How Can Man Be Accepted by God?

Whatever religion man professes, it is fundamentally characterized by the way it teaches its followers to approach God. Either it teaches them to approach by their works, or it teaches them to approach by faith.

There are two men in the Bible, brothers to each other, who represent these two ways of coming before God. One is Cain and the other is Abel, the sons of Adam and Eve. They were born outside the garden, and both inherited the same sinful nature from their parents. Adam could not pass on faith to them, for "that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit". So Cain and Abel were equal in nature.

However, when it came to presenting themselves before God, they assumed diametrically opposed attitudes. These different attitudes determined that they received a different response from God. The word of God says that the difference did not lie in the different nature of these men, but only in the offerings they presented.

Hebrews 11:4 says: "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, whereby he obtained witness that he was righteous, God bearing witness of his offerings; and being dead, he yet speaketh by it". Cain offered to God the fruit of the earth. This, which might seem praiseworthy, was not, for the earth was cursed because of sin. God had sacrificed an animal to cover Adam and Eve, he had had to shed blood to cover the first parents, but Cain considered it unnecessary to offer a bloody sacrifice. However, the Bible says that "without shedding of blood there is no remission" (Heb. 9:22).

Let us now consider Abel's sacrifice. He brought of the firstlings of his sheep, the fatlings of his sheep. He understood that none of his good works could allow him access to God. In Abel's offering was symbolized the perfect sacrifice of Christ. So too, every broken soul finds in Christ his substitute par excellence, who took his place in the judgment on the cross. It is not a matter of sentiment, but a matter of faith.

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 5:1). "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain" (Heb. 11:4). Cain did not have this faith and, therefore, did not bring blood sacrifice. Abel had faith, and offered the blood and fat, which is a figure of the life and excellence of the person of Christ.

Cain's way has had many followers throughout history and continues to have them today. Cain's followers are religious people, but they think they can approach God in their own way. Their religion is just a ritual, which serves to quiet the conscience, or to be socially accepted. Which of these worshippers do you identify with? Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will attain perfect peace with God. Only in Christ alone is righteousness and eternal salvation.

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