| “By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.” – Hebrews 11:4 |
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| Salvation is FAITH ALONE! WORKS DON’T WORK! The story of the two DIFFERENT sacrifices which Cain and Abel brought to God has laid out the TWO different approaches mankind has taken to restore their broken relationship with God. And only one of the ways WORKS! Taking a quick look back at Genesis 4:2-4 we read what Hebrews 11:4 speaks of: “Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering.” What has happened here? Abel brought a SACRIFICE in which blood was shed and life was taken. Cain brought his WORKS. While Cain’s was a sacrifice it was more of an offering. It was something that he give from his work. No life is taken and no blood is shed. With an offering of works from the fruit of the ground and the offering of a sacrifice of an animal’s life, you have two totally different SACRIFICES offered to God. And only one of them WORKS with God! When we consider what works with God, I like to say WORKS DON’T WORK! God says, “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 God makes a statement that “without the shedding of blood there can be no remission of sins!” Hebrews 9:22b Think about when Jesus Christ died. He shed His precious blood. Peter writes in 1 Peter 1:18-19 “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. In comparison to Abel, Jude tells of “the way of Cain.” (Jude 1:11) His way is the way of works. Keywords for Cain would be DO or DON’T. He would say to get to heaven you better DO and there is a long list. Or he might say DON’T and then include a long list of things NOT TO DO! Cain has the way of religions around the world. It is the religion of DO and DON’T! The way of Cain is works will work and we need to know the “way of Cain” is wrong. WORKS DON’T WORK! Christianity is not about DO or DON’T. It is about DONE. All that is needed for our salvation was DONE by Jesus Christ. He was the lamb of God that died for the sins of the world. On the cross, He said, “It is FINISHED.” DONE. PERIOD!!! Hebrews 9:12 says, “Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” Are you trying to WORK your way to heaven? Friend, it can’t be done! WORKS DON’T WORK! Have you placed your faith totally in Jesus Christ for salvation? If so, you are on your way to heaven! Verse to DATE the Word on November 4 (11/4) is Hebrews 11:4. It says, “By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.” Continue Strong by FAITH ALONE! And remember to DATE THE WORD |