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    LESSON XXVII. Earliest Traces of Faith

    Questions to Lesson 27*How is salvation to be obtained? Can we please God without faith? In what condition is faith without works? For what purpose has God given institutions for men to obey? What was set before man soon after he had sinned? What said the Lord to the serpent? What is the seed of the woman thought to mean? Whom will Christ destroy? What was set before Cain and Abel? What did they do? Of what are offerings a confession? What offerings will God not accept? To what had he respect? Why were Cain and his offering rejected? What was necessary for remission? What else? What did Abel offer by faith? Was he forgiven?

    Jesus is the only Saviour of men. All men of all ages, that obtain salvation, must obtain it through him. But it must be obtained through faith-faith in the word and promises of God; for without faith it is impossible to please him. Hebrews 11:6. But faith without works is dead. James 2:20.Therefore God has always given men institutions for them to obey, in order to test, and exercise, and thus to keep alive their faith.BIC 62.1

    Very soon after Adam and Eve had sinned, and thus brought death into the world, our merciful heavenly Father set a hope before men-a hope of pardon and of life, through a promised deliverer. But God communicated much instruction to men in those early days, that is not recorded in the Bible.BIC 63.1

    It has been thought that the language of the Lord to the serpent, recorded in Genesis 3:14, 15, contains a prophecy of a deliverer from sin. He said, I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. It is thought that the seed of the woman means Christ; and that the assurance, that the enmity existing between the two seeds, should result in bruising the serpent’s head, that is, putting him to death, was expressive of the triumph of Christ and his children, over the power of the tempter, that old serpent called the Devil, and Satan, whom Christ was to destroy. Hebrews 2:14.BIC 63.2

    This view seems to have some support from the language of Paul who says, And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. Romans 16:20. But, whether this view is correct or not, we have ample evidence, that the hope of salvation from sin was set before Cain and Abel, the first two children of Adam’s family. They brought offerings, or sacrifices to the Lord. Genesis 4. From what the Bible teaches concerning offerings, we know that they were made as a confession of sins, and with a hope of pardon. Who told them to do so? The Bible does not inform us; but we know that God does not accept offerings that he has not required. Will-worship, that is, worship which he has not required is condemned. Colossians 2:23. But the Lord had respect to Abel, and to his offering-Abel was right, and his offering was right; therefore, God had commanded him to offer, and taught him what to offer.BIC 64.1

    But unto Cain, and to his offering, he had not respect. Why? Because he did not do well; that is, he did not obey God. Verse 7. He was wrong, and his offering, which was the fruit of the ground, was wrong. The fruit of the ground was acceptable in connection with slain beasts; but without shedding of blood is no remission. Hebrews 9:22.Therefore his sin remained unforgiven at his door.BIC 64.2

    But Abel did well. His offering was from the flock. A bloody sacrifice was a proper type of Christ, who was to shed his blood for sin. And besides this, he offered it by faith in the promise of God. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, [that his sins were forgiven,] God testifying of his gifts; [offerings;] and by it he being dead yet speaketh. Hebrews 11:4.BIC 65.1

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