Genesis 4:1-5
Categories: Bible Study LessonsThere is righteous worship and there is unrighteous worship. The former is to please God and the latter is to please self. Abel presented his offering to God by faith (Hebrews 11:4). This means that he heeded the instructions of God on how God was to be approached (Romans 10:17). By implication we know, then, that Cain did not. Cain acted without authority and then expected God to accept his worship. God to refused to accept such worship. Israel would learn these lessons in a very graphic manner in the cases of Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1-2) and Uzzah (2 Samuel 6:6).
Just the same we are not free to approach God in any way we wish (Colossians 2:23). Will worship is not sanctioned. We must worship by the authority of Christ (Colossians 3:17). We must not go beyond that which is written (1 Corinthians 4:6). We must remain within the doctrine of Christ (2 John 9). We must worship in spirit and truth, the word of God being truth (John 4:24; John 17:17). To introduce items of worship contrary or unheard of by the word of God is to practice will worship, to go beyond the authority of Christ, to go beyond what is written, and to worship contrary to truth.