Question Corner

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 4, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 43.

"Enquire, and make search, and ask diligently."

No. 654. Cain's Sin.

In what did the sin of Cain's offering consist? Was it in offering the fruits of the ground instead of offering a lamb as did Abel?

It consisted in disobedience and unbelief. He slew Abel "because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous." 1 John 3:12. He who is obedient to God, of course is a doer of righteousness. He who is disobedient does evil works. The one believes God's way is best, and yields to do it. The other in unbelief chooses his own way of disobedience. Abel's lamb showed faith in the coming Sacrifice. Cain's offering, proper, no doubt, as a thank-offering, showed no faith in a Saviour from sin.

No. 655. Col. 2:16, 17.

PLEASE explain Col. 2:16.

The text reads: "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day, or a new moon, or a sabbath day; which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ's." R. V. In the first no man has a right to judge, or condemn, his brother anyway. "Who art thou that judgest another man's servant?" "Judge not lest ye be judged." "Therefore judge nothing before the time until the Lord come." Rom. 14:4; Matt. 7:1; 1 Cor. 4:5.

"But others may condemn us." Yes, but it will amount to nothing; for only One can truly condemn us, Jesus Christ. Rom. 8:34. Therefore pay no attention to their condemnation. If we walk aright, we need not fear what man can do. But in the special things the apostle names, there is no condemnation of any kind if we do not observe them. For the yearly feasts and new moons, annual sabbaths (of which there were several [Leviticus 23]), "besides the Sabbaths of the Lord" (verse 38), and the meats and drinks connected with the sacrifices, all of which stood for sin, were "shadows," which pointed forward to Christ. When Christ came, all those types expired by limitation, even as the shadow ceases when we reach the substance. But this has no reference to the Sabbath of the Lord, which is eternal. See Isa. 66:22, 23.