building a legacy worth leaving a study in hebrews 11 harry w. lewis

Building a Legacy Building a Legacy Worth LeavingWorth Leaving

A Study in Hebrews 11A Study in Hebrews 11

Harry W. LewisHarry W. Lewis

Session Three: Doing It God’s Way

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.


Abel’s legacy continues until today! Abel was declared to be righteous (dikaios)

– Conformity to God’s standards– God’s judicial approval


Abraham’s Faith: declared righteous– Cf. Gen. 15:6 – “Abram believed God and He credited it to him as righteousness.”

– Positional Righteousness– Practical Righteousness


Salvation is the result of our faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus!– Justification: saved from the penalty of sin– Sanctification: saved from the power of sin– Glorification: saved from the presence of sin


Doing it God’s way is a result of our faith:– It was faith that motivated Abel in his offering

• It was more excellent than Cain’s

• It gave evidence of his righteousness


Contrast Cain and Abel:– Cain tilled the ground: farmer– Abel tended sheep: shepherd


Contrast Cain and Abel’s offerings:– Cain brought of the fruit of the ground– Abel brought of the flock

• First born

• Fatty portion


Adam’s legacy passed on to Cain and Abel– Creation– The Garden Experience– The Fall– The Redemption– The Curse


Principle: It is better to do it God’s way than ours

Isaiah 55:8-9 – “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways My ways,” says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”


Contrast God’s response to the offerings:– He respected Abel and his offering– He did not respect Cain and his offering– Note that each is tied to his offering! The

offerings were a result of who they were.


Contrast Cain and Abel:– Character different– Offering different– Faith different– Result of legacy was different


God’s confrontation with Cain– Challenged to do what was right

• Result is acceptance

– Consequences of doing what is wrong• Sin crouches at your door

• You must master it

• 1 Peter 5:6-9


Cain’s Character Revealed:– Anger & Countenance fell (Gen. 4:6)– No repentance (Gen. 4:8)– Murder (Gen. 4:8)– Liar (Gen. 4:9)– Self-focused (Gen. 4:13-14)


The Legacy Left– Cain did it his way and was rebuked– Abel did it God’s way and was commended

Instructive on how to approach God Offer to God our best

building a legacy worth leaving a study in hebrews 11 harry w. lewis

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