IDEA: Believing is not only a question of what I believe in, but also what I believe against.

TEXT: "By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks" (Hebrews 11:4).

PURPOSE: To help listeners realize that faith isn't merely a confession of propositions but a fundamental stance in life.

Hebrews 11:4 tells about a man named Abel who lived in the ancient world as close to creation as you could get. His mother was Eve and his father was Adam. Hebrews 11:4 says of him, "By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks."

I. Do you think faith came easily to Abel?

Cain offered a sacrifice to God that betrayed an underlying indifference or tokenism. Abel lived at the same time, had the same parents, but he fought against what lured Cain.

Cain fell victim to envy, a besetting sin in the family. Eve had been envious of God (3:4-6) and Cain was envious of Abel.

Eve's actions can be seen in somewhat noble terms – she wanted to be like God. With Cain, nothing was noble about his envy.

If Genesis 3 represents the fall of humanity, then Genesis 4 documents the fall of the family.

Do you think that Abel could have been envious of Cain?

II. Faith is not only a question of what I believe in, but also one of what I believe against.

Faith is always a struggle against the winds.

The faith of Abel and later of Enoch (who was so close to God) led them to walk with God and trust Him against all appearances.

What do you struggle against in affirming your faith in Jesus Christ?