ABEL'S RIGHTEOUSNESS by H. W. Reed

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 26, 1901

ABEL'S RIGHTEOUSNESS

By H. W. Reed

H. W. REED

(Neenah, Wis.)

THE Lord’s inquiry as to why Cain was wroth, shows that Cain was angry, which is sin. The Lord said, “If thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.”

To sin is to transgress God’s law. And as sin was there, it is proof that the law was there.

Reference is again made to this sinful act of Cain, in the following language: “Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.”

Cain violated the Sixth Commandment by killing his brother. This proves beyond a doubt that the law of God was then in existence.

The record is that Cain slew Abel, because his own works were evil and his brother’s righteous. This does not mean Abel’s own righteousness obtained independently of Christ; for it is written: “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which [faith] he obtained witness that he was righteous.” Abel’s righteousness was the righteousness of faith. His works were the works of faith.

“And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as He hath commanded us.”

The righteous man is one who obeys the law of God, and this perfect law will witness to his works done in Christ, that they are righteous, as were Abel’s.

Not only Cain’s wicked act, but also Abel’s righteous course, unquestionably shows the existence of God’s law.