Hebrews 11-1

Hall of Faith: Abel

Hebrews 11:4

“A Faith that Lives”

Introduction

Hebrews 11 is not a chapter merely about great people. It is a chapter about what genuine faith looks like in real life.

The very first example the Holy Spirit gives is Abel.

Genesis 4 gives the story of his life and death, yet Hebrews 11:4 gives heaven’s interpretation of his life.

The verse unfolds Abel’s faith in four movements:

Faith Offered

Faith Approved

Faith Attested

Faith Remembered

The emphasis is not merely on Abel himself, but on the nature and evidence of saving and living faith.

I. Abel Offered God the Right Sacrifice

“By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice…”

The first thing the text reveals is that Abel’s faith was demonstrated through worship.

Faith is not merely internal belief. Biblical faith acts.

A. Abel’s Faith Was Active

The verse does not say Abel felt faith.

It says Abel offered.

Faith always moves a person toward obedience.

James later writes: “Faith without works is dead.”

Abel’s sacrifice revealed the reality of his faith.

Important Observation

Cain and Abel both brought offerings, but only one offering was “by faith.”

This means religious activity alone is not proof of genuine faith.

Both brothers:

Approached God

Built an altar

Brought a gift

But only Abel came in faith.

B. Abel’s Faith Responded to Revelation

Romans 10:17 says: “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Faith cannot exist apart from revelation.

Somewhere God had revealed:

the seriousness of sin,

the necessity of sacrifice,

and the proper way to approach Him.

Abel believed God’s revelation.

Cain approached God according to his own ideas.

That is the contrast.

Abel brought:

the firstlings,

the blood sacrifice,

the best he had.

Cain brought:

the fruit of the ground,

the labor of his hands,

an offering shaped by self-effort.

The issue was not agriculture versus livestock.

The issue was obedience versus self-will.

The phrase “by faith” governs the whole action.

Abel’s sacrifice was acceptable because it arose from trust in and submission to God’s Word.

II. Abel Received God’s Approval

“…by which he obtained witness that he was righteous…”

This is one of the most important theological statements in the verse.

Abel was declared righteous.

A. Abel Was Not Accepted Because of Personal Perfection

Genesis gives no indication Abel was sinless.

Like every son of Adam, Abel was a sinner.

Yet Hebrews says he was righteous.

Why?

Because righteousness before God has always been connected to faith.

Abel believed God, approached God God’s way, and was accepted by grace.

This anticipates the doctrine later fully explained in:

Noah,

Abraham,

David, who all found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

and in Romans and Galatians.

Key Truth

The foundation of salvation has never been human merit.

It has always been faith in God’s provision.

B. God Himself Bore Witness to Abel

Notice the wording carefully:

“he obtained witness…”

Then:

“God testifying of his gifts…”

Abel did not declare himself righteous.

God declared him righteous.

Heaven testified on Abel’s behalf.

This likely points back to Genesis 4 where God visibly accepted Abel’s offering and rejected Cain’s.

The emphasis is not ultimately on Abel’s gift, but on God’s testimony concerning the gift.

True faith seeks divine approval, not human applause.

III. Abel Endured the Hatred of the World

Connection to Genesis 4

Hebrews 11:4 is brief, but the full story includes Abel’s murder.

Abel’s righteous worship exposed Cain’s unbelief.

A. Genuine Faith Often Produces Opposition

1 John 3:12 explains why Cain killed Abel:

“because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.”

Cain hated what Abel represented.

Abel’s obedience became a silent rebuke to Cain’s rebellion.

Important Principle

Light exposes darkness naturally.

People may tolerate religion, but genuine righteousness often provokes hostility.

Abel became:

the first righteous sufferer,

the first martyr,

the first man killed for faith.

B. Faithfulness Does Not Guarantee Earthly Ease

Abel obeyed God — and died young.

From a worldly perspective, Cain appeared to win.

But Hebrews 11 gives heaven’s perspective.

Cain’s offering was rejected. Abel’s faith was remembered forever.

The Bible consistently teaches believers to evaluate life from God’s eternal perspective rather than temporary earthly outcomes.

IV. Abel Left a Lasting Testimony

“…and by it he being dead yet speaketh.”

This is the climax of the verse.

Abel died in Genesis 4, yet Hebrews says he still speaks.

A. Abel’s Life Continues to Preach

Not through recorded sermons. Not through books. Not through achievements.

But through his faith.

Every generation that reads Hebrews 11 hears Abel’s testimony again.

What Does Abel Still Say?

1. God Must Be Approached by Faith

Not by self-made religion.

2. Worship Must Be According to God’s Revelation

God determines acceptable worship.

3. Righteousness Comes Through Faith

Abel stands as an early witness to justification by faith.

4. Faith Is More Valuable Than Earthly Survival

Cain lived longer.

Abel left a greater legacy.

B. The Voice of Faith Outlives Death

The world measures life by duration.

God measures it by faithfulness.

Abel’s life was brief, but spiritually powerful.

His blood cried from the ground in Genesis.

His faith cries from the halls of Heaven.

Conclusion

Hebrews 11:4 presents Abel as a model of genuine faith.

His faith:

obeyed God’s revelation,

approached God properly,

received God’s approval,

endured persecution,

and still speaks today.

The verse forces every hearer to ask:

Am I approaching God His way or my way?

Is my worship rooted in faith or mere religion?

Will my life leave behind a testimony of faithfulness?

Closing Challenge

One brother came by faith. One brother came by self-will.

One was accepted. One was rejected.

One still speaks.

The question of Hebrews 11:4 is not merely:

“What did Abel offer?”

But:

“What kind of faith do we possess?”