The Child Promised to Adam

Introduction

By the nature of things we only have the privilege of seeing a couple generations during our lifetime. For those of you who are parents, you may have thought at one point, “Who will my son or daughter be when they grow up? Will I have grandchildren? Who will they become?” By God’s grace often those questions are answered as time passes and we experience the privilege of seeing who our children, grandchildren, and perhaps great-grandchildren grow to become. Beyond those four generations it’s only a mystery. There’s no way our great-great grandparents could have known who we would become and there’s no way we’ll know who our great-great grand children will become.

As we open Scripture we’ll see that many were given the gift of seeing beyond what their own eyes allowed because they were given a promise. Very often during the Christmas season we open our Bibles to the story of Christ’s birth in Luke one and two, but if you read just one more chapter, we see the baptism of Christ and His genealogy in Luke 3. Over the next couple weeks leading up to Christmas, I’d like us to see the good news of the promised child to come given to a few of the men in this genealogy.

This morning we’ll see the good news of the child promised to Adam and we’ll go on to see the child promised to Abraham, David, Joseph, and finally on Christmas Eve we’ll see upon Christ being born, the good news of the child is no longer given only to ancestors but proclaimed to all men. The angelic choir proclaims good news to lowly shepherds and from then on it is proclaimed to any and all from the mouths of those lowly shepherds.

As we work our way through this series I’d like us to notice from the onset the unique characteristics of the good news given to those who went before because it really does paint a complete picture when you step back and look at each piece together. We will encounter four pieces of good news leading up to Christmas Eve that answer two fundamental questions.

Who will reign?

Who can be blessed?

I don’t know that we immediately associate good news with a position of authority, but when we speak of ruling and reigning in a spiritual sense, good news is very much dependent upon who is sitting on the throne.

Genesis 3 introduces us to Satan, the tempting serpent seeking to undermine the dominion of God through man. Should readers ask themselves, “Who will reign? Will Satan prevail?” God declares the good news immediately to remove all doubt promising that a child would come who will crush the serpents head.

In the same theme David, the King of Israel in 2 Samuel 7 is given good news. A promise is given to David that a child would come who will reign over an eternal kingdom.

Who will reign? Not Satan! A child will come who will crush the serpent’s head and establish the throne of his kingdom forever. This is good news!

Furthermore, “Who can be blessed?”

From the moment sin entered the world through Adam and Eve’s sin, so did the curse of sin on every man. Everyone will die because of the curse of sin and bear the just punishment for their sins. In response we must ask, “Who can be blessed?”

In Genesis 22 a promise of a child to come is given to Abraham saying, “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed...” Though the curse of sin prevails over every man, hope is given to Abraham that one day all nations will be blessed through this child to come.

We look to the promise given to Joseph to complete the picture in Matthew 1. The angel says to Joseph,

Matthew 1:21 NASB95

“She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

This child to come, the Christ child will ensure that blessing comes to His people because He will Himself save His people from their sins. This too is good news!

In short,

The devil will fall and a king will reign

The nations will be blessed and sins will be forgiven.

All this through the promised child to come.

This good news of Christ’s coming as a child to ultimately reign and bless His people is good news not just for Israel, but for all people!

On Christmas Eve we’ll see just that as the angels declare in Luke 2:10-11

Luke 2:10–11 NASB95

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

The Christ child has come as Savior from sins for the assurance of blessing and Lord of all to reign forever. This is the good news we declare to all people!

Now that we know where we’re headed let’s start from the beginning.

Genesis 3:14–15 NASB95

The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, Cursed are you more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you will go, And dust you will eat All the days of your life; And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.”

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From the very beginning good news was declared: The devil will fall and Christ will prevail!

1. A cursed enemy

Notes:

2. A crushing defeat

Notes:

3. A costly victory

Notes:

1. A cursed enemy

For a bit of context, Adam and Eve have given in to the temptation of the devil and they become aware of their guilt and in shame clothe themselves and hide from God. As the LORD God, Yahweh God, steps onto the scene he asks four questions, three of Adam and one Eve.

“Where are you?

“Who told you that you were naked?”

“Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”

“What is this you have done?”

