By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God testifying with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks.By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness in respect of his gifts: and through it he being dead yet speaketh.
3 sermons cite this verse
… and be faithful on my behalf? Hebrews 11.4 tells us, by faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice. Why? Because Abel gave God the first before he knew what would come next. Faith gives first. Fear waits to see what's left. And inconsistent giving is almost always leftover giving. Last week was all about a push. Levi did an excellent job to start to give. If you've never given to give for the first time, this week is a push to not be inconsistent. But to do what 1 Corinthians 16 tells us to do and be consistent, live by a rhythm of generosity. The reason it's important is, again, inconsistent giving is almost always leftover giving. That's why it's inconsistent because it's not given from first fruits. It's given whenever I might have a little extra laying around that I don't need for something I want. And so it's inconsistent because it's given whenever money is left over. And guess what? There's not very often money left over, is there? …
In other words, even though he's died, he still is prophesying to us how truth works. Verse 5, by faith, Enoch was taken away. That's just one of the weirdest things in all of history. Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death and was not found because God had taken him. For before he was taken, he had this testimony that he pleased God. Is that amazing? Faith, faith provided a walk for him with God. I heard a little girl explain this once, a repeat story of a little girl who said that God and Enoch went for a long walk and finally God said, you know, you're closer to my house than to yours. Why don't you just come home with me? So I don't know if, you know, that works for me. I'm going with the little girl's story. So that's how she saw it. But here's this last phrase, so that he pleased God. And verse six that I quoted earlier, a part of, stems off of that statement that he pleased God. …
… Without shedding of blood is no remission. Isn't that right? Without shedding of blood is no remission. And Hebrews 11 4 says, by faith Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice. Abel had faith in the blood. Never forget it. He had faith in the blood. The blood is, that we sang about this morning is not incidental. It is not accidental. It is fundamental. It is eternal. For the Bible says in first John 1, 7, THE BLOOD OF Jesus Christ, God's son, cleanseth us from all sin. Now, on the other hand, Cain offered the fruit of the ground. His offering was not based on blood, but the fruits and the flowers of his own effort. It may have been impressive. It may have been beautiful. It may it may have been costly. It may have looked like a County fair. There may have been beautiful flowers and fragrant herbs and the ripest fruits. But God was not impressed. Why? You can't get blood out of a turnip. My friend, without the shedding of blood is no remission. What did Cain'S OFFERING REPRESENT? …