
This is why in Genesis 4 it says, Abel brought the firstling of his flock and the fat thereof. Fat was needed in order for you to have a sin offering. Abel's offering had the fat to cover sin, the fruits and vegetables of Cain could not have provided covering for sin.
If we then move to Leviticus 17:11, it says, for the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes an atonement for the soul. Now we see that blood also was needed to make an atonement for the soul. Abel's offering had blood to make an atonement for the soul and the fat for the sin, but Cain's offering did not have either.
Finally, if we go to Hebrews 9:22, it says, and almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without the shedding of blood there is no remission.
This is why Jesus Himself had to die and shed His blood for you and I. The word said, Jesus did not go into the Holy place made with hands, but into heaven itself, and not with the blood of bullocks or goats. But with His own blood without spot He entered once for all into heaven and put His blood on the altar and the mercy seat. Becoming the final sacrifice for sin. From the time that Adam fell, a life and blood had to be shed in order to cover men's sins.
Acts 2 vs 29 - 33; Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
God had no desire for sacrifice, offerings, burnt offering and offerings for sin. But the wages of sin is death, and God had to have a covering for sin. So Jesus had to taste death for every man and shed His blood in becoming the final sacrifice. That He may take away the first covenant and establish the new covenant. We can now see from the fall of the first Adam, that a life had to be taken in his place for his sin and blood had to be shed. This we know, because the skins had to come from something that was killed and the skin represented Adam's covering. The last Adam, Jesus, came and shed His blood for us and covered us by His body.
What is the lesson we learn from Cain and Abel?
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First: Since man is born a sinner, the wages of sin is death. man now needs a death and blood covering;
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Second: God wants things done His way and on His time (obedience) and not our way and time.
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Third: God never desires burnt offerings and sacrifices, but they were necessary to keep God from destroying men.
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Fourth: God's word can not come back void; God said you will surely die if you eat of the tree, so death was the price to be paid.
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We know this by reading 1 Samuel 15:22-23 Samuel said, have the Lord as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? and to listen than the fat of rams. 23. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
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Conclusion: Obey God and do things God's way, as Abel did. Don't be like Cain who did things his own way. Your obeying God and listening to Him is more important than your sacrifices. You cannot and will not be saved because of your ability to be righteous nor because of your righteous works. Titus 3 vs 4 - 7. We are saved and made righteous by what Jesus did. Hebrews 10 vs 10 - 14 and Hebrews 9 vs 11 - 12. The blood of Jesus gives us eternal redemption. Believe in what God did through Jesus and you will be counted righteous as Abraham was counted righteous.
1 John 3:10-12 says, 10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever does not righteousness is not of God, neither he that love not his brother. 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and killed his brother, and why kill he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
What made Abel works righteous? he believed and obeyed God, he brought God what He asked for when He wanted it.
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"that blood sacrifice with the fat thereof and Jesus defeating death and hell!"= PRICE PAID FOR SIN"!!!