I just want us to notice the grace of God in the context so the force of His words can be clear when He speaks to the serpent.

Adam and Eve have blatantly disobeyed their Creator having corrupted creation and all humanity. We’re so familiar with the story, perhaps we gloss over that reality. At this point they have ruined everything. They had one job! “Don’t eat of the fruit.” They rightly perhaps fear the presence of God knowing the just punishment they deserve, yet as the Lord and Creator of all things, pure, and holy in character, all powerful and sovereign in dominion, steps onto the scene there are no immediate curses declared or punishments dolled out to Adam and Eve his image bearers, only questions.

“Where are you?

“Who told you that you were naked?”

“Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”

“What is this you have done?”

How gracious and patient God is with us in our wrongdoing! More can be said about the conversation between Adam, Eve, and God but our focus this morning is on the words spoken directly to the serpent in the hearing of Adam and Eve.

Immediately after addressing Adam and Eve, the LORD God, Yahweh, begins to take care of business with the devil.

“The LORD God said to the serpent,

Because you have done this,

Cursed are you more than all cattle,

And more than every beast of the field;

On your belly you will go,

And dust you will eat

All the days of your life;”

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There is no trial, no questioning only a declaration: “Cursed are you...” These words are not merely a declaration of intent like it would mean in human’s words.

We can imagine the beginning of good movie where the antagonist inflicts some harm against the protagonist only to escape at the words of the protagonist, “Curse you, I will I have my vengeance.” From the mouths of men it’s only a declaration of hope and intent. “I hope harm comes to you, and I will do my best to ensure justice is served.” It doesn’t have the same gravitas does it?

In contrast when the LORD God, Yahweh, the one who just spoke the universe into existence, says, “Cursed are you...” This is not saying, “I hope harm comes upon you.” God is declaring, with the fullness of divine authority, a state of perpetual disfavor upon the devil. The devil has already been cursed in a kind having been removed from the presence of God and made His enemy, yet God declares again in the presence of mankind a curse. No good or grace will ever come to him and every harm and hindrance will.

As much as this curse is a declaration of spiritual realities, God delivers a physical hindrance to the serpent, the form which the devil chose to tempt Adam and Eve,

Cursed are you more than all cattle,

And more than every beast of the field;

On your belly you will go,

And dust you will eat

All the days of your life;

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We know God has a way of providing His people throughout Scripture with continual reminders for the good of our faith. I can’t help but think that God cursed the serpent in this way for our benefit, that every time we see a snake slithering in the dust we would remember why.

Though the dominion of Satan is permitted for a time his end is sure. The almighty word of God which created the world has cursed the serpent and His end will certainly come.

We need not worry as we look into the corruption of the world and the dominion of Satan asking, “Who will reign?”. No person, kingdom, angel, or devil can stand who has been cursed by the authority of the almighty, Creator God

Should we look ahead to the end of the story in Revelation 21 we see the new heaven and a new earth as a new garden where the people of God and God Himself will once again walk in perfect harmony, yet immediately before that the dragon, the serpent of old is finally dealt with in accord with the curse he received at the beginning.

Revelation 20:1–3 NASB95

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.

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Should we look on in our passage, after this short time of deception the devil will receive his final judgement and thrown into the lake of fire.

God in His sovereignty knew from the very beginning that one day all will be made right again, the garden will be restored, and perfect fellowship with man will once again be established; yet before doing so the one who deceived Adam and Eve immediately following the creation of the garden will meet his demise immediately preceeding the recreation of the garden. God in His sovereignty is not surprised by the devils rebellion and has allowed it at the particular time He so desires so that His redemptive plan will come to fruition.

This battle between good and evil, between God and the rebellion of Satan is not a match of equals. The moment the devil’s influence rears its ugly head in the garden, God settles the matter with a word: A word of curses, but also a word of promise.

The means by which God will bring about the demise of the devil will be the humblest of plans and yet not without glory!

2. A crushing defeat

(vs. 15) And I will put enmity

Between you and the woman,

And between your seed and her seed;

He shall bruise you on the head

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There will be conflict between the devil and a child of the woman. A man will come who will crush the head of the serpent.

