Building a Legacy Worth Leaving A Study in Hebrews 11 Harry W. Lewis

Session Three: Doing It God’s Way  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.

Session Three: Doing It God’s Way  Abel’s legacy continues until today!  Abel was declared to be righteous (dikaios) – Conformity to God’s standards – God’s judicial approval

Session Three: Doing It God’s Way  Abraham’s Faith: declared righteous – Cf. Gen. 15:6 – “Abram believed God and He credited it to him as righteousness.” – Positional Righteousness – Practical Righteousness

Session Three: Doing It God’s Way  Salvation is the result of our faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus! – Justification: saved from the penalty of sin – Sanctification: saved from the power of sin – Glorification: saved from the presence of sin

Session Three: Doing It God’s Way  Doing it God’s way is a result of our faith: – It was faith that motivated Abel in his offering It was more excellent than Cain’s It gave evidence of his righteousness

Session Three: Doing It God’s Way  Contrast Cain and Abel: – Cain tilled the ground: farmer – Abel tended sheep: shepherd

Session Three: Doing It God’s Way  Contrast Cain and Abel’s offerings: – Cain brought of the fruit of the ground – Abel brought of the flock First born Fatty portion

Session Three: Doing It God’s Way  Adam’s legacy passed on to Cain and Abel – Creation – The Garden Experience – The Fall – The Redemption – The Curse

Session Three: Doing It God’s Way  Principle: It is better to do it God’s way than ours  Isaiah 55:8-9 – “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways My ways,” says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Session Three: Doing It God’s Way  Contrast God’s response to the offerings: – He respected Abel and his offering – He did not respect Cain and his offering – Note that each is tied to his offering! The offerings were a result of who they were.

Session Three: Doing It God’s Way  Contrast Cain and Abel: – Character different – Offering different – Faith different – Result of legacy was different

Session Three: Doing It God’s Way  God’s confrontation with Cain – Challenged to do what was right Result is acceptance – Consequences of doing what is wrong Sin crouches at your door You must master it 1 Peter 5:6-9

Session Three: Doing It God’s Way  Cain’s Character Revealed: – Anger & Countenance fell (Gen. 4:6) – No repentance (Gen. 4:8) – Murder (Gen. 4:8) – Liar (Gen. 4:9) – Self-focused (Gen. 4:13-14)

Session Three: Doing It God’s Way  The Legacy Left – Cain did it his way and was rebuked – Abel did it God’s way and was commended  Instructive on how to approach God  Offer to God our best