The Seed of Promise

Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father, we come before You in awe of Your sovereign plan and unchanging promises. From the beginning, You purposed to redeem us through Jesus Christ. As we open Your Word today, deepen our understanding of Your faithfulness and grace. May our hearts be encouraged, our minds enlightened, and our faith strengthened as we reflect on Your redemptive work. In the name of Jesus, our Redeemer, we pray. Amen.

Introduction

Good morning, church family.

Today, we begin a three-part series titled "The Promised Messiah: The Birth of Christ in Prophecy." As we enter this Christmas season, we turn our attention to the divine plan that led to the birth of Jesus Christ. Far from being a simple historical event, Christ’s birth was the culmination of God’s redemptive promise—a promise that began in the earliest chapters of Scripture.

In Genesis 3:15, we encounter what theologians call the protoevangelium or "first gospel."

This verse, spoken by God in the Garden of Eden, is the first declaration of the good news of salvation. It offers humanity a glimmer of hope amid the fallout of sin, pointing forward to the coming of a Savior who would defeat evil and restore what was lost.

Today, we will examine this foundational prophecy, explore its fulfillment in Christ, and consider its profound implications for our faith. As we study, may we gain a deeper appreciation for God’s sovereign plan and find renewed confidence in His promises.

Main Points

1. The First Gospel (Genesis 3:15)

After Adam and Eve disobeyed God, humanity’s relationship with Him was fractured. Yet, in His pronouncement of judgment, God also revealed a redemptive plan: Gen 3.15

Genesis 3:15 NKJV

And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

Let’s unpack this verse:

The Enmity Between Good and Evil

The Promise of a Victorious Savior

The Cost of Redemption

The enmity between good and evil: God declares a perpetual conflict between the offspring of the serpent (Satan) and the offspring of the woman. This represents the ongoing spiritual battle between sin and righteousness—a battle evident throughout human history.

The promise of a victorious Savior: The term “offspring” or “seed” is singular, pointing to a specific individual—Jesus Christ—who would deliver the decisive blow to Satan. When Jesus died on the cross and rose again, He defeated the power of sin and death

Hebrews 2:14 “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,”

The cost of redemption: The prophecy also speaks of the serpent bruising the Savior’s heel, symbolizing Christ’s suffering on the cross. This suffering, though real and painful, was not final—it led to victory.

Genesis 3:15 stands as a beacon of hope, showing that God’s plan for redemption was in place from the beginning.

2. God’s Promise to Abraham

God’s redemptive plan continues through His covenant with Abraham. God promised Abraham,

Genesis 12:3 NKJV

I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Genesis 22:18 NKJV

In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”

Paul later explains in Galatians 3:16 that this promise points directly to Christ:

Galatians 3:16 NKJV

Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ.

Key truths emerge here:

The Universal Scope of Redemption

The Faithfulness of God

The universal scope of redemption: God’s promise to bless "all nations" highlights the global reach of Christ’s mission. Jesus is the Savior not only of Israel but of the entire world, fulfilling the promise of salvation for both Jew and Gentile alike.

The faithfulness of God: Through Abraham’s lineage, God brought forth the Messiah, demonstrating His ability to fulfill His promises, even when they seem impossible.

Jesus, as the ultimate fulfillment of this covenant, brings the blessing of salvation to all who place their faith in Him.

3. The Expectation of a Redeemer

Even in one of the earliest books of the Bible, we find a profound hope in God’s redemptive plan. Job, despite his immense suffering, declared:

Job 19:25–27 NKJV

For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!

Job’s declaration reveals two important truths:

A Living Redeemer

Resurrection Hope

A living Redeemer: Job expresses confidence in a personal Redeemer who would vindicate him. This Redeemer is Christ, who conquered sin and death through His resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:55–57 ““O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Resurrection hope: Job’s longing to see God in his flesh foreshadows the Christian hope of resurrection, secured by Christ’s victory

John 11:25–26 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?””

This expectation of a Redeemer underscores the continuity of God’s plan throughout Scripture. From Genesis to Job to the New Testament, the message is clear: God is committed to redeeming His people.

Application

What can we learn from these truths?

God’s Promises are Trustworthy

Faith Requires Trust, Not Full Understanding

Rejoice in the Victory of Christ

God’s promises are trustworthy: Genesis 3:15 reminds us that God is faithful to His Word. Just as He fulfilled His promise to send a Savior, He will fulfill every promise He has made to us

2 Corinthians 1:20 “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.”

Faith requires trust, not full understanding: Adam and Eve couldn’t fully grasp the scope of God’s promise, yet they trusted Him. Likewise, we are called to trust God, even when His plans are beyond our comprehension

Proverbs 3:5–6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

Rejoice in the victory of Christ: Through His death and resurrection, Jesus has crushed the serpent’s head. Sin and death no longer have ultimate power over us.

As Romans 16:20 reminds us, “And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.”

Closing Prayer

Father, we thank You for the hope and assurance found in Your Word. Thank You for sending Jesus, the fulfillment of Your promise, to redeem us and give us eternal life. Help us to live in the confidence of Christ’s victory and to share this hope with others. May we trust in Your faithfulness and reflect Your love in all we do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.