Acceptable Faith

by O H Griffith

Introduction:

A. Briefly view verses Hebrews 11 1 to 3.

B. Everyone exercises faith in someone and in some things.

1. Faith is natural to a rational mind.

2. Faith Is natural to the born-again spirit.

C. Faith is more easily understood when seen than when heard

D. There is acceptable faith and there is unacceptable faith, Genesis 4.1-7

1. Cain' sacrifice was unacceptable, because it manifested faith in himself,

his own works.

a. He would be his own savior.

b. In this he was like many in our generation.

c. They wish to be their own god and savior.

This is humanism.

d. They worship gods of their own creation.

2. Abel's' faith was acceptable, because it was in God.

I. ABEL'S SACRIFICE WAS ACCEPTABLE.

A. He made his offering unto God.

1. In faith, believing that God had provided,

and would reveal in time, His sacrifice for sin.

2. In obedience to the divinely prescribed way.

a. God has never left it to men to devise their own way of worship.

b. The most costly offerings will not suffice for obedience

to the divine prescription (cf 1 Samuel 1.22)

3. In sincerity.

All the other elements of worship may be in order,

but without sincerity it is mere sham and hypocrisy.

a. God can be worshiped only in spirit and in truth, John 4.24

b. The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination:

how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?" Proverbs 21.27

c. Cf Isaiah 1.13-15 and Matthew 6.5

B. Abel's sacrifice was acceptable because by it he acknowledged:

1. His sin before God;

2. That he deserved death as just punishment for his sin;

3. That only by the death of the sinless One can a man be saved.

II. ABEL'S SACRIFICE WAS ACCEPTABLE BECAUSE IT

CORRECTLY EXPRESSED HIS FAITH

A. Faith is a state of mind.

It cannot be seen except as it is manifested:

1. In an acceptable form of worship, or

2. In acceptable works motivated by faith in God.

B. By his sacrifice Abel testified that:

1. God had provided the Sacrifice to put away sin;

2. Salvation is by the suffering and death of the Divine Person

3. "With the shedding of blood is no remission (forgiveness)", Hebrews 9.22

C. Abel's sacrifice was acceptable because by it

he indicated full and complete faith in God and His plan of salvation.

D. Abel's sacrifice was acceptable because by it

he indicated full and complete surrender and obedience to God.

III. REWARDS or ABEL'S FAITH.

A. "He obtained witness [assurance] that he was righteous" vs 4 Romans 4.5

1. Today, many deny that a person can know that he is saved.

2. Abel knew that he was saved.

He knew in the same way that all believers may know.

a. He knew that he was a guilty sinner.

b. He knew that God was able to save him.

c. He knew that God saves all who repent and trust Him

d. He knew that he had repented and trusted God.

e. He believed and claimed God's promise.

3. This e Abel peace, assurance and stability in life.

4. It gave him the "evidence" that he was righteous, verses 3 and 4.

a. He was not righteous by his works.

b. He was made righteous by the cleansing blood of the Lamb of God 1 John 1.7

c. Read the words of the hymn, "Nothing But the Blood,"by Robert Lowry.

B. "God (testified) of his gifts."

1. God accepted his sacrifice.

2. Because it was a token of repentance, faith, surrender and obedience.

C. "By it he being dead yet speaketh."

1. He speaks through the inspired Record of his faith.

2. By acceptable sacrifice, Abel's faith continues to be a source

of inspiration and encouragement for people to trust God.

D. A fourth reward of Abel's acceptable faith was death at the hands

of his jealous brother.

Evaluation:

1. Cain proved himself unrighteous, unacceptable.

2. He became a wanderer, an exile, always fearful for his life.

3. Abel left an age-long testimony to his faith.

4. By faith, Abel is still preaching, and souls are still being saved.

5. Abel went to be with the Savior whom he trusted.

6. Which brother was the wiser, the real winner?

Conclusion:

A. Salvation has always been "by grace through faith"

in the "Lamb of God."

1. Abel exercised such faith.

2. He gave acceptable expression to it.

3. He was rewarded with peace and security.

B. Faith is still is the only acceptable way to obtain salvation

Index

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