“By faith
Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he
obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it
he being dead yet speaketh.” -- Hebrews 11:4
By faith in Christ Abel “obtained
witness that he was righteous.” He was not made righteous by his sacrifice
(Heb. 10:1-4). Neither was he made righteous by his faith. He was made
righteous in exactly the same way we are, by the righteousness of Christ, which
was imputed to him. He looked to Christ and his sacrifice by faith as he
offered up his lamb before God.
“He was
not made righteous, he was not justified by his sacrifice, but therein showed
his faith by his works; and God, by acceptance of his works of obedience, justified
him, as Abraham was justified by works, namely, declaratively. — He declared him so to be. Our persons must be
first justified, before our works of obedience can be accepted with God; for by
that acceptance He testifies that we are righteous.” (John Owen)
Abel’s
Witness
However, it was by his faith that
he obtained, or received witness in his own conscience, from God the Holy
Spirit, that he was righteous. The Holy Spirit sprinkled the blood of Christ on
Abel’s heart, testifying that he was a justified person (Rom. 4:25-5:2, 11).
The Lord
Jesus Christ, “was delivered for (because of) our offences (imputed to
him), and was raised again for (because of) our justification
(accomplished by his sacrifice). Therefore being justified (by his one
great sacrifice), by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ. (Faith does not justify us. Christ justified us. Faith gives us the
blessed peace of assured justification by Christ). By whom also we have
access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the
glory of God…And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus
Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” Faith does not make
atonement, but simply receives it and enjoys it.
Because
he believed God, Abel had an outward testimony given to him in the Scriptures,
that he was a righteous person. Therefore he is called righteous Abel (Matt
23:35).
God’s
Testimony
“God testifying of his gifts.” — The Lord God gave testimony of
Abel’s gifts, the gifts he offered, his sacrifice (righteousness and
atonement). He testified of them by accepting them. We are not told exactly how
the Lord God showed his acceptance of Abel and his sacrifice, only that he did.
Perhaps he spoke audibly of his acceptance. Perhaps fire fell from heaven and
consumed the sacrifice. But this is certain. — By one means or another God
publicly proclaimed Abel’s acceptance and Cain heard the proclamation.