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shedding of blood there could be no remission of sin； and they were to show
their faith in the blood of Christ as the promised atonement by offering the
firstlings of the flock in sacrifice。 Besides this； the first fruits of the
earth were to be presented before the Lord as a thank offering。
The two brothers erected their altars alike； and each brought an offering。
Abel presented a sacrifice from the flock； in accordance with the Lord's
directions。 〃And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering。〃 Fire
flashed from heaven and consumed the sacrifice。 But Cain； disregarding the
Lord's direct and explicit command； presented only an offering of fruit。
There was no token from heaven to show that it was accepted。 Abel pleaded
with his
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brother to approach God in the divinely prescribed way； but his entreaties
only made Cain the more determined to follow his own will。 As the eldest； he
felt above being admonished by his brother； and despised his counsel。
Cain came before God with murmuring and infidelity in his heart in regard to
the promised sacrifice and the necessity of the sacrificial offerings。 His
gift expressed no penitence for sin。 He felt； as many now feel； that it
would be an acknowledgment of weakness to follow the exact plan marked out
by God； of trusting his salvation wholly to the atonement of the promised
Saviour。 He chose the course of self…dependence。 He would come in his own
merits。 He would not bring the lamb； and mingle its blood with his offering；
but would present his fruits； the products of his labor。 He presented his
offering as a favor done to God； through which he expected to secure the
divine approval。 Cain obeyed in building an altar； obeyed in bringing a
sacrifice； but he rendered only a partial obedience。 The essential part； the
recognition of the need of a Redeemer； was left out。
So far as birth and religious instruction were concerned； these brothers
were equal。 Both were sinners； and both acknowledged the claims of God to
reverence and worship。 To outward appearance their religion was the same up
to a certain point； but beyond this the difference between the two was
great。
〃By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain。〃
Hebrews 11：4。 Abel grasped the great principles of redemption。 He saw
himself a sinner； and he saw sin and its penalty； death； standing between
his soul and communion with God。 He brought the slain victim； the sacrificed
life； thus acknowledging the claims of the law that had been transgressed。
Through the shed blood he looked to the future sacrifice； Christ dying on
the cross of Calvary； and trusting in the atonement that was there to be
made； he had the witness that he was righteous； and his offering accepted。
Cain had the same opportunity of learning and accepting these truths as had
Abel。 He was not the victim of an arbitrary purpose。 One brother was not
elected to be accepted of God； and the other to be rejected。 Abel chose
faith and obedience； Cain； unbelief and rebellion。 Here the whole matter
rested。
Cain and Abel represent two classes that will exist in the world till the
close of time。 One class avail themselves of the appointed。 PG 73
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sacrifice for sin； the other venture to depend upon their own merits； theirs
is a sacrifice without the virtue of divine mediation； and thus it is not
able to bring man into favor with God。 It is only through the merits of
Jesus that our transgressions can be pardoned。 Those who feel no need of the
blood of Christ； who feel that without divine grace they can by their own
works secure the approval of God； are making the same mistake as did Cain。
If they do not accept the cleansing blood； they are under condemnation。
There is no other provision made whereby they can be released from the
thralldom of sin。
The class of worshipers who follow the example of Cain includes by far the
greater portion of the world； for nearly every false religion has been based
on the same principlethat man can depend upon his own efforts for
salvation。 It is claimed by some that the human race is in need； not of
redemption； but of developmentthat it can refine； elevate； and regenerate
itself。 As Cain thought to secure the divine favor by an offering that
lacked the blood of a sacrifice； so do these expect to exalt humanity to the
divine standard； independent of the atonement。 The history of Cain shows
what must be the results。 It shows what man will become apart from Christ。
Humanity has no power to regenerate itself。 It does not tend upward； toward
the divine； but downward； toward the satanic。 Christ is our only hope。
〃There is none other name under heaven given among men； whereby we must be
saved。〃 〃Neither is there salvation in any other。〃 Acts 4：12。
True faith； which relies wholly upon Christ； will be manifested by obedience
to all the requirements of God。 From Adam's day to the present time the
great controversy has been concerning obedience to God's law。 In all ages
there have been those who claimed a right to the favor of God even while
they were disregarding some of His commands。 But the Scriptures declare that
by works is 〃faith made perfect；〃 and that； without the works of obedience；
faith 〃is dead。〃 James 2：22； 17。 He that professes to know God； 〃and keepeth
not His commandments； is a liar； and the truth is not in him。〃 1 John 2：4。
When Cain saw that his offering was rejected； he was angry with the Lord and
with Abel； he was angry that God did not accept man's substitute in place of
the sacrifice divinely ordained； and angry with his brother for choosing to
obey God
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instead of joining in rebellion against Him。 Notwithstanding Cain's
disregard of the divine command； God did not leave him to himself； but He
condescended to reason with the man who had shown himself so unreasonable。
And the Lord said unto Cain； 〃Why art thou wroth？ and why is thy countenance
fallen？〃 Through an angel messenger the divine warning was conveyed： 〃If
thou doest well； shalt thou not be accepted？ And if thou doest not well； sin
lieth at the door。〃 The choice lay with Cain himself。 If he would trust to
the merits of the promised Saviour； and would obey God's requirements； he
would enjoy His favor。 But should he persist in unbelief and transgression；
he would have no ground for complaint because he was rejected by the Lord。
But instead of acknowledging his sin； Cain continued to complain of the
injustice of God and to cherish jealousy and hatred of Abel。 He angrily
reproached his brother； and attempted to draw him into controversy
concerning God's dealings with them。 In meekness； yet fearlessly and firmly；
Abel defended the justice and goodness of God。 He pointed out Cain's error；
and tried to convince him that the wrong was in himself。 He pointed to the
compassion of God in sparing the life of their parents when He might have
punished them with instant death； and urged that God loved them； or He would
not have given His Son； innocent and holy； to suffer the penalty which they
had incurred。 All this caused Cain's anger to burn the hotter。 Reason and
cons