Adam and Cain lived under a very different covenant that didn't enjoy a clue about salvation by the blood of Christ. 4000 years later the Good News was revealed to mankind in the body and blood of Christ. Up until then even Jesus' apostles didn't have that understanding.
There was only one commandment for man in effect for Cain. He couldn't possibly repeat Adam's sin since the Garden was off limits to people, leaving Adam suffering "all his days" under the curse. There was not a mention for mankind as to what kind of sacrifice to God was appropriate. If Adam knew, it's apparent he failed to raise his sons in whatever knowledge he had about sacrifices and offerings. Whichever was expected of them was not demanded by God like Moses received.
Abram didn't have a clue about that, nor was he a champion of faith until after God spoke to him to leave Ur. When did God decree faith over Abel? We find out from Paul his offering pleased God by faith. Did Abel realize that? Which of the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 knew at their time that what they accomplished was faith pleasing to God? Is faith something mankind can plan to perform, or is faith something God designs for us to live by?
When Cain's offering was not accepted, it wasn't that God rejected it as though it was a sin before Him. The issue of sin arising in Cain wasn't until he reacted poorly concerning acceptance of Abel's offering. God made it clear that Cain could simply do what He accepted of what Abel did and that would be the end of the matter.
Cain rejected the solution offered by God. Sin then lay at the door of that ancient wilderness tabernacle (altar) with Cain's name on it if he persisted in his wrath. When Cain decided "in his heart" so to speak to seek revenge, he sinned right then even before killing his brother.
That raises another thought. Without Christ in Cain, how could God a mediate a matter of heart to be healed after disobedience? The relationship of man to God was still based on obedience to what God had already commanded. Even murder was not yet warned against man. The only recourse was for man to suffer curses instead of blessing, seeing there was yet no law against what Cain decided and performed, with no end to offenses. There is no sin without law, according to Paul. Remember, there was only yet one law towards man, not to eat of the fruit of that one tree in the center of the Garden which was no longer available to any human.
God allowed man to accumulate offenses until delivering the Law of laws against sins, and assigning specific curses for each sin, along with acceptable meditations. What happened with Cain is not a model for Christianity, but was a precedent towards establishment of the Law through Moses. Moses never offered the mediation of Christ, so that Mosaic Covenant was still based on curse and blessing, not faith, nor eternal forgiveness. Sacrifices for sins remained year to year by the sacrifice of blood of animals, and offerings of fruit of the ground.
We Christians enjoy a far better way than what Cain had available. His only recourse was to change his choice of works, that perhaps his next decision would be accounted as faith. Lord mercifully help any person that his next decision concerning religious works would condemn him or her forever. We have much knowledge today as to what sort of works amount to true faith.
There was only one commandment for man in effect for Cain. He couldn't possibly repeat Adam's sin since the Garden was off limits to people, leaving Adam suffering "all his days" under the curse. There was not a mention for mankind as to what kind of sacrifice to God was appropriate. If Adam knew, it's apparent he failed to raise his sons in whatever knowledge he had about sacrifices and offerings. Whichever was expected of them was not demanded by God like Moses received.
Abram didn't have a clue about that, nor was he a champion of faith until after God spoke to him to leave Ur. When did God decree faith over Abel? We find out from Paul his offering pleased God by faith. Did Abel realize that? Which of the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 knew at their time that what they accomplished was faith pleasing to God? Is faith something mankind can plan to perform, or is faith something God designs for us to live by?
When Cain's offering was not accepted, it wasn't that God rejected it as though it was a sin before Him. The issue of sin arising in Cain wasn't until he reacted poorly concerning acceptance of Abel's offering. God made it clear that Cain could simply do what He accepted of what Abel did and that would be the end of the matter.
Cain rejected the solution offered by God. Sin then lay at the door of that ancient wilderness tabernacle (altar) with Cain's name on it if he persisted in his wrath. When Cain decided "in his heart" so to speak to seek revenge, he sinned right then even before killing his brother.
That raises another thought. Without Christ in Cain, how could God a mediate a matter of heart to be healed after disobedience? The relationship of man to God was still based on obedience to what God had already commanded. Even murder was not yet warned against man. The only recourse was for man to suffer curses instead of blessing, seeing there was yet no law against what Cain decided and performed, with no end to offenses. There is no sin without law, according to Paul. Remember, there was only yet one law towards man, not to eat of the fruit of that one tree in the center of the Garden which was no longer available to any human.
God allowed man to accumulate offenses until delivering the Law of laws against sins, and assigning specific curses for each sin, along with acceptable meditations. What happened with Cain is not a model for Christianity, but was a precedent towards establishment of the Law through Moses. Moses never offered the mediation of Christ, so that Mosaic Covenant was still based on curse and blessing, not faith, nor eternal forgiveness. Sacrifices for sins remained year to year by the sacrifice of blood of animals, and offerings of fruit of the ground.
We Christians enjoy a far better way than what Cain had available. His only recourse was to change his choice of works, that perhaps his next decision would be accounted as faith. Lord mercifully help any person that his next decision concerning religious works would condemn him or her forever. We have much knowledge today as to what sort of works amount to true faith.