In immediately dealing with the deception of the devil, God has given Adam, Eve and every one of their descendants good news to believe in. When the descendants of Adam and Eve looked at the evil that would so quickly arise in the world they may have asked themselves that question, “Who will reign?” “Will the dominion of evil and the devil every be defeated?” The corruption of the world following Adam and Eve was so great that God sent a flood in the time of Noah. Even in that time of great corruption, there was hope in the good news given to Adam. Should they recall the words given to Adam and Eve, they would have known, one day a man will come to crush the head of the serpent and uproot his dominion forever.

Now admittedly when we look at the Christmas story and see baby Jesus lying in the manger we don’t immediately recognize the enmity and conflict of Genesis nor do we recognize Jesus as the snake crusher, but let’s not forget the first promise regarding the child to come when we first behold the child in the manger. Through this lowly child in whom the fullness of deity dwells, will the dominion of Satan be utterly crushed. It is not far into the Christmas story however where we begin to see the devil’s handiwork through Herod, sending soldiers to kill all the boys two years old and under in Bethlehem. Even then, the corruption of the world by the devil’s hand and the power of evil men is nothing in the eyes of God. The promise will be fulfilled and God will use humble men like Joseph to bring it about and take the infant Jesus to Egypt.

Perhaps there is a good question for us to consider here. When the devil threatens the church with the power and influence of evil men, what is our response?

Firstly, is there a hope in knowing that the Devil and his dominion has been cursed? We square off with our enemy the devil knowing there is no hope for him! We take heart the warnings given to us knowing the devil to be a prowling lion seeking someone to devour, yet the authoritative word of almighty God which made universe has declared him cursed.

Secondly, do we seek a power of similar kind to fend off the attacks of the devil? So often throughout the testimony of Scripture does God use humble men clinging to the Word of God in faith to thwart evil powers. In contrast, the people of God who put their faith in horses, armies, allies, and the wisdom of men are humbled so that they would trust in God alone.

The humble means of endurance given to us by God in truth and faith are no match for the power and armies of the devil’s corrupted servants.

I believe our next reasonable question is, what does it mean for Christ to crush the head of the serpent. In one sense there is an eternal death awaiting the devil that would correspond to a crushed head, but I believe there is a crushing of the dominion and influence of Satan as well that is very explicit in the life and ministry of Christ. Firstly, what does the dominion of Satan look like?

Hebrews 2:14–15 NASB95

Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

Firstly, the devil wields the power of death.

By extension, what is it that leads to death?

Romans 5:12 NASB95

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—

The devil did not enter the garden with the power of death seeking to kill Adam and Eve directly. He came into the garden to tempt them to sin knowing death is the just punishment for sin.

We’ll address the forgiveness of sin more directly in a couple weeks in the promise given to Adam, but it’s an important aspect of Satan’s influence that we should consider.

These two things fundamentally define the dominion of Satan: Sin and death.

How then did Christ come as the promised child to crush this dominion of sin and death?

Live the righteous life we could not.

Take upon Himself the punishment for sin that was due us.

Rise from the dead defeating death for all who put their faith in Him for salvation.

At any point God could have made the crushing of the devil complete and final, yet in His sovereignty he would progressively take his dominion out from under him by the humblest of means: God in human flesh living, dying, and rising again.

In a moment we’ll address Christ’s death and resurrection, “the bruising of his heel”, but let’s first address the righteous life of Christ.

In the garden Adam failed to live righteously giving into the devil’s temptation and therein lost the privilege of fellowship with God. In order for man to dwell with God again, righteousness must be accomplished perfectly. Christ certainly became a man in order to die, but he also came to fulfill all righteousness that His righteousness would be given to all who put their faith in Him. We’ll address that in more detail when we jump back into Philippians.

Immediately following Jesus’ baptism, he gets down to business and ventures out into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Having been deprived of all the provision of the garden, Jesus is tempted to a degree that Adam never was. He was tempted with all that the world had to offered having been deprived of all basic sustenance. Notice the complete opposite situation Christ finds Himself in as opposed to Adam. Adam was given everything he would ever need or rightly desire. Christ was in a wilderness without food, water or shelter. Adam was offered a piece of fruit. Christ was offered with all the devil could offer that was in the world. As 1 John 2:16 puts it...

