ABEL, A MAN OF FAITH IN HIS WORSHIP. Hebrews 11:4 The history of Israel laid the foundation for the presentation of the Gospel. Most accounts of ancient nations do not include their failures and the reasons for them. In Jewish history, “holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” It was into this small nation, with all its failures and victories openly seen, that the Son of God came, found in fashion as a man.
The writer of Hebrews presents the practical aspects of faith by beginning with the first human being who died. He died as a result of another's sins—Cain. Through faith in the sin-offering he brought, he overcame the power of death. The Creator, Supreme Lord, Governor of the universe, and the Law-Giver must maintain His holiness, justice, and truth. But He is also Love, and His love, grace, and mercy were shown to the sinner when a sinless substitute died in the place of the offeror. “The Lord has respect unto Abel and his offering.”
His offering was accepted by God, and he was commended for the sacrifice he brought. His understanding of the purpose of sacrifice was acknowledged, and his righteousness was approved. His gifts were accepted, and his testimony was perpetuated. The faith of a righteous man is remembered. A principle to recognize from the outset is that faith justifies. Several facts about Abel help us understand what leads to worship among God's people. His name means “exaltation; that which ascends; breath.” He showed an awareness of God. He was the second child born into the world, but the first to obey God [Gen.4]. He was the first shepherd (keeper; feeder) and was therefore conscious that every moving thing has a time of birth and death.
By observation and faith, he could see the difference in an innocent creature that moved about like him yet was not responsible for its own death by willful sin. It must die in his place because of human sin. He presented acceptable sacrifices to God [Gen.4:4], the One who introduced the doctrine of substitution when He used animal skins to cover Adam and Eve, Abel's parents. He probably heard that story often from them, as they would teach their sons how to communicate with God. He was hated and slain by his older brother, Cain [Gen.4:8], who had not heeded the teaching he received from the same source but instead wanted to connect with God on his own terms rather than God's. Humanists today still attempt to equate an Infinite God with us mere mortal men.
Abel is remembered for his obedience in bringing a "more excellent sacrifice" and for his faith [v.4] in simply doing what he knew was right. He was the first martyr and is called “righteous” [Mat.23:35; Lu.11:51]. Notably, he is the first listed in the Hall of Fame of people of faith [v.4]. Adam and Eve are known as those by whom "sin entered into the world and death by sin." Abel's place was filled by Seth [Gen. 4:25], who apparently followed in Abel's footsteps in obedience to God. For all the appropriateness of Abel's sacrifice, Christ’s blood is superior to Abel’s [Heb. 12:24]. Abel's sacrifice was for himself. The blood of Christ established the terms of the new covenant by which all can be saved.
It is of interest that in Genesis 4:2, the reading of the text literally means “she added to bear his brother.” On the face of it, the wording suggests these boys could have been twins. The three original employments mentioned in the Bible are: Adam, a gardener; Cain, a farmer; and Abel, a shepherd. These three occupations are best calculated to prevent strife. Each works by himself. In verse 3, the “process of time” means “the end of the days.” This probably refers to the Sabbath.
Abel’s offerings seem to be in two parts: [1] thanksgiving to God as the originator and dispenser of nature’s bounties, expressing gratitude; and [2] sacrifices to God regarding His justice and holiness, implying a conviction of his own sinfulness, confession of transgression, and faith in the promised Deliverer [Heb. 11:4]. In verse 4, “Abel, he also brought” would better read “he brought it also,” that is, a thank-offering first (Cain would have brought his too); but also, Abel brought the first-born of his flock, and by this alone he acknowledged himself a sinner and professed faith in Christ. He offered a “more excellent”, “greater” sacrifice – implying he brought two offerings: one for thanksgiving and the other representing the Lamb of God. In [v:4], God testified “of his gifts” (plural). Cain didn’t personally attest to his need; only his thanks. Abel “obtained witness that he was righteous (justified) and had faith in the promised seed.”
When we read in Genesis that “The Lord had respect unto Abel to his offering” (received with favor; looked at with a keen, earnest glance; kindled into fire), it meant that He accepted Abel’s sacrifice because it looked forward to the atoning blood of Christ. Abel’s faith was fixed on God as Creator, but more importantly as Redeemer. His offering was accompanied by a sense of sin and guilt, and it trusted in the redemption and recovery God provided. The outward form of worship is not the rule of acceptance by God. God Himself gave witness that he was righteous.
