No—acknowledging sin was not enough; under God's prescribed instructions acceptance came only by bringing the blood sacrifice.
God had told the early people that when conscience convicted them of wrongdoing, they were to bring a blood sacrifice and He would accept them. Abel did this and was accepted; Cain refused and was rejected. A man who confessed his sin but would not bring the prescribed sacrifice was not doing what God required.
Genesis 4:7 — God makes acceptance conditional on doing what He instructed, and warns that refusing to do right leaves sin at the door.
Genesis 4 records the first picture of acceptance and rejection at an altar. Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground, while Abel brought the firstlings of his flock and the fat. 'And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect.' Abel's sacrifice was a blood sacrifice; Cain's was bloodless. The Lord then asked Cain why his countenance was fallen and said, 'If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.' Acceptance, according to the Scripture, was connected to doing what God had said—not merely acknowledging the situation.
Les Feldick explains that before the law, God's instruction to those whose conscience convicted them of wrongdoing was to bring a blood sacrifice, and God would accept them. Abel is the example: he did what God told him and was accepted. Cain is the opposite: he rationalized, brought a bloodless offering of his own work, and was rejected. God even pleaded with Cain, telling him that if he did well he would be accepted, and that a lamb had already been provided—Cain only had to go pick it up and bring it. Les summarizes Cain's problem as self-will and a lack of faith. He did not believe what God said. He thought his own offering, however carefully prepared, should be enough. In the same way, a man who admitted he had sinned but refused to bring the prescribed sacrifice was not accepted because he was not doing what God commanded. It had to be God's way, and it had to be believed.
Les Feldick explains that when conscience convicted a person of having committed a wrong, God had instructed them that if they would bring a blood sacrifice, God would accept them. Abel did this by faith; Cain rationalized it and refused.
Les says Cain brought what he thought God would accept—a bloodless sacrifice of the things he himself had grown—rather than the blood sacrifice God prescribed. He rationalized that if he made it beautiful and carefully approached God, he would be accepted. But God rejected it because it was not done God's way.
Acknowledging the sin was not the end. God's prescribed remedy was to bring the blood sacrifice. God told Cain that a lamb had already been provided; all he had to do was pick it up and bring it. Cain's refusal showed he did not truly believe God, and he was not accepted.
The 3 Parts of the Law & Why They Don't Save You
and they were set in stone, weren't they? I told my class the other night, you see, God didn't see fit to put the Ten Commandments on a teddy bear that someone can kind of cuddle up to. The Ten Commandments were written on cold old tables of stone, and they were unmovable. And as I pointed out in the last half hour, what could the law do? Nothing but condemn.
The Prescribed Blood Sacrifice
Les contrasts Abel's accepted blood sacrifice with Cain's rejected bloodless offering, noting that God had already provided a lamb that Cain could bring and be accepted.
Rationalizing Instead of Believing
Les teaches that people who think God will accept them based on their own behavior are like Cain; acceptance had to be God's way and had to be believed.
God Provides a Sacrifice
Les explains that God told Cain what to do—bring a blood sacrifice like Abel—and even pointed out that God had already provided a sacrifice.
Cain's Self-Will and Unbelief
Les says the lamb was ready for Cain, but Cain was self-willed, did not believe God, and would not bring it; he was destitute of faith.
Restoration on God's Terms
Les shows that God offered restoration on the condition that people do what He asked—bring a blood sacrifice—and Abel was accepted because he did exactly that.
Acceptance Follows Doing What God Said
Les emphasizes God's plea to Cain: if he would do what God told him and bring a blood sacrifice, he would be accepted; Abel did this by faith.
Conscience Conviction Leads to Sacrifice
Les explains that even before the law, God instructed that when conscience convicted a person of wrong, bringing a blood sacrifice was the way back to acceptance.
Genesis 4:4-5: 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: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
Shows that Abel's blood sacrifice was accepted while Cain's bloodless offering was rejected.
Genesis 4:7: If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
God ties acceptance to doing what He said and warns that refusing leaves sin at the door.
Not according to the transcript evidence. God's prescribed way back to acceptance was to bring a blood sacrifice when conscience convicted a person. Refusing that prescribed act was the same kind of rationalization Cain used.
Yes. God pleaded with him and said if he did well he would be accepted. God even told him a lamb had already been provided; all he had to do was pick it up and bring it. Cain would not do it.
Because Abel brought the blood sacrifice God instructed and did it by faith. Cain brought a bloodless sacrifice of his own choice, rationalized it, and did not believe what God said.
Watch the Teaching: The 3 Parts of the Law & Why They Don't Save You