“By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.” Hebrews 11:4 (Read Genesis 4)

Both Cain and Abel offered gifts to the Lord God, Abel from his flocks and herds, and Cain from the fruits of the ground. Why was it that God accepted Abel and his sacrifice but rejected Cain? Hebrews 11:4 tells us the answer: ”By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.”

Abel offered his sacrifice in faith. He trusted in the Lord God to accept him and his sacrifice for the sake of the promised Seed of the woman, that promised Messiah and Savior who would redeem him and all mankind from sin and the just condemnation of God’s law.

Cain, on the other hand, though he too offered up a sacrifice to the Lord God, did not offer it up in the confidence of God’s mercy and forgiveness. Rather, he went through the outward motions of serving his Maker, but his heart was far from the Lord (cf. Matthew 15:8; Isaiah 29:13). Cain’s works are described as evil in 1 John 3:12 and Jude 11. Even though he brought an offering, he was not walking with the Lord by faith; and his gift was unacceptable since the Lord looks upon the heart.

Of course, when we read Genesis 4, we learn not only that Cain’s sacrifice was unacceptable; he hated his brother Abel and killed him because Abel was counted righteous. Those who do not follow after the Lord God continue to this day to hate those who walk by faith in the Lord because the witness of the righteous pricks the guilt-ridden consciences of those who go their own way.

Does this mean that Abel was of himself without sin? Not at all! Rather he was counted righteous in God’s eyes through faith in God’s promise to send a Savior to bear his punishment and redeem him from sin’s condemnation (Cf. Genesis 3:15). The lambs sacrificed in Old Testament times pointed ahead to the Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (cf. John 1:29).

What about you? Do you walk with the Lord God by faith in His Son, as did Abel, trusting that God accepts and forgives you for the sake of that Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world? Or do you walk as Cain walked, serving the Lord outwardly with gifts and lip-service while inwardly you are far from the Lord and go another way?

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, Lamb of God who has atoned for my sins and for the sins of the whole world by Your innocent sufferings and death upon the cross, forgive me, cleanse me and lead me. By Your Spirit, move me to walk with You by faith unto life everlasting. Amen.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

What has happened to Christian churches in America? Christian churches and, perhaps, especially the mainline denominational churches, have been infected with the error of doubting the inspiration, inerrancy and authority of the Bible.

Though this error can be traced back to nineteenth-century Europe and from there into the colleges and seminaries of the United States, it is really nothing new. In the Garden of Eden, Satan brought doubt upon God’s Word when he said, “Has God indeed said …?” (Genesis 3:1). This same question is and has been asked in many colleges and seminaries concerning all or parts of the Bible: “Has God indeed said…?”

Doubting and challenging the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible, many modern scholars have questioned the authorship and the accuracy of what is written in the Bible: “Did Jesus really say the words attributed to Him in the Bible?” “Could the miracles really have happened?” “Was Jesus really virgin born?” “Did He rise bodily from the dead on the third day?” “Could God have created the world in six days?” “Were Adam and Eve real people?” “Did a flood actually cover the whole earth?” On and on the questions go.

Instead of accepting all of the Scriptures and each and every word of the Scriptures as the inspired and unerring Word of God (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21; John 17:17; 10:35; Psalm 119:160; Proverbs 30:5), many modern religious scholars and now many pastors and teachers have doubts as to whether or not all of the Bible really is God’s Word. Instead of saying that the Bible is the Word of God, you may hear them say that the Bible contains God’s Word. Instead of saying that all the Bible is historically true and accurate, you may hear them say that the stories in the Bible may not be literally true, but they teach and illustrate God’s truth. Instead of accepting and teaching all that the Bible says as God’s truth, you will find them trying to dissect the Scriptures into what is God’s truth and what was only a “cultural mandate.”

