Being righteous means being counted right with God through faith — as Hebrews 11:4 shows, Abel was declared righteous because he believed God, not because he made a sacrifice.
Hebrews 11:4 says Abel obtained witness that he was righteous by faith. Les Feldick teaches that righteousness is not achieved by law-keeping or religious works, but is God’s declaration upon a person who takes Him at His Word. Abel’s blood sacrifice demonstrated obedience, but faith was the basis of his right standing with God.
Hebrews 11:4 — This verse directly answers the question: Abel was righteous through faith, not through the sacrifice alone.
Genesis 4:3-4 — This passage records the difference between Cain’s bloodless offering and Abel’s blood sacrifice.
The Bible says in Hebrews 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.' Genesis 4:3-4 records that 'Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD' and that 'Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof.' Hebrews 11:6 states, 'But without faith it is impossible to please him.' Thus, the Scripture connects Abel’s righteousness directly to his faith, not to the outward quality of the sacrifice alone.
Les Feldick does not quote Hebrews 11:4 directly in these clips, but he teaches the principle behind it throughout. He shows that when God tells someone something and that person believes it, God counts that believing for righteousness. He uses Abraham as the example, who was called righteous because he believed God and left Ur, not because of sacrifices or circumcision. In the Cain and Abel account, Les notes that God had told them plainly what they must do. Cain brought a bloodless offering from the ground, while Abel brought the best of his flock, a blood sacrifice. Les’s emphasis, however, is that the better sacrifice was offered in faith, and faith is simply taking God at His Word. Justification, he says, is God’s judicial act of declaring the believing sinner just as if he had never sinned.
Les Feldick contrasts the two offerings: Cain brought the fruit of the ground, a sacrifice that could not shed blood, while Abel brought the firstlings of his flock and the fat thereof — a blood sacrifice. God had told them plainly what they must do, and Abel obeyed in faith. The Scripture records the difference, but Les’s teaching points beyond the physical sacrifice to the faith that prompted it. The better sacrifice was offered in faith, and it was through that faith that Abel obtained witness that he was righteous.
Les describes faith as simply taking God at His Word. He says justification is a judicial act of God in which, the moment He sees the sinner believe the gospel, God declares him justified, just as if he had never sinned. Les warns that we are not supposed to feel justified or try to figure it out; we rest on what God has said.
Les teaches that the righteousness of God is manifested without the law and is witnessed by the law and the prophets. It comes by the faith of Jesus Christ unto all who believe, not by law-keeping or religious works. In Hebrews 11, Abraham’s faith was counted as righteousness before the law or circumcision was given. The same principle applies to Abel.
Abel’s Superior Blood Sacrifice
Les contrasts Cain’s bloodless offering from the ground with Abel’s best-of-the-flock blood sacrifice, showing why Abel’s offering was the right kind.
Faith Counted as Righteousness
Les shows from Hebrews 11 that when a person believes God, God counts that believing for righteousness, using Abraham as the example.
What Is Propitiation? Romans 3:25-31 Finally Explained
Just or fair, as well as being the justifier of Him who keeps the law, who joins the church, does this or does that, but what? Believe it! See? Oh, people don't like that, but that's what the book said. All right, now let's come back to verse 25 for a minute, and here's another statement I think most people just sort of gloss over because they don't really know what it's talking about.
Why the Gospel Changes After the Cross — Romans 3 Explained
Now here it is. It's through our faith in His shed blood to declare His righteousness, that is the righteousness of Christ, for the remission of sins that are passed through the forbearance of God. And then verse 26. To declare, I say at this time, His righteousness, that He might be just, that He might be fair, and He can be the justifier that puts Him in the place of doing, and He is the justifi…
Righteousness by Faith, Not Law-Keeping
Les teaches that righteousness is not by law-keeping or being religious but by faith in Jesus Christ.
Justification Is God’s Judicial Declaration
Les defines faith as taking God at His Word and says justification is God’s judicial act that declares the believer just as if he had never sinned.
Righteousness Means That Which Is Right
Les explains that the word righteousness comes from the concept of that which is right, and that God’s righteousness is manifested apart from the law.
Pleasing God by Faith
Les emphasizes that the only way to do good in God’s eyes is by faith, because without faith it is impossible to please Him.
Hebrews 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.
This is the key verse in the question; it directly links Abel’s righteousness to his faith.
Genesis 4:3: And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
Records Cain’s offering, which Les contrasts with Abel’s.
Genesis 4:4: And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
Records Abel’s blood sacrifice, showing the difference between the two offerings.
Hebrews 11:6: 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.
Les quotes this principle in relation to faith being the only way to please God.
Romans 3:22: Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Supports Les’s teaching that righteousness comes by faith, not by the law.
According to Hebrews 11:4, Abel’s righteousness is based on his faith. The verse says he obtained witness that he was righteous by faith. Les Feldick similarly teaches that God counts believing as righteousness, and the sacrifice was an expression of that faith.
Cain brought the fruit of the ground, which could not shed blood, while Abel brought the firstlings of his flock as a blood sacrifice. Les Feldick notes that the better sacrifice was offered in faith, and faith was the key to being declared righteous.
Les Feldick teaches that justification is God’s judicial act. The moment a person believes the gospel, God declares that person justified, just as if he had never sinned. This declaration is based on faith, not human feeling or works.
Watch the Teaching: Cain vs. Abel: Why God Accepted One Offering and Rejected the Other