The Faith of Abel. Continues Heb. 11:4-7. (142)
“By which he obtained witness that he was righteous.” “For them that honor Me, I will honor” 1Sam. 2:30. In keeping God’s precepts there is “great reward” Ps. 19:11. God will be no man’s debtor: he who obediently, humbly, trustfully, lovingly, respects His appointments and obeys His commandments, shall be recompensed—not as a recognition of merit, but as what is Divinely meet and gracious. God did not leave Abel in a state of uncertainty, as to whether his offering was approved. The Lord was pleased to assure Abel that the sacrifice had been accepted, and that he was accounted for just before Him.
- “By which he obtained witness that he was righteous.” The Greek word for “he obtained witness” is the same as is rendered “obtained a good report” in v. 2. From these words we learn it is the good pleasure of God that His obedient and believing children should know His mind concerning them. When we are enabled by faith to plead the most excellent Sacrifice and to present acceptable worship unto God, then we obtain testimony from Him through His Word and by His Spirit that our persons and services are accepted by Him. In Abel’s case, He received from God an outward attestation; in the case of the Christian today, it is the inward authentication of his conscience 2Cor. 1:12, to which the Holy Spirit also adds His confirmation Rom. 8:15.
- “God testifying of his gifts.” We are not told in Gen. 4 in so many words how He did so, but the Analogy of Faith leaves little room for doubt. By comparing other Scriptures, it may be that the Lord evidenced His acceptance of Abel’s offering (and thereby testified that he was “righteous”) by causing fire to descend from heaven and consume the sacrifice, which, in turn, ascended to Him as a sweet-smelling savor. Lev. 9:16-24. 1Kg. 18:38, Matt. 23:35, Lk. 11:51, Jud. 6:21; 13:19, 1Chro. 21:26.
- God testifying of his gifts.” This clause is explanatory of the former: the parallel is found in Genesis 4:4, “and the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering.” He testified in the approbation of his offering, that He had respect unto his person; that is, that He judged, esteemed, and accounted him righteous, for otherwise God is no respecter of persons. Whosoever God accepts or respects, He testifies him to be righteous, that is, to be justified, and freely accepted with Him. He was not justified by his sacrifice but therein show his faith by his works; and God, by acceptance of his works of obedience, justified him, as Abraham was justified by works, namely, declaratively, He declared him so to be. Our persons must be first justified, before our works of obedience can be accepted with God; for by that acceptance, He testifies that we are righteous John Owen.”
- “And by it he being dead yet speaketh.” There are at least a threefold meaning and reference in it.
- The first and most obvious, by his faith’s obedience, as recorded in Gen. 4 and Heb. 11. His worship and the fruits thereof are registered in the everlasting records of Holy Scripture, and thereby he speaketh as evidently as though we heard him audibly. Saying, “Fallen man can only approach unto God through the death of an innocent Substitute: yet none save God’s elect will ever feel their need of such, set aside their own inclinations, bow to God’s revealed will, and submit to His appointment; but they who do so, obtain witness that they are ‘righteous’ Matt. 13:43, and receive Divine assurance that they are accepted in the Beloved and that their obedience (proceeding from a heart) is approved for His sake.”
- “And by it he being dead yet speaketh.” And how did he die? By the murderous hand of a religious hypocrite who hated him. Then began that which the apostle affirms still to continue: “he that was born after the flesh, persecuted him that was born after the Spirit” Gal. 4:29. Here was the first public and visible display of that enmity between the (mystical) seed of the woman and the (mystical) seed of the Serpent. Abel’s death was therefore also a pledge and representation of the death of Christ Himself—murdered by the religious world. Those whom God approves (Christians) must expect to be disproved of men.
- “And by it he being dead yet speaketh.” Gen 4:10 God said to Cain “the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth …” Abel’s own blood crying to God for vengeance. Though ruthlessly slain by his brother, the soul of Abel exists in a separate state, alive, conscious, and vocal. He is among that company of whom godly bute said, “I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God…Rev. 6:9, 10. Thus, Abel and others so persecuted, God will take vengeance in due time upon their oppressors. God shall yet avenge His own elect (those in heaven as well as those on earth) who cry unto Him day and night for Him to avenge them Lk 18:7, 8. Let us then seek grace to possess our souls in patience, knowing that ere long God will reward the righteous and punish the wicked.” Pink Arthur W.
