By Faith: Abel, Enoch and Moses
Notes
Transcript
Handout
By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
Introduction
Introduction
Remember last week, I taught about Faith: Defined, Faith: Applied and Faith: In Action.
I also explained that we are about to walk through the Hall of Faith and the first three versus was the main lobby of the Hall of Faith.
We learned that Biblical Faith is not blind, it is a trust in God.
Or as I defined it,
Biblical faith is trusting in God (known) to work out the future (unknown) for His glory.
Then, we get out ticket to admission, verse 3. We must have faith that God is the Creator.
This is looking at a past event, with the faith (trust) that God is the Creator.
So, we have now come to the first singular exhibits of the Hall of Faith. Notice, these three people are found in the pre-flood timeframe.
I also want you to notice that these are now narrowing the focus of the faith to becoming more personal and unique in application.
These three people have the same faith, in the same God but are different in application.
By Faith: Worship
By Faith: Worship
By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.
Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”
Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
So, this is an interesting passage that has caused some confusion for many about the differences between Cain and Abel. Why was Abel’s offering more acceptable than Cain’s?
They both gave from their occupation-Cain was a farmer and Abel was a rancher.
Again, the question we ask is? What is the problem?
Well, if we only look at these passages, then I can fully understand the confusion.
However, I want you to consider a few more things.
First, the age of Cain and Abel. If you look at the surrounding versus, there are some logical assumptions we can make.
Look at
When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.
Also look at some of the verbiage in chapter 3 “in the course of time”
So there is a clear passage of time between the birth of Cain and Abel and the events of verse 3.
Cain could have been 129 years old when this happened.
Second, we can also logically assume that God had passed on instructions to Adam and Eve for life and worship. We can see indications of this in
And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ”
Third, I think we can also logically assume that there were some rules to worship. We can see through the writing of Moses that there was a requirement for blood to cover sins. This would have been a reminder for Adam and Eve of what God did to cover them from their sin in the Garden.
And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.
We also see some indications of worship requirements in God’s instructions to Noah.
Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and his mate, and a pair of the animals that are not clean, the male and his mate, and seven pairs of the birds of the heavens also, male and female, to keep their offspring alive on the face of all the earth.
Lastly, We also have an interesting account from the historian Josephus.
“Now this Seth, when he was brought up, and came to those years in which he could discern what was good, became a virtuous man; and as he was himself of an excellent character, so did he leave children behind him who imitated his virtues.9 All these proved to be of good dispositions. They also inhabited the same country without dissensions, and in a happy condition, without any misfortunes falling upon them, till they died. They also were the inventors of that peculiar sort of wisdom which is concerned with the heavenly bodies, and their order. And that their inventions might not be lost before they were sufficiently known, upon Adam's prediction that the world was to be destroyed at one time by the force of fire, and at another time by the violence and quantity of water, they made two pillars, 10 the one of brick, the other of stone: they inscribed their discoveries on them both, that in case the pillar of brick should be destroyed by the flood, the pillar of stone might remain, and exhibit those discoveries to mankind; and also inform them that there was another pillar of brick erected by them. Now this remains in the land of Siriad to this day.”
Sirad was Egypt.
Remember Josephus lived during the time of Jesus.
With these ideas, I want you to think about this passage again.
John MacArthur and Kent Hughes both agree that Cain and Abel would have known about the requirements and expectations for worship.
Hughes explains
Abel’s faith was characterized by: authentic worship, authentic righteousness and authentic witness.
Authentic worship is following the standards of worship, as depicted by God. This is a being obedient to what God says, not what we say.
Abel’s offering was an expression of his need for atonement.
Compare this to Cain. Who presented an offering that highlighted his owngood works and character.
Abel faith came through his authentic worship, that showed authentic righteousness.
Additionally, we see that there is a connection between authentic faith and works. Works is the demonstration of authentic faith. It is the faith that drives the works, and is a result of the faith.
This is what we see with Abel, his authentic faith is eternal, so much that his witness continued after death.
So much that God confronted Cain and Jesus confronted the Pharisees, in both cases it was because of the blood of Abel.
And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.
We have this future promise
They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
We are seeing similar actions today. We have numerous churches trying to worship in ways that they want instead of asking what God wants.
We have churches that focus on the skills of man, instead of the greatness of God.
In fact, we have some church leaders that say that there are no mandates for the church to even meet for worship.
As for us, will we act like Abel in authentic worship, focusing on the works of God and praising Him?
We lift Him up in our worship.
As focus on authentic worship, just like Abel, from here the author of Hebrews takes us a few generations down Adam’s family tree to Enoch.
By Faith: Walking
By Faith: Walking
When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.
Enoch shows up in the middle of Genesis 5. There is a listing of the genealogies from Adam, but in the middle of the genealogies there is a pause. This pause brings attention to Enoch.
While it is interesting that Enoch is the father of the world’s oldest man, Methuselah.
The part we need to focus on is these key words:
Enoch walked with God , Enoch walked with God and he was not, for God took him.
