Cain and Abel Tested
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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 principle—that 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 development—that 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 instead of joining in rebellion against
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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?”