God has made a difference between
that which is holy and that which is profane. We see this first
mentioned in the scriptures when the Lord would bring Israel out
of Egypt. We see it again mentioned when
the Lord set apart a priesthood of the house of Aaron and established
a pattern for them to follow. We see it once again mentioned
in reference to the dietary laws which the Lord gave to Israel.
It is clear from what we read in the New Testament about the
vision which the Lord gave to Peter in the book of Acts that
he did not in reality have a particular regard to steak or ham, chickens
or crows, but rather to the setting apart of a people in the earth
to manifest the glory of his grace and their redemption. We
further see in Peter's vision that this setting apart of this
particular people was not because of their human bloodlines, but
rather according to his purpose, wherein he loved the people in
Christ Jesus and chose them that they might be holy and without
blame before him. This separation or sanctification
of His people from the population of the world in general is manifested
in this world in the form and object of their worship. The
Lord plainly declared this truth to the woman at the well in Samaria
when He said, But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers
shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth. For the Father
seeketh such to worship Him. God is a spirit, and they that
worship Him must worship Him. in spirit and in truth. Cain
is a type of the natural man who has neither part nor lot
in the kingdom of heaven. He sought to worship God on his
own terms and became angry when it was revealed to him that God
had no regard unto him or that which he offered. In fact, he
became so incensed at the sovereign prerogative of God to show mercy
to whom he would that he killed his own brother. hoping again
that by destroying the heir of the promise that he might gain
it for himself. Cain's religion was of the earth,
or fleshly, and he sought to gain favor with God by presenting
to Him the fruits of his own labor, which he had produced
with the sweat of his own brow. I am sure he was proud of that
which he brought to the Lord, assuming that with such the Lord
would be pleased. Yet the Lord had no respect unto
the offering which Cain brought, primarily because he had no respect
unto Cain as the figure of the heirs of destruction. Because
Cain in his offering had no respect unto the blood sacrifice, that
was necessary for a sinner to approach unto God. The Lord had
respect unto Abel's offering, primarily because he had respect
unto Abel as the figure of the heir of the promise, which is
Jesus Christ. As Abel was a figure of the heir
of the promise, he is that one who is beloved of the Father,
the apple of his eye, his beloved son, in whom he is well pleased,
who gave himself as an atonement for sin. As Abel is a figure
of the heirs of that same promise, he brought forth not the works
of his own labor, but having respect unto the one who should
shed his precious blood, brought forth unto God that which was
given to him by the mercy of God. The natural distrust and
spiritual blindness of man causes him to disregard the word of
God and to seek his own method of approach unto God. He is convinced
that he can do something which will be pleasing to the Lord.
The religion of Cain is easily received by men and is in many
respects similar to that which is true. Many who claim to believe
the Bible nonetheless rebel at the notion of a God who dispenses
salvation solely upon the basis of His grace. The religion of
Cain would cause them to have respect unto the good works of
men to some degree. The religion of Abel is a place
of complete rest and reliance in that which is performed by
Christ alone. The glory of God is the primary
goal of it, and the confession that each of its adherents declares
is, God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our
Lord Jesus Christ. But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus,
who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification
and redemption.