“Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering…”
Genesis 4:4-5
“By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain…”
Hebrews 11:4
“Abel grasped the great principles of redemption.”
“He saw himself a sinner, and he saw sin and its penalty, death, standing between his soul and communion with God.
He brought the slain victim, the sacrificed life, thus acknowledging the claims of the law that had been transgressed, 1 John 3:4.
Through the shed blood he looked to the future sacrifice,— Christ dying on the cross of Calvary— and trusting in the atonement that was there to be made, he had the witness that he was righteous, and his offering accepted.
Cain came before God with murmuring and infidelity in his heart in regard to the promised sacrifice and the necessity of the sacrificial offerings.
“His gift expressed no penitence for sin.“
“He felt, as many now feel, that it would be an acknowledgment of weakness to follow the exact plan marked out by God, of trusting his salvation wholly to the atonement of the promised Saviour.
He chose the course of self-dependence.“
“He would come in his own merits.“
“He would not bring the lamb, and mingle its blood with his offering, but would present his fruits— the products of his labor….”
“Cain obeyed in building an altar, obeyed in bringing a sacrifice; but he rendered only a partial obedience. The ESSENTIAL PART— the recognition of the need of a Redeemer—was left out.”
“Cain and Abel represent two classes that will exist in the world till the close of time.”
“One class avail themselves of The Appointed Sacrifice for sin; the other venture to depend upon their own merits; theirs is a sacrifice without the virtue of divine mediation, and thus it is not able to bring man into favor with God.
It is only through the merits of Jesus that our transgressions can be pardoned.”
“Those who feel no need of the blood of Christ, who feel that without divine grace they can by their own works secure the approval of God, are making the same mistake as did Cain.
If they do not accept the cleansing blood, they are under condemnation.”
Patriarchs & Prophets, pg. 72
Christ and Christ alone, is the only way, the truth and the life. Outside of the One True Creator God, who became Man, to save His own creation, there is no other way.
It is through Christ’s unparalleled sacrifice that we find the pathway to reconciliation with God, for He bore our sins upon the cross, offering Himself as a perfect atonement.
Reader, I implore you to accept by faith the precious blood of “the Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world”, that you may receive pardon and forgiveness of sins, and have your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Embrace this divine gift, for in doing so, you will discover a profound peace that surpasses all understanding, a peace that only He can provide to those who truly seek Him with an open heart.
The invitation is extended to all, regardless of past mistakes or regrets, as His love knows no bounds and His grace is freely given to those who believe.
Loud Cry Compendium 