Hero Of Faith: Abel Series

The sacrifices we need to bring to God are, by faith, our confession of our sins, and our belief that through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross we are forgiven.

We also learn from Abel to be righteous. Our text tells us of Abel’s righteousness that came by faith, and Paul writes about the same righteousness that faith brings, “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Ro 3:22 - 24)” Our righteousness comes through the faith that God has blessed us with.

Finally, we learn from this hero of faith that, as our text tells us, “by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.” Abel’s sacrifice and righteousness still are spoken about, but Abel would have us, and God commands, us not to dwell on the sacrifice of Abel, but, in stead, we tell of the Sacrifice of Christ. “Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, [whose] sprinkled blood ... speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. (He 12:24)”

What makes a hero? In the case of Abel, it is truly not his faith guided sacrifice, nor his righteousness, or even that the Bible lists him as the first human hero of faith. What makes him that hero of faith is that his life points us to the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, Abel’s Savior and our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Amen.