“So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering, but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard.” (Genesis 4:3-5).

Abel’s and Cain’s life story portrayed in Genesis chapter 4 shows us the only way of salvation from the very dawn of human history. Abel brought an offering from the firstborn of his flock, while Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. Bible says God pleased in Abel’s offering but not in Cain’s offering. Even today there are many people who think they can get God’s favor and salvation by their toil, hard work, and karma. They are actually following the way of Cain. They try to bring fruits from their hard work, deeds, and toils. But the Bible says the only way for forgiveness of our sins, salvation and eternal life is by the way of blood. That was the way of Abel and God pleased in Abel’s sacrifice of his firstborn from the flock.
You see in the garden of Eden God said the punishment of sin is death and when Adam and Eve disobeyed the commandment of the Lord, an animal had to be killed to get the skin out of it to cover Adam and Eve from their nakedness. God taught them a lesson that Sin is very serious and it always results in death. An animal had to be slain to save Adam and Eve. Sin demands God’s punishment of death. By understanding God’s only one way of salvation, Abel did the right thing- he brought an offering from his flock. But Cain did not care to follow the guideline or requirement of God. He decided to bring the result of his own hard work on the soil – fruits- as an offering to the Lord. Two ways of salvation – one by faith in God and by the offering of a blood sacrifice and the second one is fruits and vegetables -by man’s hard work, toil, and deeds.
Bible is very clear in saying there is only one way to come to God and that is by the blood. Bible says, “the law of Moses requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” (Hebrews 9:22). Leviticus 17:11 also says blood is the only way for the atonement of people’s sin.
Beloved, If you think you can be saved by your good works, toils and good deeds, I regret to inform you that you are terribly mistaken. No works can ever save anybody from their sins. If there was any possibility to get saved by our works, then Christ did not need to come to this world and die for our sins. Bible says “for the wages of sin is death.” But the next verse is so beautiful. It says, “but the but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Jesus Christ was God’s lamb for our sins. God placed all of our sins on Jesus Christ and He died, buried but victoriously risen from the dead on the third day for our sins. The way of salvation was always been by the blood. In the old testament temporarily God allowed the animal sacrifices until the coming of Jesus Christ into this world. Now there is no more sacrifice of any animals needed. Because Christ already was the lamb of God that took away our sins. There is no other way to come to God and get forgiveness for your sins, salvation and eternal life other than the blood of Jesus Christ that was poured out for us.
When all other religions of the world say ‘do more, work more, do good and do a lot of karma’, Bible declares ‘it is already done’ for you. Come to Christ and receive the free gift of salvation in Jesus Christ, because He has already paid for your sins. The free gift of God is salvation and eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.