1 John 2:16 NASB95

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

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In resisting temptation he declares to the devil and all who will hear, “Righteousness will be accomplished, and God will once again dwell with His people… and there’s nothing the devil can do about it.”

Having done what Adam and Israel could not in the wilderness, Jesus begins his ministry and will fulfill all righteousness to the crushing of the Devil’s dominion among men.

This would not come without cost.

3. A costly victory.

As we address our final point, let’s understand that Christ’s costly victory is a continuation of the serpent’s crushing defeat. We’re still elaborating on our second point as we move into the third.

Paul speaks of the means by which God uses to bring about his salvation and establish his kingdom.

1 Corinthians 1:27–29 NASB95

but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.

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Is there anyone more proud, thinking himself wise and strong, than the devil seeking to usurp the dominion of God Himself?

In response, God chose to use the foolish things of the world, the weak things, the base things in order to nullify the one who thinks he is so great.

A baby in a manger, born to live a righteous life as an ordinary child, a carpenter, a teacher of fishermen and tax collectors, having done all of this and fulfilled all righteousness without any glory, he would die a gruesome death at the hands of the Romans. In this humble life and humiliating death, the strength of the dominion of the devil would be utterly crushed.

The last line of our passage in Genesis reads,

"And you shall bruise him on the heel.”

Let’s understand that this blow of the devil’s is not a surprise to God or even small degree of the devil’s dominion over which God has done his best to suppress, but cannot. God has chosen the humble things of the world to shame the proud. God has chosen the death of the Son in His sovereignty and by the necessary demands of justice to bring the dominion of Satan to nothing.

In short, this is not a trading of blows. A crushing blow delivered to Satan, then a minor blow to Christ. NO. God is continuing to crush the head of the serpent in the bruising of His heel.

“that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,” (Hebrews 2:14)

What then did Jesus accomplish in his death?

He removed the power of sin by taking the penalty of sin upon Himself.

1 Corinthians 15:3 NASB95

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

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When Christ comes as a baby to deal with sin He comes to do so justly. It would be an injustice to let the sin of man go unpunished so a sacrifice needed to be made. A substitute was required. A perfect substitute. Christ, the spotless lamb, the righteous son of God was that perfect lamb provided to bear the full burden of sin of those who would put their faith in Him. For those who have not put their faith in Christ, the dominion of Satan still remains. The power of sin and death still remains as long as the sin has not been paid for by the blood of Christ.

For those who have not yet put their faith in Christ today, the head of the serpent has been crushed in the death of Christ. Forgiveness for sin is freely given through faith in Christ, because the price has been paid. Don’t remain under the power of sin and death a day longer when the hope of the resurrection is provided through faith in Christ. If you’d like to talk to someone further about what that means to put your faith in Christ, don’t hesitate to contact one of the elders, feel free to call or text us. I’m sure any of our church members would be happy to talk to you about that as well.

In Christ’s death, the once and for all sacrifice for sin has been made, and the devil’s dominion through the power of sin has been crushed. Furthermore, the power of death is no more.

We know the story. Three days he remained in the tomb, and on the third he rose again.

We too will experience the death Christ did, but as Christians we are united with Christ and will surely be raised to everlasting life.

In that day we will rejoice with glorified bodies!

1 Corinthians 15:53–57 NASB95

For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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The resurrection of Christ gives us hope that the dominion of Satan will one day be brought to nothing for even his dominion in death will be crushed. We will live in undying, imperishable, glorified bodies and in a kind of holy mockery of Satan’s power Hosea’s words will come true, “O Death where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

From the very beginning a promise was given. A child will come who will crush the serpent and all his dominion. It may be tempting for us to worry when we look out at the world and see the prominence of sin and the evidence of the dominion of Satan, but let us this Christmas recognize what Christ came to do. Though he came humbly as a baby, he came to live righteously, die for us, and rise again, that the dominion of Satan would be utterly crushed. For all who put their faith in Christ, we can rest in the good news that we are free of that evil dominion and look forward to a glorious resurrection where death will be no more.

Let’s Pray