A Study of Faith (Hebrews 11)

Lesson #1 Cain and Abel (Verse 4)

In this lesson in our study of faith we are going to be looking at the example of Cain and Abel. It is interesting that the first person in the honor roll of faith is also the first person murdered on this earth. This leads us to the main though for our lesson which is “Faith can be life or death”.

Looking at Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:1-7) :

• Abel was a shepherd and Cain was a farmer.
• Abel brought of the Flock to offer a sacrifice and Cain brought from the ground to offer a sacrifice.
• God accepts Abel’s offering and rejects Cain’s offering.
• The problem with Cain’s offering was that it had no blood.
• Cain refuses to do what God tells him to and eventually kills his brother because his works were evil, and his brother’s Abel was righteous.

Why did Cain kill Able?

The answer to this question is found in 1 John 3:12. Cain killed his brother because his brothers works were righteous and his were evil. This shows us that God must have given them some instruction regarding what is right and what is wrong. I am sure that their parents had also given them instruction as well.

Abel by faith was doing what was right and Cain was not. This shows us that in many ways disobedience or rebellion to authority is just a matter of faith or the lack there of. Note also that from Hebrews we see that Abel was considered righteous. This is not the same righteousness that you and I have, as a result of salvation we have the righteousness of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30 ; Philippians 3:9), but he was righteous in the eyes of the Lord by doing what was asked of him for that time period by faith. Remember that in the Old Testament God imputes righteous to a man when he does by faith what he is told.

What can we see regarding the types found in this example of faith?

1)  Faith determines whether you are righteous or not.

            (Romans 5:1 and 9:30-33)

2)  Faith will affect how you live right or wrong.

• Cain and Abel both knew what God expected.
• Both made their choices base on faith or lack thereof.
• Both men died, and only one makes the honor roll of faith.

3)  Faith works even after you are dead

            (Hebrews 9:16-17)

A Study of Faith (Hebrews Ch 11)

Lesson #1 Cain and Abel (Verse 4) : Handout

1)  What is the main lesson that we can see from the example of Cain and Abel?

2)  Give a brief summary of what happened with Cain and Abel in Genesis 4:1-7.

3)  Why did Cain kill Abel and where in the scriptures do we find this statement?

4)  What can we see for examples for us today from this story concerning Abel and his Faith?