Questions And Responses

Questions And Responses:

Why was Cain’s offering rejected and Abel’s accepted by God?                                               

Genesis 4:3-4-5, “And in the process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering. But unto Cain and to his offering he had no respect.”

Let’s begin with Abel’s offering. Abel’s offering, was “the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof.”

Firstlings mean’s, the firstborn offspring. The fat points to the best or most excellent.

The LORD demands from man the best of what any he can offer, not the second best.

Nehemiah 10:36, “To bring the first fruits — of our cattle—- and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks to bring to the house of our God.”

Of course, there was no Temple in Cain and Abel’s day, so their offerings were presented directly to the Lord.

Now concerning Cain’s offering, Nehemiah sheds some light on the subject.   

Nehemiah 10:37, “And that we should bring the first fruits of our — offerings, and fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil.”  

Cain brought the fruit, any fruit, but not the “first fruit of his crop. Cain obviously had kept for himself the best.

The Lord always requires the first fruits of a harvest as an offering to him. Abel’s offering was accepted for it was his best and the first of his flock.

I believe the answer to the question is just as simple as that.

Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com

Someone wrote the following message in my guest book. I feel the person may have been offended by one of my articles, if so, they were not specific.

They wrote, “does the WORD of GOD SAYS TO FIGHT other Christians ? please use that wisdom to lead people to Christ. To say bad things to people, will not bring them to Christ. Jesus only said bad things to the religious people. god bless??? i hope so”

So the question is, “does the word of God say to fight other Christians?” And, “to say bad things to people.”

Before we start on the two above questions lets lead off with the question, “What does it take to bring people to Christ?”

1. First believers are commanded to bring the gospel message as it is written to all men. Gospel means, “godspell,” which means, “good tidings, or the story concerning God.” So, “What are the “good tidings?” The good tidings describes the message of Christianity. This message can be found in the pages of the book we call, “The Bible, or the Holy Scriptures.”

The message! The Father has provided for all men a way of redemption through His Son Jesus Christ. Also we are told how the Holy Spirit works through the Gospel for the salvation of men.

Rom.1:15-16, “I (Paul) am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth: to the Jew first, and also the Greek.”

Question 2.

Who is it we are to worship?

Rom.14:11-12-13, “For it is written, As I live, saith the LORD, every knee shall Bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. — let us — judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.” With,

Phil.2:10, “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess the Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” That seem to be very clear.

So, what is the stumblingblock Paul is referring to? It is a term referring to anything that causes a person to trip or fall. In a figurative sense it means a cause of material or spiritual ruin. Paul urged Christians not to put a stumblingblock in the way of a brother. Jesus was a stumbling block to the Jews, as he is also to many Gentiles. These are those who reject Him and the finished work of the cross.

Also there are those who add doctrines, works, and law to what has been written. Many of these anti-christs work within the church, deceiving many.

3. Now we know the who, so the next question is how are we to worship?

Jesus said, John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the live: no man cometh unto the Father but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father.” The Christian community is to add nothing or subtract nothing from God’s word, for it is only through, and by Jesus Christ that we can be saved.

We are to believe by faith, repent of our sins, and be baptized in the Holy Spirit. We are to feed ourselves daily on the word of God. We are to stay within the guidelines presented to us in the Scriptures. We are to pray as in to honor God, thank God, praise God, and use the gifts that are given to us by the Holy Spirit (when needed) to bring others to the Lord.

Personally I feel that this warning of adding and subtracting works, law and doctrines is falling on deaf ears in the Christian community. So what are we to do about it? Are those who have the gift of Discernment to remain silent, do nothing? Of course not.

Why? Are the Watchmen not to cry out a warning when the enemies of Jesus Christ are approaching, or have breached the walls of the body of believers by deception, cunning methods or smooth talk? As for me, I say, No!

Discernment is a gift from the Holy Spirit, and those with this gift are usually overlooked. They are called by many in the church, criticizers, troublemakers, mean spirited, unkind, etc. My question is, “when an error in doctrine is observed by those with this gift, should they not speak out against it?”

Of course they should. If they do, and others in the church rail against them, these people are fighting against the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Ghost that has given this gift to us. If those with the gift don’t speak out, they would be like the man that buried his wages,

Matt.25:24, “he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed (scattered seed.) I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

His Lord answered and said unto him, thou wicked and slothful (lazy) servant, — Thou oughtest therefor to have put my money to the exchangers (bankers) and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury (interest.)

Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hat not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

These gifts must be used to uphold the body. If they remain silent, who then is going to hoist the red flag, or sound the alarm? I am going to use what the Holy Spirit has provided for me. I will not be guilty of burying my gift. The consequences are to horrible.”

1 Pet.2:1, “there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily (secretly) shall bring in damnable (destructive) heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”

Matt.7:22-23,Jesus said, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works (miracles?)” And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (Lawlessness.)”

Galatians 5:9, “a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.”

This is a proverbial expression, applied to those who receive the smallest amount of false doctrine relative to things essential to salvation. A small amount of false teaching will soon influence the whole salvation message. Something may appear to be a small matter to some; We are a debtor to the whole law; Christ fulfilled the whole law in Himself; He is the Lord of the Church: He now establishes the way, the path which is our way to salvation: if we stray from that path, are warned, it will soon lead to a total falling away from the true Gospel message.

So my reply to guest writer who wrote, “does the WORD of GOD SAYS TO FIGHT other Christian? Please use that wisdom to lead people to Christ. To say bad things to people, will not bring them to Christ. Jesus only said bad things to the religious people. God bless? I hope so”

Phil replied, “I do not fight against Christians. I fight against false teaching that can put a person into the eternal flames of fire. Why? Because I love my brothers and sisters in the Lord. I will do everything in my power to expose these false teachers, and their false doctrines.”

“Exposing bad doctrine is not saying bad things to people. It is a warning. Check out what your pastors and teachers are saying. Stop being so trusting. “Wolves in sheep clothing.” Those who appear to be kind, gentile, soft spoken. These nice guys have a way of putting you to sleep, its easy to trust them. But my warning is, “BEWARE.”

The truth will bring people to Christ Jesus, and nothing else. If I offend anyone, sorry. Its what I do, its my gift.

Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com