Living By Faith - Abel's Worship

Title: Living by Faith – Part IV - The Worship of Abel

Intro: Thus far we have seen that living by faith is established on the Word of God

Hebrews 1:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

But this leads to a worship that is acceptable to God

Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.

Thus enters into the concept the worship of Abel.

1. The Basis of the LIfe of Faith.

Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

A) God said:

Gen 1:3 And God said, - 10 times in creation account

Genesis 1: 31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

B) God saw

1. Creation was initially – very good!

2. The Created – Man was made in God’s image!

a) How good was the creature/creation of man in the mind of God?

Genesis 1:26a Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;

Image - ????? tselem, tseh'-lem; In the semblance of: a shadow cast; a representative figure,

Genesis 1:26b and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Thomas Coke- Behold the finishing stroke of the Divine Creator, Man, the last and greatest work of God. Animal life was produced: but now at last the crown of creation is brought forth in a rational soul. The earth, like a stately palace furnished for his reception, seems to call for the great inhabitant; one who can be the tongue of this lower world, and render to the great Author of all, the praise of his glorious works.

Genesis 2: 8 Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.

Genesis 2:15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

Genesis 2: 18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him,

Genesis 2: 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” 24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. 25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame

II. The Bad that can only be remedied by faith!

Genesis 3: 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

A). Sin!

Genesis 3:8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”

B) Shame!

1. Prior to sin:

Genesis 2:25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed

2, After sin their innocence was replaced by guilt and shame.