TWO RELIGIOUS SYSTEMS by Elder R. C. Porter

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 13, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 40.

TWO RELIGIOUS SYSTEMS.

By Elder R. C. Porter

IMMEDIATELY after the fall, sacrifices were offered. The record in Genesis is very brief, and does not give us the full particulars of what offerings they were instructed to bring, and why they were to offer only a certain kind of offering for a sin offering. But this we are plainly told, that before they were driven from the garden they were clothed with the skins of animals and fully instructed that through the seed of the woman they were to see restored that which was lost. That they understood that this involved the life of the "seed of the woman," given even unto death, and in death, is plain from the fact that the first offering that was acceptable to God, of which we have any direct record, was an innocent lamb offered slain. Gen. 4:4.

Cain was very angry because the Lord did not accept his offering, and his countenance fell. The Lord asked him why his countenance was fallen, and why he was wroth, and then added, "If thou doest well, shalt not thou be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door." Verse 7. What sin is it of which Cain is guilty?—The sin of unbelief. "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous." Heb. 11:4. Did not Cain bring an offering and come to worship?—He certainly did. Why then were not his sacrifice and worship accepted?—In it there was no shedding of blood, no giving of the life, without which there is no remission of sins.

But why was it necessary that the sinner, in presenting his sin offering, make an offering with the shedding of blood?—Because the law which he by sinning had transgressed, demanded the life of the transgressor in unbroken service. Since he had failed in this, his only hope was now in Christ, whom he must accept by faith, living a life of unbroken loving service, even unto death, and given in death for him. In the blood, which represents the life, of the innocent lamb, thus poured out on his account, he sees the life of Christ, living in unbroken sinlessness unto the death, and given in death that he may have perfect release from sin through faith in him, and by giving to God his life through Christ in unbroken service unto death, he may have innocence and life equal to that of the Son of God, reaching through eternity.

This was God's instruction as seen in his acceptance of Abel's offering, which was offered in this way, and his refusing to accept Cain and his offering, because there was in it no faith in Christ as his sin offering and his righteousness.

In Cain's offering is clearly seen the instruction of that wily foe again, "Yea, hath God said that you should bring a lamb for a sin offering; but God doth know that you are a tiller of the ground, and it will be more convenient for you to bring of the fruit of the ground, and this slight (?) deviation will make no difference. He does not mean exactly what he says." Cain listens to the voice of the tempter, consults his own convenience, departs from the express direction of the Lord in his worship, and in this slight (?) deviation, as Satan calls it, forgets the true significance of the offering to his own soul, and so becomes only a formal worshiper.

When corrected—first by the worship of Abel, which was in strict conformity to the word of the Lord and true spiritual worship, showing faith in Christ as his sin bearer and redeemer, and secondly by the Lord's having respect unto Abel and to his offering, while to Cain and his offering he had not respect, and lastly by the plain instruction from the Lord that the reason why his offering was not accepted was because he did not do well in bringing it as he did—Cain became very angry and vented his wrath on a brother worshiper whose worship was acceptable to God.

Here is a true picture of the true cause of all the religious legislation, persecution, martyrdom, that has ever cursed the world, or ever will curse it, until Eden shall bloom on earth again.

It first comes by a departure from the word in religious worship. Then, having a form of worship not supported by the word of God, self-serving in character, they become formal and spiritless in their worship. They next become angry with those who differ from them in religious faith and practice, demanding human laws to force all others to conform to their wicked forms of worship. The result is persecution and martyrdom. True religion is always voluntary, and does not seek to force itself upon any. Being wholly unselfish, it gives itself to others for their sake.

God's government before sin entered was a government of love, granting to all the privileges of choice and free will. In it there was no coercion. If, then, God would not compel the consciences of men in his worship at a time when all were sinless, never can we, who are sinful by nature, force the conscience of men without impeaching the wisdom of God and exalting ourselves above him. In God's government he not only granted to all the privilege to do the right, but he gave them equally the privilege to do the wrong if they should choose. His disciples follow him from choice, not through fear, but through love.

Two systems are introduced in the case of Cain and Abel, that run through all time, until the conflict between Christ and Satan closes with Paradise restored. In the one system, until the cross, is continued the offering of lambs and innocent beasts, expressing full consecration to God in humble, trusting service even unto death, drawn from the heart in response to the touch of that divine love which knows no measure, that love which brought the sinless Son of God from the highest heights of heaven to the humblest walks as Son of Man, and darkest sins and deepest woes, for others' sake.

In this system of voluntary service is seen unwavering fidelity to the word of Him whose love begets the service. This is seen in the case of Abraham, Joseph, Job, David, Daniel, John the Baptist, the apostles, and others. Being in love with him, and knowing his everlasting love for them, his word expressing his will and pleasure in their walks of life, becomes at once their will and delight, and they follow with songs of praise wherever he directs.

The other system is one in which the service is born of fear. Its service is a service of fear, not love. It sees in God a God of vengeance, not of love. Its only service is to avert the vengeance of God upon itself. Seeing in God only vengeance, it sees in the sacrifice of the innocent lamb only penance done to appease the wrath of an angry God. Hence it worshiped by bringing the fruits of the ground, slain animals, and human sacrifices, beaten, mangled, or killed to appease the wrath of an offended God. Its service was a service of fear and dread of the vengeance of the God that was worshiped. Hence the groans and wailings of the worshipers, who followed the system introduced by Satan through Cain, which system was afterward developed into paganism, and later was adopted by Baptists and many Jews, and is now seen in apostate Protestantism. Its service being a service of fear, and not of love, it saw no giving of the life in love for others in the sacrifices offered. Its votaries therefore did not give their lives in loving service to God, delighting to do his will; but, in harmony with the character they attributed to God, they demanded of themselves such service as they thought would save from eternal vengeance. Viewing God thus, they could not enter his courts with holy joy and heartfelt praise, and as a result of their living for themselves alone, their worship became a weariness to the flesh. They became creatures of vengeance, and did not like to retain God in their knowledge. They sought their own pleasure and convenience, and paid little or no respect to the word of God. This was a fruitful field in which Satan could continue to work advantageously to accomplish his wicked schemes to ruin souls.

(Concluded next week.)