"By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks" (Hebrews 11:4).

The verb “speaks” is a present tense, active voice form. It suggests that Abel’s influence and the lessons we can learn from him have been relevant down through the centuries—even to our own day.

So, what is faith?

The case of Abel defines the nature of valid “faith.”

“By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain” (Heb. 11:4).

The verb “offered” shows obedience. Abel did not just “believe” that a sacrifice would be acceptable. He put his belief into action and obeyed God’s instructions.

Faith is not real until it responds in action. That is why James can challenge:

"But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works" (James 2:18).

The action verbs, connected to the expression “by faith” in Hebrews chapter 11, are a testimony to the nature of genuine faith.

Throughout Hebrews 11 as we meet our “Old Testament Heroes of Faith,” it will become evident that the 19 times “by faith” is used in this chapter is the equivalent of saying that the individuals yielded to divine instruction.

W. E. Vine states that Abel’s “by faith” sacrifice “was based on a revelation which God had made.”

Are you acting upon the clear revelation and commands you read in God’s Word?

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom 10:17).

Biblical faith is a confident trust in whatever God says is true & acting on it regardless of the circumstances or consequences.

Mac Hoover, Elder