I want to start this discussion in an odd place? With Cain and Able.. God had cursed the ground and mans labors in the ground was cursed. The sweat from the brow was a picture of the anxiety and stress that come upon man to make his own provision in this world. Now Cain labored in the cursed ground and was indeed trying to offer to God from what God had cursed. Able offered God a Lamb and blood, which are a picture of Our Beloved Christ and the righteousness of faith in Him. "The Lamb slain before the foundation of the world" Now this is why Able was called "righteous" and Cain was called "wicked". Both had a desire to worship God and be accepted before God, but God will only accept that which represents His Son.
If one can see this truth..they will be able to understand what "righteousness" really is and what it was from the beginning before God.
Heb 11:4 ¶ 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. {yet...: or, is yet spoken of}
1Jo 3:12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
Jude 1:11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
Has the "Church" not gone the way of Cain? Have they not attempted to labor in what God has cursed? (the law of Moses) Do they not attempt to offer the works of their own flesh, in all its religious mask? Do they not hate those who rejoice in the righteousness of faith and trust only in the Grace of God? To those who have eyes to see...it is "evident"
If one can see this truth..they will be able to understand what "righteousness" really is and what it was from the beginning before God.
Heb 11:4 ¶ 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. {yet...: or, is yet spoken of}
1Jo 3:12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
Jude 1:11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
Has the "Church" not gone the way of Cain? Have they not attempted to labor in what God has cursed? (the law of Moses) Do they not attempt to offer the works of their own flesh, in all its religious mask? Do they not hate those who rejoice in the righteousness of faith and trust only in the Grace of God? To those who have eyes to see...it is "evident"