As a result, more and more ministers and teachers often ignore clear and plain statements of Scripture and attempt only to use the examples of Scripture to teach faith, love, kindness, and other social and moral issues. Think about it. How often do you hear ministers calling violations of God’s commandments sins deserving of God’s eternal wrath and punishment? And, how often do you hear ministers proclaiming forgiveness of sins and eternal salvation, available only through the shed blood of Jesus? If all ministers accepted the whole Bible and each and every word of the Bible as God’s true and unerring Word, do you think there would be women in the pulpits, joint worship services and prayers with non-Christians and erring churches, or the acceptance of homosexual clergy?

The saddest part of this ever-growing problem is that the members of so many churches suffer grave danger and harm to their souls. They are lulled into feeling comfortable in their churches even though they hear little of God’s Word there anymore. Little is heard of sin and God’s judgment — in fact, all sorts of open sin is tolerated and accepted within the churches – and little is taught regarding genuine repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Sunday school and Bible study materials are full of interesting stories and projects but are often devoid of the Bible itself. Sermons are full of interesting illustrations and religious words and concepts, but how much of it actually comes from the Bible?

What can you do? First of all, if you haven’t done it already, pick up that Bible from the shelf, blow the dust off, and start reading. You’ll be surprised at how much of it you’ve never heard taught or explained in sermons or Bible classes. Secondly, pray for your church and your pastor. Pray that they would read and study the Bible and accept it as God’s inspired and unerring Word and then proclaim it unashamedly. Thirdly, talk to your pastor and let him know that you want him to preach and teach the Bible in your church — nothing more and nothing less! Let him know in a kind way that, though his thoughts and orations may be interesting, you are coming to hear God’s Word and to learn of God and His ways.

And, finally, if your church won’t faithfully preach and teach the Bible, even after your prayers and urgings, find a church that does and go there. Don’t let the devil rob you of God’s Word and take from you the eternal blessings which God offers and gives through faith in Jesus Christ!

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

“And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4

With fatherhood comes great responsibility to God, who creates and gives life to children in their mothers’ wombs (cf. Psalm 139:13-16). Fathers are not to provoke their children to anger by being overly harsh and cruel, but they are to lead and teach their children to know the Lord and to hear and believe His Word. And fathers will be held accountable to God for the upbringing of their children.

Jesus commands that infants and children, too, be brought to Him and made His disciples through Baptism and the hearing of His Word because only through faith in Jesus and His blood shed upon the cross can anyone be saved. Though they may appear to be more innocent than adults, children too are sinners from conception and birth onward and are under the condemnation of God’s law (cf. Psalm 51:5; Galatians 3:10-11; Romans 5:12ff.).

And Jesus would have little children — even infants — brought to Him in Baptism. In Luke 18:15-17, we read: “They also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to Him and said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it’” (cf. John 3:3-6).

In regard to his admonition to the people to repent and be baptized, Peter said, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call” (Acts 3:38-39).

Certainly, children are a part of all nations and included in Jesus’ command: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).

And God specifically commands fathers to bring up their children “in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). That includes bringing them to be baptized, but it also includes teaching them all that the Bible teaches and being an example to them in living in accord with God’s Word.

Yes, that means teaching them Bible stories at home, teaching them how to pray, talking to them about their sinfulness and Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the world, and teaching them how God would have them live. It means going to church and Bible study and also taking them to church and Bible study. It means saying no to those things which are sinful and harmful and encouraging one’s children to live their lives in obedience to God’s Word, trusting in Christ to forgive them wherever and whenever they come short. Cf. Deuteronomy 6:4ff.

Fathers are to lead by teaching and by example. And, sometimes, fathers must use discipline to correct their children and teach them the right way. The Bible says: “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6; cf. Proverbs 13:24).

Not to teach and correct causes these little ones to sin, or stumble, in regard to their faith in Christ Jesus. It leads them to turn away from Christ and to suffer the greatest harm ever – to be condemned and forsaken of the Lord in the final judgment. And, as God held Eli responsible for his failures to teach and correct his sons (1 Samuel 3:11-14), so God still holds fathers responsible today if they do not bring up their children “in the training and admonition of the Lord.”

Jesus said: “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!” (Matthew 18:6-7).

