LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
The Bible of Cain and Abel
From the beginning of human history, God has had a testimony on earth. In the beginning it was weak, and perhaps more terse; nevertheless, it was always sufficient for every sincere man to attain salvation.
Adam and Eve were, so to speak, the 'Bible' of the first men born of women: Cain and Abel. They must have told their children much of what we read today in the first three chapters of Genesis. And some of those things, in far more detail than we know today, wonderful behind-the-scenes of what was to affect all mankind, are so mysterious today.
But was that 'Bible' insufficient for them, the children of the first parents, to reach salvation through their testimony? There is neither the Abrahamic covenant, nor the system of Jewish offerings; there is neither the cross of Christ, how could they be saved? It is true, there is none of that; nevertheless there is enough -and for them it must have been very clear- to reach salvation.
In fact, therein lies the germ and compendium of all subsequent revelation. Nothing that was useful and necessary for salvation is missing there. There is the great and original purpose of God, there is the fall, and above all, there is the promise of salvation. There is also the vain human righteousness -symbolized in the garment of leaves- and the efficacious righteousness of God - represented by the garment of skins. In Eden there is everything that is part of human history: the temptation, the fall, and God's remedy. In Eden there is shed blood, which anticipated the precious Blood of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary, and which allows man to appear before God.
This was the gospel of God, of which Adam and Eve could testify to their children. Did anyone believe this gospel? Yes, Abel believed it. The Bible says that he "obtained witness that he was righteous, God bearing witness of his offerings; and being dead, he still speaks by it" (Heb. 11:4). Abel's offerings testify that the gospel he heard was the right one.
To attain salvation requires not so much information about sin as the sufficiency of the Savior. That is enough for the heart of man to reveal his true condition. Cain manifested his malice and Abel his need of God. One was condemned, the other was saved.
Yet their Bible did not speak to them differently - though the message each perceived was different. The difference lay in the different condition of the heart. With the passing of the centuries the light of God, of His testimony, has been increasing; however, men are still lost in the darkness of ignorance and unbelief. Why? Because of the hardness of their hearts, they have rejected the testimony of God and have chosen their own way. They have disregarded the testimony that God has given concerning his Son, the only Victim whose blood enables us to draw near to God and be received by him.