“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.

In our first study I said: ‘It surely indicates that ‘FAITH’ is a key component of the gospel message. Indeed, we cannot even start for heaven until we obtain faith, a gift of God.’

This verse makes that truth very plain.

1. Faith makes a great difference in how God sees our worship. Cain had been the first to approach God in worship. “And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD,” Genesis 4:3. There is a time when we must give thought to God! However, his apparent eagerness did not impress the Lord. He came without faith!

2. As we worship God we must exercise faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Genesis tells us that when Abel came to worship God, “he . . . . brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof,” Genesis 4:4.

His bringing of the lamb of his flock showed where his thoughts, his faith, was as he bowed before God. He was thinking of and depending upon the promised ‘Lamb of God’, the Lord Jesus Christ.

This Cain did not do. So today still such faith is absent from the worship of many who attend church! There is no learning from God’s Word. “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them,” Genesis 3:21.

John the Baptist identified the Saviour as God’s appointed Lamb through Whom we must approach Him. “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world,” John 1:29.

3. It was Abel’s offering that made the difference. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect,” Genesis 4:4-5. Cain’s offering was a lifeless one whereas Abel’s entailed the offering of a substitute life. Just what does the Lord think of your worship when you come before Him? Is your faith dependent upon the death and sufferings of the Lord Jesus for your sins?

4. Proud sinners are greatly resentful on learning that their worship has been rejected by the Lord. “And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 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,” Genesis 4:5-7. Greater sin was just waiting to come through the door of Cain’s life!

5. Cain’s resentment ended in murder. “And 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 slew him,” Genesis 4:8. Here is the cause of the bitter hatred toward Christians who witness to the right way to worship God which often has ended in murder!