By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. Hebrews 11:4
This story, like every story in the Bible, points us to Jesus Christ.
What does it take for a person to be commended as righteous before a holy God? A life must be laid down in sacrifice.
Abel’s sacrifice of a lamb points forward to Jesus…
…the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)
…the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 2:2)
…like a lamb that is led to the slaughter. (Isa. 53:7)
Our sins were laid on Him. He died in our place. And God demonstrated that Jesus is the acceptable sacrifice, not by sending fire from heaven, but by raising Him from the dead. He “was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification” (Rom. 4:25).
And now through Jesus Christ, and what He accomplished on the cross, all who believe are commended as righteous before God.
Therefore, we as believers should thank the Lord Jesus Christ for his acceptable sacrifice. We should thank Him, that through His perfect life and what He accomplished for us on the cross, He will also commend all who believe in Him as righteous before His Father.
Ask God to help you find rest in Jesus Christ and in all that He has accomplished.
