Abel, the Son of Adam, Yet Speaks Hebrews 11:4
Genesis 4:1-10 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, I have acquired a man from the Lord. 2 Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. 6 So the Lord said to Cain, Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it. 8 Now 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 killed him. 9 Then the Lord said to Cain, Where is Abel your brother? He said, I do not know. Am I my brother s keeper? 10 And He said, What have you done? The voice of your brother s blood cries out to Me from the ground.
1 John 3:11-12 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother s righteous.
I. Abel Speaks to Us of the Sinfulness of Mankind. A. The fall of man in Genesis 3; violence in Genesis 4. - Romans 5:12-14. B. Sin is the problem in society and the world. - (Romans 3:10 - none righteous & V. 23 all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.) C. Jesus gave a look into the sinful heart of man.
Matt. 15:18-19 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.
I. Abel Speaks to Us of the Sinfulness of Mankind. D. This is the reason for all wars, oppressions, greed etc. - Abel presented a more excellent sacrifice, and God testifying of his gifts. E. Christ came to pay for our sins and change our hearts. - Romans 5:18-19, Therefore, as through one man s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man s obedience many will be made righteous. - 2 Cor. 5:17, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
II. Abel Speaks to Us of the Shortness of Life. A. He was a young man when he died. B. How quickly life passes through our hands! C. Jesus offers us eternal life with no end. (John 3:16)
John 5:24 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. D. Are you prepared for eternity?
III. Abel Speaks to Us of Salvation Through Faith. A. Though young, he was ready to meet God. B. He came to God with his sacrifice in faith (v. 4)
John 3:19-21 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.
III. Abel Speaks to Us of Salvation Through Faith. C. There is no other way of salvation. - Eph. 2:8-9; by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. - Rom. 5:1-2; Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
IV. Abel Speaks to Us of the Span of a Righteous Life. A. He lived but a short time but still speaks to us. B. The length of the faith life cannot be limited by physical death. C. What are you doing that will endure after your gone?