Four chapters into the Bible & we have the first murder. Cain & Abel both bring their sacrifice to God. God accepts Abel's but rejects Cain's. What is the reason for one being accepted over the other? Does God favor Abel over Cain? The text gives us the answer in 4:7. "You will be accepted if you do what is right." Cain knew what God required of him. He knew what it would take to worship God & live in relationship with him. He knew what he needed to do. And yet, he chose to attempt to worship God his way.
Religion says, "You can get to God. You can do it. You have what it takes! Just be good enough, do enough good things, follow these simple rules & you are in." Christianity says, "You can't get to God. You can't do it. You don't have what it takes. You can't be good enough, do enough good things, follow enough rules or get in." This is why we need a Savior. Abel was accepted by God because he came to God on God's terms. He adjusted his life to God rather than expecting God to adjust himself to him.
If we are to be in right relationship with God, we must come to God on his terms. We must realize our complete inability to get to God on our own. We must realize his provision for us in His Son & trust in what he did for us in our place. We must trust his obedience for our disobedience. We must surrender our will for his will. We must accept his death in our place.
"You will be accepted if you do what is right." The only way we can be accepted is by coming to Christ.
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