Enoch walked with God!!! He did it for over 300 years!!!
Can you imagine this? 300 years? Let’s put this in perspective, if Enoch was 365 this year, he would have been born in 1655.
When he was 65, the age when his son was born, he could have played Happy Birthday on the newly invented Piano.
A hundred years later he would have learned about the rise of a country called the United States of America.
A hundred years after that he would have heard about a preacher named Charles Spurgeon.
In the last part of his life, he would have seen man walk on the moon, the rise of the computer and the internet.
This is what it would have been like if he died today. I say this to show how long his life was, but to also show what an accomplishment it is that Enoch walked with God.
Let’s think about this phrase “walked with God”.
What does it mean to walk with someone? I know when my family goes on a walk together, it is a sight to see.
We normally have one grumbling about the walk, one walking too slow, one walking too fast, one taking a wrong turn and Sheryl and I walking together.
This is just a family walk. Imagine a daily walk with God.
Think about the what needs to happen when someone is walking with God.
You need be in agreement on: destination, direction, manner, path and speed.
When you are walking, you must agree on the destination.
If we all went on a walk, but could not agree if we were going to Seminole or Choctaw, we are not walking together. This is why destination matters.
Are we walking towards God’s destination or our own?
When we walk together, the manner of the walk also matters. Are we walking for exercise, enjoyment, survival, etc. Have you ever gone a walk with someone who views the walk in a different manner. You wanted exercise, they wanted fellowship.
Are we walking in the same manner as God? Are we following His methods?
We also need to walk the same path. If we were going to downtown OKC are we all following the same path? If you take a different path are you really walking with someone? You must walk along the same path.
Are we walking God’s path to our destination?
Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
Lastly, you must also walk in the same pace. If you are on a walk with someone and you are a mile apart, are you really walking together?
This is a critical but forgotten part of walking with God. Do we walk in God’s timing? His pace?
How do we do this? How did Enoch do this?
The author of Hebrews tells us the answer.
Faith gives us the ability to please God, actually without faith it is impossible!
Notice, that in order to draw near to God, we must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Again, we must know Him as the Creator, Sustainer and Savior, so we can know that He saves those whom He calls.
What is the reward we get for seeking Him?
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
What was the reward for Enoch? He was taken. He did not taste death, but was taken to be with God. How did this happen? We are not told, but it does seem to be a sudden action.
Enoch was there, then he was not, he was gone. He was commended (remember the meaning of commendation from verse 2), then taken.
What a reward!!
So we have seen Faith in Worship, Faith in Walking now we will close with Faith in Obedience.
As we are walking through the Hall of Faith, we are coming to a new section. These sections are divided by the flood. This is the global flood that changed the world.
By Faith: Obedience
By Faith: Obedience
By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown.
The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark 300 cubits, its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits. Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above, and set the door of the ark in its side. Make it with lower, second, and third decks. For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die. But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female. Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground, according to its kind, two of every sort shall come in to you to keep them alive. Also take with you every sort of food that is eaten, and store it up. It shall serve as food for you and for them.” Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.
In 1926, one year after Scottish inventor John Logie Baird gave the first public demonstration of a working television in London, American radio pioneer Lee De Forest proclaimed the device a commercial and financial impossibility, calling it ‘a development of which we need waste little time dreaming.’ 20 years later people still weren’t convinced, with film producer Darryl Zanuck stating in 1946 that ‘people will soon get tired of staring at a plywood box every night.’
This is just a small example from history of an idea that was ridiculed when it was first introduced. But think about this, it only took thirty years from the initial invention to widespread acceptance.
Noah was warned of an event that was going to occur 120 years in the future. He was called to prepare and build an ark to be saved.
He was told to build a ship, something that was between 450-510 feet long, 80 feet wide and 50 feet tall.
Here is an image from Answers in Genesis to give you some perspective.
Now, here is the crazy part. He was building this in the middle of dry land. I am not saying he was building this on a beach, he was nowhere near a large body of water.
This is the same as me building a cruise ship in the field behind the church.
Was Noah facing ridicule? Absolutely!!
He was also facing this for 120 years.
Also, remember what the state of the earth during the time of Noah?
The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Noah was also told to prepare for something that he had never seen, a worldwide flood.
So he was building an ark in a place nowhere near water, preparing for something that no-one had ever seen, surrounded by people who were continually only who thought of evil.
The moment he laid the keel of the ark, the world was condemned.
Peter also called Noah a preacher of righteousness. Some scholars suppose that Noah was preaching repentance to the world around him.
This is faith in obedience. Trusting in God whom we know, to fulfill His promises in respect to the unknown.
The world around Noah had a visible reminder of their condemnation, once the ark was finished and God closed the door, it was too late.
We have a visible reminder of our ark, the cross of Christ. We need to be like Noah and become a preacher of righteousness.
We need to have faith like Abel in worship, like Enoch in our walk and like Noah in obedience.