THE CAIN & ABEL MYSTERY
An Old Testament to New Testament parallel I came across…
It starts with Genesis 4:7.
Here we have two sons: One Good & One Bad.
Both offered a sacrifice and only one was accepted by God.
Genesis 4:7 is what God said to Cain after rejecting his sacrifice.
God put the ball in Cain's court to do good or sin based on his desire.
“ If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.”
— Genesis 4:7 (KJV)
Why did God reject Cain’s sacrifice?
Was it a matter of God’s sovereign choice?
Was it because it was a non-blood sacrifice made during the time of the old testament?
Was it a matter of Cain’s heart and attitude?
Was it because Cain’s sacrifice was of poor quality?
Not much is written about this…
Is there a clue in the New Testament?
"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."
— Hebrews 11:4 (KJV)
Don't those key words "by faith" remind you of the gospel of salvation by faith and grace and not by works?
Not sure what that means?
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
— Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)
Also consider the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.
Luke 18: 9-14
Same situation…
Two creatures of God...one accepted and one rejected.
The one rejected boasted of his righteousness by law.
The one accepted was humble enough to admit he was a sinner and ask God for mercy.
Luke 18: 9-14
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
