Temple Baptist Church - 9-28-2025
Hebrews 11:4; Genesis 4:1-5
Introduction:
A. Virtually nothing is said about the life of Abel in either the Old or New Testaments. In Genesis chapter 4, we find that the offering Abel made pleased God, but it also cost him his life at the same time. I want you to notice the word “And” mentioned seven times in our text, showing the continuation of the context.
Genesis 4:1-8 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.
B. Abel’s offering pleased God. Hebrews 11:4 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.
1. “By faith.” Early in the Bible, we see that salvation was by faith. Abel’s faith was not in the sacrifice he offered, but in the prophesied “seed of the woman,” the coming of the Messiah mentioned in Genesis chapter 3.
2. “A more excellent sacrifice than Cain." The sacrifice that Abel offered was a continuation of the Old Testament’s practice of Atonement (to expiate or cover sins).
3. “By which he obtained witness that he was righteous.” The faith of Adam and Eve was passed on to their children to be either accepted (Abel) or rejected (Cain).
4. “God testifying of his gifts.” The sacrifice of Abel was pleasing to God.
C. Abel’s offering to God cost him his life. Salvation will always cost you your life! Spiritually, the things of this world grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. I love the song that says this world is not my home, I’m just a passing through! Physically, look back through the millennia at God’s people who were martyred for their faith in Christ alone.
Genesis 4:8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel his brother and slew him.
1. After Abel’s acceptance and Cain’s rejection, we find them talking in the field. I am sure that the brothers discussed many things over the years preceding this event, with no mention of division or hatred.
2. “And” In this one conjunction, we find the continuation of the preceding verses. The context had not changed. They discussed the acceptance of Abel’s gift and the rejection of Cain’s. The division between the brothers continues to this day.
3. Genesis chapter 4 gives a vivid picture of what righteousness God rejects, and what righteousness God accepts.
D. Self-righteousness is called the way of Cain, which God rejected and continues to do so to this day.
Jude 11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
1. One of the age-old problems with people being saved is that of ignorance of what it takes to get to heaven.
a) Self-righteousness in Salvation. Christianity has become a generic term for all religions that teach about Christ. Many faiths use His name, but the only way to heaven is through His name.
Acts 4:11-12 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. (12) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
b) Self-righteousness manifested itself in personal merit. Those who believe that they are good enough to go to heaven or need to do something other than accept grace alone.
b) Self-righteousness also manifests itself in those who believe that they are good enough to maintain their salvation through personal merit or good works.
c) Both doctrines are heretical!
2. Personal righteousness is completely done away with in this one verse.
Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Notice with me the word “all” found twice in this verse.)
a) “all as an unclean thing.” There is none righteous, no not one! We are all sinners. We are all unclean.
Romans 3:10-12 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (11) There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. (12) They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
b) “all our righteousnesses.” Notice that the word “righteousnesses” is plural. It covers everything that can be done to merit (works-based) salvation. Religion does not understand the biblical teaching that works, and grace destroy each other.
Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
c) Abel’s righteousness was the imputed righteousness of God!
d) What God begins, God finishes!
1) God’s Counsel and Purposes Cannot Fail.
Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
Job 23:14 For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.
2) God as the Author and Finisher of our Faith.
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Revelation 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
3) God Always Completes His Work.
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Ecclesiastes 3:14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
Psalm 138:8 The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.
4) In the First Mention of salvation and restoration in Genesis chapter 3, it was all of God and all of grace.
5) What God did for Adam and Eve, He did for Cain and Abel, and He has also done it for us.
E. Followers of the “Way of Cain” are ignorant of the righteousness of God necessary for salvation.
Romans 10:1-4 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. (2) For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. (3) For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. (4) For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
1. Ignorance of God’s Righteousness. Vs. 3. “not according to knowledge…ignorant of God’s righteousness”
Psalms 71:19 Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!
Religion tries to bring God down to man’s level while elevating man to God’s level.
2. Impeccability of God’s Righteousness. Vs. 3. “God’s righteousness” The Bible declares that God dwells in a light that no man can approach unto. He is impeccably holy. He is immutably holy. He said, “I am the Lord, I change not.”
1 Timothy 6:15-16 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; (16) Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
Salvation must always be by grace through faith because God demands absolute holiness, and He alone is impeccably holy.
3. Impossibility of God’s Righteousness. Vs. 3. “going about to establish their own righteousness.”
Ecclesiastes 7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
4. Insubordination to God’s Righteousness. Vs. 3. “have not submitted themselves”
Galatians 3:1-3 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? (2) This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? (3) Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
God’s demand: obedience to the gospel. Vs. 16. Romans 1 shows the progression of the knowledge of God rejected: a) When they knew God, they glorified Him not as God - God gave them up) b) They changed the truth of God into a lie - God gave them up again c) They did not like to retain God in their minds - God gave them over to a reprobate mind.
5. Imputation of God’s Righteousness. Vs. 4. “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” Salvation is a result of God’s righteousness being imputed to the believer through propitiation and faith.
Jude 24-25 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, (25) To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
“Dressed in His righteousness alone; faultless to stand before the throne.” “When He sees me, He sees the blood of the Lamb; He sees me as worthy and not as I AM!”
6. Invitation of God’s Righteousness. Vs. 13. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
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