Hebrews 11: 4, 6 (NKJV) 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…. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
The Bible tells us that faith is necessary to please God. Strong faith comes from a firm conviction of who God is—knowing Him through the Word of God. One of the exercises of faith is to rest in the finished work of Jesus Christ. It helps us to have faith in God rather than ourselves. The devil hinders us in our faith walks by attacking our worthiness before God because if we feel unworthy before God due to the weaknesses in our lives, we won’t have the confidence to do great exploits for Him.
Abel sacrificed an animal with the shedding of blood for the forgiveness of his sins, as compared to Cain who offered up the fruit of his labour. Abel did it according to God’s instruction. Likewise, we need to believe God’s Word regarding how to approach Him by faith based on Jesus’ work of atonement.
Cain was angry because God didn’t accept him through his labour of love. He wanted to approach God based on his terms, but it doesn’t work that way. In contrast, Abel understood and accepted the only way to approach God and to appease His wrath towards sin was through the sacrifice of an animal and its fat, which is what he did by faith. God accepted his offering because blood was shed for the atonement of Abel’s sin. Abel obtained his righteousness before God based on his faith in God’s way.
Many people are like Cain, trying to approach God by attempting to be good people through their self-righteousness, religion, philosophy, and good works. Sadly, nobody is good because of men’s sinful nature. Therefore, they will still be evil in their thoughts and actions.
Throughout Jewish history, God has taught us that He required them to approach Him through the sacrifice of an unblemished lamb. The High Priest could only enter the Holy of Holies once a year after he had cleansed himself, but it was an endless sacrifice.
As Christians in the New Testament, we are entitled to a superior life in Christ because Jesus is our High Priest. After He had entered the heavenly tabernacle to minister on our behalf, He sat beside the Father. Therefore, the Bible asks us to enter the throne with boldness and to find help and mercy in times of need because it is a new and living way paved for us with Jesus’ blood.
Hebrews 4:16 (NJKV) Let us therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Sermon Series: Growing Your Faith in God (Part 2)
信心在于耶稣基督的已成之工
希伯来书11:4,6 亚伯因着信献祭于神，比该隐所献的更美，因此便得了称义的见证，就是神指他礼物作的见证。他虽然死了，却因这信仍旧说话。 人非有信就不能得神的喜悦，因为到神面前来的人必须信有神，且信他赏赐那寻求他的人。
圣经告诉我们要得神的喜悦必须有信心。坚强的信心来自于对神的坚定信念，藉着祂的话语知道祂是个怎样的神。操练信心的其中一个方式是安息在耶稣基督已经完成的工作中。这帮助我们信靠神，而不是信靠自己。魔鬼以攻击我们在神面前的价值感来阻碍我们的信心之路，如果我们因自己的软弱而觉得自己在神面前不配，就不会有信心为神做大事。
相比那个以自己的劳动果实献祭的该隐，亚伯献上的却是流血的牲畜，好使他的罪得到赦免。亚伯是按照上帝的指示去做的。同样，我们也需要相信上帝的话，相信我们如何凭藉耶稣基督的赎罪之工以信心就近他。
该隐发怒是因为上帝不接受他所献上的爱的劳作。他想按照自己的打算来就近上帝，但是这样做是行不通的。相反的，亚伯明白并接受，就近上帝并平息上帝对罪的烈怒的唯一方法就是献上动物及其脂油，他就这样凭信心而行了。上帝接受了他的献祭，因为亚伯为赎罪而流血。亚伯凭着他对上帝之道的信心使自己在神前称义。
许多人像该隐一样，试图通过自义、宗教、哲学和善行来成为好人以期就近上帝。可悲的是，由于人的罪性，没有人是良善的。因此，人类的思想和行为仍将是邪恶的。
纵观犹太历史，上帝教导我们，祂要求犹太人以无瑕疵的羔羊献祭来就近祂。大祭司唯有在洁净自己之后，才可以每年一次进入至圣所，而这样的献祭是无休止的。
作为新约中的基督徒，我们有权享受基督里的卓越生命，因为耶稣是我们的大祭司。祂进入天上的会幕后，代表我们事奉，并坐在天父身边。因此，《圣经》要求我们在急难的时候坦然无惧地来到宝座前，得帮助、蒙怜恤，因为这是耶稣的宝血为我们铺就的一条又新又活的道路！
希伯来书4:16 所以，我们只管坦然无惧地来到施恩的宝座前，为要得怜恤，蒙恩惠，作随时的帮助。
讲章系列：在神里面让信心生发成长 （第二部份）
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