Did Cain have to kill Abel?

In the beginning of Genesis’ 4th chapter, we can read that Cain murdered Abel. Cain was angry because his offering to God was not accepted. Cain had brought an offering of the fruit of the ground, while Abel had brought an offering of the firstborn of his flock. God accepted Abel and his offering. Cain’s offering was not accepted because it was an offering out of his own effort. Cain had to work to produce fruit of the ground. Abel on the other side was offering a lamb. It was a blood offering of which Abel had not used own effort.

You may ask why God did not accept Cain without giving him a chance. Well, the truth is that God gave him a chance. Read verses 6 and 7 below.

Genesis 4:6-7

So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen (why does your face look sad)? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” [the original Hebrew word for “sin” in this scripture is “chattaáh” that means both “sin” and “sin offering”; in this sentence, the English translation should have been “sin offering” instead of “sin”]

God told Cain that he also would be accepted if he did well. God even gave him a lamb to use as his sin offering. But later in the chapter, we can read that Cain did not receive God’s gift and he killed Abel.

Even in the very first book (Genesis) of the Bible, God makes it clear that people’s own efforts are not sufficient and will not be accepted by God. But God also provides the solution. Cain was given a lamb to use as his sin offering. Cain was not forced to receive it. He was given the sin offering as a gift.

In our time, God will not put a lamb outside your door that you can use as your sin offering. Instead, God sent His Son Jesus Christ to earth about 2000 years ago. Jesus Christ was given as the sin offering for all mankind. But just as Cain had a choice whether or not he would receive the lamb, so do we have a choice whether or not we want to receive Jesus Christ. Cain would only be accepted if he would receive the lamb as his sin offering. Today, we will only be accepted if we receive Jesus Christ as our sin offering.

There is no other way to be accepted by God than receiving Jesus Christ. You will not be accepted by God through any religion or through any of your own efforts  -  only through Jesus Christ. And saying that you do not have sin and therefore are perfect, or saying that you do not believe is not an alternative that will take away the need for your response to the gift (Jesus Christ) that God has given to you.

Many people have heard John 3:16, it says: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Not so many people have heard John 3:17, it says: “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved”. John 3:17 has an important message for people who are bound in religious ties, and who believe that God threatens with condemnation. God did not send Jesus Christ to condemn the world.

So, is there then no condemnation? Is there nothing to be saved from? Did Jesus Christ die on the cross in vain? John 3:18 has an important revelation for people who tend to think that there is a third alternative, people who close their eyes  and ignore the whole thing. They tend to think that as long as they place themselves outside the whole thing, they can live their lives and one day die and be gone and unconscious and not be part of any Heaven or hell. If you think like that, I urge you to read John 3:18 and make a special note of the words that I have underlined. John 3:18 says: “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

If you decide not to believe, that is your free choice. I have no desire to debate with you and I will not nag you trying to convince you. Be aware, though, that the decision you make while alive here on earth, will affect your eternity. You will never in eternity forget your decision. My desire is that you will remember your decision with joy and happiness. My worst fear is that you will remember your decision in deep regret.