Genesis 4:3-6 - "So it came about in the course of time
that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. Abel, on
his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions.
And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his
offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance
fell."
In Genesis chapter 3 right after sin came into the world, Adam and Eve tried to cover themselves. Genesis 3:7 says - "Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings." But their coverings were insufficient. The fig leaves would eventually fall apart. Mans attempt to cover his sin will always fall apart. We're told in Isaiah that our righteousness is as filthy rags. This is what all the religions in the world are, mans attempt to cover his own sin. But God didn't leave Adam and Eve in that condition. It says in verse 21 - "The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them." Through the death of an animal God made coverings for the man and his wife. This pictures Gods redemptive plan. We see later in the New Testament that Jesus had to come into the world and die, be made sin for us, in order that we might be clothed with His righteousness.
Then we move into Genesis chapter 4 and read about Cain and Abel. People often wonder why God accepted Abel's offering but rejected Cain's. The scripture says that Cain brought an offering to the Lord from the fruit of the ground. If you go back again to Genesis chapter 3 you'll read what God said to Adam in verses 17-19 - "Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you will eat the plants of the field; By the sweat of your face you will eat bread, till you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; For you are dust, and to dust you shall return."
Because of sin the ground is cursed just as much as man. The dust that we're made of and the dust the ground is made of, it's all the same. Because of the curse, by the sweat of his brow, Cain worked the ground. He tilled it, planted seed, watered, and finally when it was ripe he presented the best of it to God. But God couldn't accept it. Because, again, it's just a picture of man trying to present his best to God. And God can't accept our best because it's filthy rags. At best all we have are a bunch of filthy rags that spring up from the cursed ground.
But then we read this about Abel. - "Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering" Abel brought nothing to the Lord that he had any part in doing. He brought a baby lamb from the flock. Abel had no part in the birth of this lamb. He had no say as to when it would be born or what it would look like. He simply offered to God what He had done, and the Lord accepted it.
The only offering that God accepts is the one that He has provided for us. God will never save anyone based on the works of their hands. We must simply believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and we will be saved. We can never be clothed with our own righteousness, and we can never be saved by our works. But God provided a Lamb that we might be clothed with His righteousness, and be acceptable to God by His death.
John 1:29 - "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"
In Genesis chapter 3 right after sin came into the world, Adam and Eve tried to cover themselves. Genesis 3:7 says - "Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings." But their coverings were insufficient. The fig leaves would eventually fall apart. Mans attempt to cover his sin will always fall apart. We're told in Isaiah that our righteousness is as filthy rags. This is what all the religions in the world are, mans attempt to cover his own sin. But God didn't leave Adam and Eve in that condition. It says in verse 21 - "The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them." Through the death of an animal God made coverings for the man and his wife. This pictures Gods redemptive plan. We see later in the New Testament that Jesus had to come into the world and die, be made sin for us, in order that we might be clothed with His righteousness.
Then we move into Genesis chapter 4 and read about Cain and Abel. People often wonder why God accepted Abel's offering but rejected Cain's. The scripture says that Cain brought an offering to the Lord from the fruit of the ground. If you go back again to Genesis chapter 3 you'll read what God said to Adam in verses 17-19 - "Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you will eat the plants of the field; By the sweat of your face you will eat bread, till you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; For you are dust, and to dust you shall return."
Because of sin the ground is cursed just as much as man. The dust that we're made of and the dust the ground is made of, it's all the same. Because of the curse, by the sweat of his brow, Cain worked the ground. He tilled it, planted seed, watered, and finally when it was ripe he presented the best of it to God. But God couldn't accept it. Because, again, it's just a picture of man trying to present his best to God. And God can't accept our best because it's filthy rags. At best all we have are a bunch of filthy rags that spring up from the cursed ground.
But then we read this about Abel. - "Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering" Abel brought nothing to the Lord that he had any part in doing. He brought a baby lamb from the flock. Abel had no part in the birth of this lamb. He had no say as to when it would be born or what it would look like. He simply offered to God what He had done, and the Lord accepted it.
The only offering that God accepts is the one that He has provided for us. God will never save anyone based on the works of their hands. We must simply believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and we will be saved. We can never be clothed with our own righteousness, and we can never be saved by our works. But God provided a Lamb that we might be clothed with His righteousness, and be acceptable to God by His death.
John 1:29 - "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"
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