"It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith." (Hebrews 11:4 NLT)
"For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 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." (1 John 3:11-12 KJV)
Before I get too carried away, let me clarify the significance of why Cain's offering was not accepted by God, in the first place, for those who might not understand the issue. As the it says in Isaiah 64:6, "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags." What Cain was offering as his sacrifice was his works, as he was one that had a garden and took the fruits of his labor, sacrificing them to God on an altar.
I have heard it said that the Mormon Temple in Hawaii has a moral that has an altar which has fruits and vegetables on it, with a lamb beside the alter laying contently on the ground. I have not seen it, but I can understand what it represents and why it would be something they might believe and practice. To certain religions, works are what they count on for being righteous, not the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
There is nothing else that can remove the stain of sin in our lives, but the blood of Jesus Christ...
"To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein we he hath made us accepted in the beloved: in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;" (Ephesians 1:6-7 KJV)
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