CAIN AND ABEL
Part 2


A. "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. AND THE LORD HAD RESPECT UNTO ABEL AND HIS OFFERING. BUT UNTO CAIN AND HIS OFFERING HE HAD NO RESPECT" - GENESIS 4:3-5
  1. This portion of the story of Cain and Abel brings us:
    1. To the parting of the ways of Cain and Abel
    2. It marks the first rupture in human relations
  2. The form of their worship was indicative:
    1. Of two opposite viewpoints of their duties to God
    2. In that they symbolized two prevailing religious systems;
      1. one that seeks to do all the will of God;
      2. and the other is based on partial obedience to the will of God
B. LET US NOTE THE DIVERGENT FORMS OF WORSHIP OF CAIN AND ABEL AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS
  1. Abel followed the divine revelation and instructions to Adam about the right approach to God after the fall:
    1. This approach was based upon the substitutionary sacrifice to make atonement for sin
    2. It was the only basis for the sinner to make connection with God and receive forgiveness of sin - Heb. 9:22; I Pet. 1:18-19
    3. By this approach to God, Abel expressed his faith in the coming Redeemer, in fact, Abel was the first Christian in practice
  2. Cain, on the other hand:
    1. Brought an offering of the fruit of his ground which in itself was alright as far as it went
    2. But for a sinner to re-approach God, it was necessary to make atonement for sin through the shedding of blood; that was missing in Cain' offering; it was bloodless and that was one reason shy God rejected it
C. AS WE CONSIDER THE TWO OPPOSITE FORMS OF WORSHIP BY CAIN AND ABEL, THREE SPECIFICS OF THEIR WORSHIP FORESHADOWED TWO SYSTEMS OF WORSHIP IN THE WORLD TODAY
  1. A gigantic counterfeit form of worship:
    1. This system centers in the adoration and exaltation of the creature more than in the Creator and Redeemer - Rom. 1:18-27
    2. This system had its origin in the mind of a fallen angel - Lucifer - Is. 14:12-17
    3. This form of worship can be traced in the ancient forms of worship among Pagans as well as the great apostasy in our day symbolized by the two Babylons in Bible prophecy - Rev. 14:7-11; 2 Tim. 4:1-6
    4. Its main arm has been the spirit and power of persecution, making the saints its victims - compare John 8:44 with Gal. 4:29; Rev. 12:12. It was Satan that influenced Cain to hate and murder his brother - John 8:44
  2. The remnant of God's loyal children in all ages:
    1. the worshipers of the true God have always been in the minority - Matt. 7:13-14
    2. Abel was a prototype of this remnant, who firmly held unto the blueprint of God's plan to redeem the sinner
    3. Their persistent loyalty to the truth has always brought the wrath of Satan upon them - John 15:19
  3. It must be noted further:
    1. That the spirit of faultfinding and hatred is always indicative of religious bigotry
    2. It is a denial of the freedom of conscience by seeking to impose its will upon others
    3. Cain's attitude toward God and his brother Abel revealed that Satan had complete control of his mind - Rom. 6:16
    4. Thus it is crystal clear that error, egotism, and persecution are the work of the great master mind - Satan - John 8:44
  4. These are some of the lessons gathered from the worship of Cain and Abel:
    1. That brought the first rupture in human relation
    2. That set in motion the conflict of the ages - Gen. 3:15


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