Why is faith plus a blood offering necessary in Genesis 4?
A blood offering was required because without the shedding of blood there is no remission, while faith was required because without faith it is impossible to please God. God provided the blood sacrifice, but Adam and Eve still had to believe what He said.
Les explains that God had already provided the way back to Himself through Adam’s faith, and since Adam and Eve would continue to live and become the parents of the human race, He provided the blood sacrifice that was necessary. Yet faith is always a prerogative; it must be faith plus the blood offering. Hebrews says that without the shedding of blood there is no remission, and Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith it is impossible to please God. It was the same way here: God provided the blood sacrifice, but Adam and Eve had to believe what He said. Les also connects Eve’s words in verse 1 to the Genesis 3:15 promise that the seed of the woman would defeat Satan, a promise fulfilled at the cross, and says the Lord had evidently shared with Adam and Eve that He Himself would come born of the woman and become their Redeemer.
And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
More Questions
What does Hebrews 9:22 teach about the necessity of blood for remission?
Hebrews 9:22 says that almost all things are purged with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no remission, so you cannot bypass the blood.
Why do we need faith to receive what God did in salvation?
Faith is necessary because without faith it is impossible to please God, so the works of salvation must be reckoned by faith.