Grace Extended
Bible Study....Abel, the Visionary Saint
God’s love reaches out to you and when God’s love touches your need, we call it Grace.
"For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God ... "
(Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV)
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen."
(Hebrews 11:1)
Faith: Assurance, title-deed Substance: Seen and unseen Evidence: Proof, conviction
This is the only definition of faith found in the Bible. We are incapable of fully realizing the dimensions of faith, just as we cannot truly comprehend God. Yet, it is by simple faith that we come to experience the love and presence of Christ. "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" [Hebrews 11:6]. Abel, Enoch, and Noah, were men of faith who found favor with God.
1. ABEL THE VISIONARY SAINT
By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain .....
[Genesis 4:1-7; Hebrews 11:4; Numbers 18:17]
Why was Abel’s sacrifice accepted and Cain’s rejected? Evidently, when Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden because of disobedience, God established a definite manner in which they were to worship. Adam and Eve taught their sons to seek God’s favor by offering acceptable sacrifices.
There was a remarkable difference in the attitudes of Cain and Abel as they placed their offerings upon the altar of sacrifice. Abel brought the first, most precious, lamb of his flock; whereas, Cain, indiscriminately, gathered some produce. Cain was just an observer of religious ritual; Abel, a man who desired God’s favor and the cleansing for his sin, acted in faith according to God the Creator’s will and purpose.
Did God recognize the difference? Yes! "And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering ...." So the Lord said to Cain, ".... If you do well, will you not be accepted?" [Genesis 4:6, 7]. What made Abel’s offering acceptable? Cain’s unacceptable?
It is accepted that the Christian is to live by faith. There are two very distinct and different views of faith—man’s view and God’s view.
Some say that faith is the gift of God. So is the air, but you have to breathe it; so is bread, but you have to eat it. Some are wanting some miraculous kind of feeling. That is not faith.
"Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God" (Rom. 10:17). That is whence faith comes. It is not for me to sit down and wait for faith to come staling over me with a strong sensation, but is for me to take God at His Word." — D. L. Moody
"Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man’s power ends." —George Muller
A lump of clay will never become a beautiful vessel until it is placed in the hands of a master potter. God can never shape us into vessels for His glory unless we place ourselves into His hands. God’s part is salvation, our part is submission. We must understand that God cannot do a great work unless we believe that He can.
What do you think faith really is? Do you think it is a religious exercise? Something intangible? Faith is decidedly more simple and satisfying. It has nothing to do with that which is tangible. It is simply believing God; and, like sight, it must focus on an object. Sight is only seeing, faith is only believing.
Faith believes that God’s grace is extended to all who accept, by faith, His Son, Jesus Christ for the cleansing of sin [Hebrews 9:22].
Faith inspires the spirit of worship and giving [Proverbs 3:9].
Faith determines God’s reaction to our acts of worship. The finest offering given in the wrong spirit is not acceptable to God [Hebrews 13:15].
You can commit your life to Jesus any time and any where. Here is a simple prayer to help you become a Christian.
Dear Lord Jesus:
I know that I am a sinner. I believe you died for my sins. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life. I receive you as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank you for saving me.........In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.
-End-