This warning of God’s judgment upon those who cause children who believe to sin and fall away from their faith in Christ Jesus ought to make fathers and mothers all the more diligent to bring up their children to know and trust in Jesus as their Savior.

Bringing up their children to know the Lord and to believe His Word truly is the most important thing fathers and mothers can do for them. And, for our failures, we are called to repent and to look to Christ Jesus and His cross for forgiveness and for the help and strength to amend our ways and live for Him, teaching and admonishing our children in the truth. Christ did die for all our sins and rise again. Through faith in Him, there is forgiveness and eternal salvation.

And His Holy Spirit, not only moves us to repent and trust in Christ; He moves and empowers us to bring up our children in the ways of the Lord. We look to Him for help and strength to bring up our children “in the training and admonition of the Lord.”

O merciful Father, I thank You for so loving me that You gave Your Son to die in my stead and redeem me from the condemnation and death I deserve on account of my sin. Give me the help and strength to bring up my children to know You and the salvation You have provided in the death and resurrection of Your Son, Christ Jesus, the Savior. In His name, I pray. Amen.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in pain you shall bring forth children; your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.” Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” Genesis 3:16-19

This passage of the Bible is one which few accept. Why? Because it speaks of the curse brought upon all mankind by the sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden; and who wants to acquiesce to a life filled with pain, sorrow, hard work, trouble, hardship and, finally, death and decay?

To the woman God said, “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in pain you shall bring forth children; your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.” How many women are willing to accept this truth and submit themselves to such a life of sorrow and pain?

To Adam God said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.”

One doesn’t have to be a farmer to know that the ground brings forth thorns and thistles, but the curse includes the fact that we will have to labor and work hard to earn and produce our daily bread; yet we so often forget this and seek an easier way. We grumble and complain about the need to labor and work long and hard hours, but we shouldn’t expect things to be easy in this sinful world.

We also will all die and return to the dust of the ground. We try to put this truth far from our minds, as well, and we live as though death will not overtake us; but it will! We will return to the dust of the ground from which we were formed and created. Some go to great lengths to avoid the inevitable, but they too die.

And why all this suffering, sorrow, toil, pain and death? It is because of sin – because Adam and Eve doubted and disobeyed God’s word to them and because we are born in sin and disobedience to the perfect will and design of our Creator. The Bible tells us that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), and these words are true. We die because we are sinners, and there is nothing we can do about it

Yet God has provided a solution to our self-inflicted dilemma. He sent His only-begotten Son into the world a true man to fulfill all righteousness for us, living in perfect obedience to the holy will and commandments of the LORD, and then to bear in Himself the full punishment for the sins of the world, by suffering and dying upon the cross, that we might be pardoned and acceptable in God’s eyes.

This Jesus has done. He lived a holy life in our stead and then suffered and died upon the cross for our sins and rose again on the third day. In Christ Jesus, God offers and gives to us sinners forgiveness for all our sins and everlasting life with Him in heaven. As the Scriptures say, “The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Yes, as sinners, we suffer the heartaches, pains and sorrows of this world. We have to spend our days here laboring for our daily bread. And, finally, when our days here are done, we die and our bodies return to the dust (cf. Psalm 90). But as believers in Christ Jesus, who died for our sins and rose again in victory, we are assured that we too shall be raised up on the last day to life eternal. We are assured and take comfort in the fact that Jesus is right now preparing a place for us and will come again to take us to be with Him forever in the mansions of His Father’s house (cf. John 14:1ff.). For us, “to die” is “to depart and be with Christ, which is far better”! (Philippians 1:21,23).

Indeed, we live by faith in the Son of God who died for us, rose again and is coming to take us to be with Him forever! We endure the pain and suffering of this world in eager anticipation of the life which is to come for Jesus’ sake!

O dearest Jesus, You lived the holy and sinless life which I should have lived, and You took the punishment I should have suffered when you were condemned and forsaken of the Father upon the cross. Thank You for paying the price for my sin and opening up for me the way of eternal life. Graciously receive me into Your everlasting kingdom and give me never-ending life with You in heaven. Amen.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.