It is Settled!

A series of lessons from the Bible

by Howell Lasseter

Cain and Abel

The first example we have of man worshiping God is recorded in Genesis 4:3,4a: "And in the process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord, And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof." We have no record prior to this time of any offering being made to God. Is it worthy of our consideration to think that mention is not made of Adam offering a sacrifice to God? No doubt, Adam and Eve were grieved by the action of their oldest son in the slaying of his brother Abel. Genesis 5:25: "And Adam knew his wife again, and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: for God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew."

This is a very sad and tragic example of two brothers, and the action of one against the other. Did Abel do anything wrong to cause Cain to murder him? No, the evil was on the part of Cain. Would any say that God showed respect of persons by accepting Abel's offering, and not accepting Cain's? Please consider this: Has God ever accepted, in worship to Him, that which was evil? Let us define what evil is. Is not evil sin? 1 John 3:4 "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." Whose law is being discussed here? God's law.

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 John 3:11,12: "For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous." There can be no doubt that God commanded Cain and Abel to offer an offering to Him. But, if that had been all they were commanded, then any offering would have been acceptable to Him, would it not? God commanded a specific sacrifice be made as they worshiped Him. God accepted the proper offering, and rejected that which was not the proper one. We can understand that, in the past, God rejected man who failed to worship Him as He commanded. We must also understand this principle today. Two men worshiped. One was accepted. 2 John 9: "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son." It is settled!