TWO WAYS TO WORSHIP Genesis 4:1-16 The Lord looked with favour on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favour.

1. The Sacrifice Abel Offered By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did.   The first man, Adam (Genesis 3) not an example of faith but of unbelief he doubted God’s word he disobeyed God’s word The result barred from Eden driven from God’s presence

1. The Sacrifice Abel Offered Cain and Abel – no personal experience of living in Eden walking with God Yet they were still worshippers

1. The Sacrifice Abel Offered

1. The Sacrifice Abel Offered

1. The Sacrifice Abel Offered Two offerings to God Cain In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. (Genesis 4:3) Abel But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. (Genesis 4:4)

1. The Sacrifice Abel Offered By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. God’s verdict Abel The LORD looked with favour on Abel and his offering, Cain …but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favour. (Genesis 4:4-5)

2. The Commendation Abel Received By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. Two related reasons for God’s commendation the gift he brought – “God spoke well of his offerings” the faith he showed – “By faith he was commended as a righteous man”

2. The Commendation Abel Received Two related reasons for Cain’s condemnation the gift he brought “The Lord looked with favour on Abel and his offering, while he rejected Cain and his offering. Cain had not done what was right (4:7) revealing that he himself was not right spiritually.”

Two related reasons for Cain’s condemnation the gift he brought 2. The Commendation Abel Received Two related reasons for Cain’s condemnation the gift he brought the response he made So Cain was very angry and his face was downcast. (Genesis 4:5)

Two related reasons for Cain’s condemnation the gift he brought 2. The Commendation Abel Received Two related reasons for Cain’s condemnation the gift he brought the response he made Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” (Genesis 4:6-7)

2. The Commendation Abel Received Two related reasons for Cain’s condemnation the gift he brought the response he made Many details emphasise the depth of Cain’s crime, and therefore of the Fall: the context is worship and the victim a brother; and while Eve had to be talked into her sin, Cain will not even have God talk him out of it; nor while he confess to it, nor yet accept his punishment.

2. The Commendation Abel Received The result the murdered man – Abel the marked man – Cain Estranged from God’s presence

3. The Message He Still Speaks And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead. How to worship God acceptably – a blood sacrifice is necessary the sacrifice Abel offered But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favour on Abel and his offering. (Genesis 4:4)

3. The Message He Still Speaks And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead. How to worship God acceptably – a blood sacrifice is necessary the sacrifice Abel offered the sacrifice God’s law required In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. (Hebrews 9:22)

And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead. 3. The Message He Still Speaks And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead. How to worship God acceptably – a blood sacrifice is necessary the sacrifice Abel offered the sacrifice the law required the sacrifice Jesus made

3. The Message He Still Speaks And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead. the sacrifice Jesus made You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. (Hebrews 12:23-24)

3. The Message He Still Speaks the blood of Abel - retribution The LORD said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.” (Genesis 4:10) the blood of Jesus – redemption In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. (Ephesians 1:7-8)

THE ONE WAY TO WORSHIP You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. WARNING! See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. (Hebrews 12:23-25) See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. (Hebrews 12:23-25)

THE ONE WAY TO WORSHIP Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire.’ (Hebrews 12:28-29)