Because an innocent and pure life was forfeited as the substitute for the guilty, God could be just and justify the guilty. Everyone who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ is accepted by God as a worshipper. The true and spiritual worship of a believer in the Lord Jesus is always accepted. Our faith is in the Righteous Sacrifice before God, and now we belong to God and have been made heirs of eternal life. The doctrine of sacrifice as the means of approach to God is introduced by the sacrifice Abel offered. He brought it by faith in response to God’s word that had been given to him in some way that is not recorded.
Our persons must be justified before our performance can be accepted. God first respects the person; then the offering. The person recommends the gift, not the gift the person. By their lives and works, the dead still speak. What Abel did by faith was to offer a fuller and more perfect sacrifice. God had opened a new way for men to return to Him, namely, through the sacrifice of a sinless substitute. Sacrifice carries with it a confession of sin and a profession of faith in the Redeemer.
We learn from Abel that there is a difference between true worship and mere form. What Abel gained by faith was that God first respected his person, then his gift. His faith witnessed that he was righteous, justified, and accepted. Because he was accepted, his gifts were accepted. He still speaks to us in instruction: [1] Man has the privilege to worship God. [2] Our persons and offerings are accepted by faith in Christ. [3] Acceptance with God is a divine favor. [4] The world will bear malice toward this divine favor. [5] God will vindicate His people. [6] God raises up others to obtain faith. In Gen. 4:10, Abel’s faith was demonstrated in his worship. His offering was for repentance to God and for respect toward God. He was the [1] 1st worshiper: saw the need to make an offering [2] 1st shepherd: a picture of the Lord Jesus [3] 1st martyr: his witness was obvious.
Abel recognized his need and inability to approach God because he was a sinner. This is the first step toward salvation. He knew that “the wages of sin is death” and brought death to God in the form of “the firstling of his flock.” Cain brought life, as if God needed what he had to offer. Abel’s sacrifice was accepted because he knew that righteousness, innocence, and sinlessness were the only way to God. Cain’s effort was to make a contribution to God, indicating that God needed something from him that God could not produce. Abel came to God by faith in an atoning sacrifice. Cain came as a successful person with a lack of self-judgment. Abel represents the path of salvation by faith in the blood of a substitute.
There are three things we do by faith. We understand spiritual things, worship God, and serve God. None of these is a means of earning or meriting God's grace. His grace makes all of these possible and real for a worshipper. Three things make a sacrifice “more excellent”: when the object of the sacrifice is Christ alone, when the sacrifice costs us something, and when the sacrifice's appropriateness is evident.
There are several sacrifices mentioned in scripture that we can offer to God and that meet all these criteria. Some may wonder why there is no mention of failure in Hebrews 11, where we read of men and women of faith. Faith itself cannot fail. Faith pleases God. "Faith is victory that overcomes the world," and it is the confidence by which the believer lives. To have absolute confidence in unseen things is not our nature. To have such a conviction (evidence) in the value of a Person we have not seen, yet would die for, is the essence of faith.
I think I understand a bit why faith in God is so important. Faith takes us beyond ourselves, enabling us to believe what we cannot see. Faith in an unseen Person shapes my mind and conduct. It extends beyond the bounds of mere humanity. Faith opens many vistas beyond the normal experiences of man. Inventions, innovations, and explorations begin in the realm of our thought. It makes possible what was never done as thinking and vision expand. We are amazed at all the things human intelligence has accomplished.
Faith in a Person is more important when life and destiny are at stake. By faith, we trust in One whose audible voice we have never heard. Faith in God, as revealed in scripture, shapes the paths I take. It removes the darkness from my mind and the clouds that once blurred my life. Faith is not unreasonable because there is evidence my eyes can see that leaves me with clear impressions that what I see is not by chance. It defies common sense to think that things came to be without a Designer. Faith, in one way or another, is present even in a casual glance.
My faith is in a Living God, a Person of intelligence so supreme that all of man's great inventions are really discoveries of what has been. Faith in God, who knows and loves me, is much more than a dream. Through our Lord's coming to earth, God was seen in human form. By His great stoop of condescension, it became possible for men to know that the motivation behind God's great creative acts was to elicit willing responses to Him in fellowship. That love for God would be shown by means of personal faith in Him, the exceeding riches of His grace.