The First Example of Faith in History

Genesis 4:1-8 & Hebrews 11:4

Faith behaves

By faith Abel OFFERED…
By faith describes the performance of faith. Faith is an activity.
Genesis 4:3 …process of time…
- The process of time suggests that Cain did the right thing for a while, but over time something changed and he decided to offer something else.
- Perhaps Cain’s fruit trees were in season and he decided to offer something from the garden.
- Time is the trial afforded by God to test the metal of faith.

offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain…
Both of them offered something to God.
Excellent because Abel’s was a SACRIFICE. Abel’s offering more excellent because the COST was greater.
Excellent because of obedience.
- Offerings are a response to God’s revelation of Himself.
- Offerings are about God, not about you.
- Excellent because Abel regarded what God wanted, not what he wanted.

by which he obtained witness that he was righteous…
The offering wasn’t what made him righteous, his offering was the result of his righteousness.
And God testified of his righteousness when the sacrifice was made just as God testified of Cain’s wickedness when his sacrifice was made.
…God testifying of his gifts…
Genesis 4:4-5 …respect unto Abel…Cain and to his offering he had not respect….
You could bring your service to God and He might not accept it.
You can’t even approach God without a sacrifice.

…he being dead yet speaketh.
The first record of the human family are not cave pictures. (No such thing as cavemen.) It is a story of religion, faith, obedience, persecution, hatred, and murder.
Revealed from faith to faith as faith is passed on, enduring the test of time. Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Persecuted for his faith. Abel left a testimony.
Now, what’s your testimony in this life?