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The Religion of Cain Compared to the Faith of Abel
Posted : 10 May, 2011 11:48 AM
Genesis 4:7a If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.
The Religion of Cain Compared to the Faith of Abel
Dear brothers and sisters, please consider my letter to you that discusses the spiritual struggles of two brothers. These two men were the first people ever born to man and women, and their individual struggle against the forces of evil is a lesson for all of us to deeply consider.
Adam and Eve were the first man and women created by God in the Garden of Eden 6,000 years ago. Their first two children were boys they named Cain and Abel. The following message is based upon text taken from the Holy Bible in the book of Genesis Chapter 4 verses 1-8.
Genesis 4:1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.
Here we read that Adam and Eve had marital relations resulting in Cain being the first baby ever born on earth. Life is a gift from Jesus because by His divine power He hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness. God told Adam and Eve to go forth and multiply their children upon the earth. Now at the birth of Cain, Eve is happy to declare her baby a gift from God. Adam and Eve believed in God, because they walked and talked with Him in the cool of the evening in paradise before they both sinned. The religion of Atheism did not yet exist.
Genesis 4:2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
Eve had a second baby named Abel, which was most likely a twin son born at the same time as Cain. We are told Abel was a shepherd and Cain was a farmer. These are the two livelihoods that were required at this time to sustain life. Both meat and vegetables are necessary in a healthy diet.
Genesis 4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
Cain certainly believed God exists, as did his parents and Brother Abel. He also knew of the promises God had revealed to his parents at the time of their original sin in the Garden of Eden; that one day a Redeemer, our God Jesus Christ, would come to die on a cross to save mankind from its sins. But Cain had a major character defect, for he did not believe as a sinner he needed salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Instead, he trusted in works of his own hands to gain entry into heaven, and not the blood of the Messiah. His was a works based salvation, not one of faith. Cain had a religion of redemption based upon his own deeds. Unfortunately 90% of the people alive on earth today trust a religious system to get them into heaven. Each of the world�s major religions promise you heaven if you lead a good life.
The Bible says in Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Think about this dear reader, are you even today trying to please God by living a life based upon your own righteousness? Let�s read on now about Abel and compare his offering to that of Cain.
Genesis 4:4 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:
Abel listened to God and brought for his sin offering a slaughtered lamb from his flock of sheep. And God had respect unto his offering. Why is this so you may ask? After all, when you kill an animal you have a bloody mess. So here is one of the most important truths revealed in our Holy Scriptures. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission, or forgiveness of sins. God instructed Cain and Abel to kill a lamb that represented their faith that God would one day send His only Son Jesus to die on a cross at Calvary to pay the sin penalty of all mankind, once for all. The bible also says:
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.
From this verse we see that Abel was accepted into heaven by his faith, for God Himself declared Abel to be righteous. While Cain may have brought to God the very best fruit he was able to grow in his garden as an offering unto God, it was not found acceptable by God as we read in the next verse.
Genesis 4:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
God did not accept Cain�s offering based upon the work of his own strength. Please consider this 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.
Cain had much pride in his life. He was proud of the fruit he grew in his fields.
Proverbs 13:10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
But God is not impressed with what we can do, only with our faith in Him. When God rejected Cain�s offering, Cain became very angry, which is a grievous sin. And we read that his countenance, his expression, his attitude fell. Now the root of bitterness entered into Cain�s heart, by which he would become sin stained. The Bible warns each of us against this wicked sin by which our soul will become corrupted and tainted. In the end bitterness will not only ruin our own soul, by will impact the lives of those in our family closest to us.
Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
In the next two verses we read that God comes to Cain and talks to him about his bad attitude and sin of bitterness and how it will impact him if he does not repent before God and ask forgiveness of God.
Genesis 4:6-7 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 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.
First God asks Cain why he is angry. Really, what is the basis for his being upset, except for his unreasonable pride and jealousy against God and his brother Abel? God says if he will do well, will he not be accepted by Jesus? God is imploring Cain to repent of his sins and ask forgiveness of God.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
God also warns Cain that if he does not repent, sin, like a roaring lion, is lying at his door, ever ready to spiritually devour his soul. There is no way Cain, in the power of his flesh, can overcome the evil that is ready to permeate his very being. Cain needs God, and now is at a pivotal point in his life. The Holy Spirit has confronted Cain with the reality of his evil lifestyle, and Cain must make a decision that will impact him for all eternity. Dear readers, the Holy Scriptures warn us:
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
In the next verse we read of the awful rejection by Cain of the Holy Spirit�s promptings, and his continued regression into evil. First Cain talks to Abel, perhaps to discuss what God had told him. And then we read, that after some time, they were both in the field together. It is here that Cain commits the first premeditated murder in the history of mankind. Think about this. The first man ever born on earth becomes so evil in his heart that he kills his own brother. How sad the regression into depravity which the workings of the religious man will descend.
Genesis 4:8 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.
Dear reader, are you still caught up in your own religion of self righteousness? Ask yourself, have I ever truly repented of my sins before almighty God, our Lord Jesus Christ? Cain never repented and is now suffering in the fires of hell.
Maybe you are not sure what repentance is. In the biblical sense true repentance means you change your mind and reason for living after coming under conviction of your sins and ungodliness before a perfect and righteous God. But God is merciful, and provides you a way to escape punishment for your sins. God offers you the free Gift of salvation. God�s salvation is from an eternal suffering in Hell and the Lake of Fire without God to an eternity of joy in Heaven with God. True Repentance results in your spiritual birth and a new purpose for your life. The bible says your become born again.
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
When you repent you come under strong conviction of your own sinfulness and guilt. You realize you are unworthy and helpless to stand before a holy and pure God. You also understand and appreciate God's mercy toward you, which is evidenced through the suffering and death of Christ on the cross for you. Yes, Jesus died in your place, and after repentance you will have a strong revulsion against sin. After repentance you will turn from your wicked ways and start a life journey with God. You strive to live a holy life to honor and serve our Lord for the rest of your life. This does not mean you will never sin again. But when you do, you will come under strong conviction to again confess your sins and receive a renewed forgiveness and cleansing.
Here are a few bible passages that discuss repentance.
Ezekiel 18:30 Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
Luke 5:32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations,
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,
2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Dear reader, today please plead with God to save your soul. Through faith in His finished work on the cross beg His mercy upon you. Ask Jesus to save you and make you into a new creation through a second birth. Today you can be born again!
May God richly bless as you read and consider this message for you. Your dear friend in Christ, Adbul Noor
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