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ABEL, ENOCH, & NOAH. Hebrews 11:4-7. 2/18/2024. #36.
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
1. The walk of Abel
a. Abel, a man of firsts
a1. Abel, second male born on earth, was the first mentioned to be a keeper of flocks
a2. Abel is the first mentioned to offer a blood sacrifice (best of his flocks)
a3. Abel is the first mentioned to have is offering accepted
a4. Abel is the first person murdered
b. Mt. 23:35 Jesus called him “righteous Abel”
a1. We do not know what other deeds or acts of worship Abel did
a2. At some point, God must have instructed Adam how to make sacrifices & what was acceptable to Him, so Adam told sons
c. 1 Jn. 3:11-12 Cain is described as of the wicked one
a1. Even though Cain knew God, he was not a child of God, but a follower of Satan
a2. A contrast is made between Abel & Cain
d. The righteous acts recorded of Abel:
a1. A worshipful attitude
a2. He gave God his best
a3. Humility before God
2. Enoch
a. Jude 1:14-15 Jude was in the 7th generation from Adam
a1. Called a preacher of righteousness in an evil generation
a2. Prophesied that the Lord will return with tens of thousands of His saints to judge the earth (Mt. 25:31-46)
b. God carried Enoch away (translated) without him dying
a1. Only Enoch & Elijah were translated (perhaps, to be the 2 witnesses in Revelation)
a2. Enoch was taken up at 365 (when many lived to be 900)
c. Enoch demonstrated righteousness under stress
a1. Enoch lived & preached righteousness while surrounded by extreme wickedness
a2. Enoch steadfastly served God while being alone before God in his righteousness
3. Noah
a. MT. 24:36-44 in the days of Noah, people were living life (eating, marrying, working…), not realizing their destruction was at hand
b. 2 Pt. 2:5 Noah was a preacher of righteousness:
a1. Noah tried to convince men to repent
a2. No one would listen to him
c. Through Noah’s righteousness he saved his family
a1. Noah’s family was the only people saved out of millions
a2. Righteousness knows how to stand alone for the Lord
d. These 3 examples are pre-flood
a1. Abel continued in righteousness despite what his brother was doing (paid for it)
a2. Enoch & Noah lived & proclaimed righteousness in the face of extreme evil
b1. They did not waver
b2. They did not bemoan being alone
e. Righteousness dares to be different & vocal
Key passage: Matthew 24:36-4436 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.