The First Gospel

Introduction

Open You Bibles to Genesis Chapter 3.

What is the protoevangelium? Its a compound word we used to talk about the first Gospel. Proto means first and evangelium is where we get the word gospel. We often think of the new testament when we hear the word gospel. However the reality is that the gospel has existed for God’s people from the beginning. From time the fall happen the good news was proclaimed that there would be one to crush satan and have victory. His work, Jesus’ work, was promised from the beginning. We can follow this thread of good news throughout the whole scripture. This golden thread, as CH Spurgeon called it, thread is why it is correct to call the Bible the story of redemptive history. Throughout the the history recorded, over and over we see God’s mercy extended, God’s preservation, God’s grace in action sovereignly bringing about about the birth of the one to crash the serpents head. God willing over the next many weeks we will explore this story in detail. This evening we start the story:

Lets Read Genesis 3:14-21

Genesis 3:14–21 ESV

The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.” And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.

Lets pray

Body

Main Body Division 1

Text

Genesis 3:14–15 ESV

The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Explanation

The fall had happen

Fear, shame, separation from God.

“ The LORD GOD said” God enters as Judge

“Because you have done this” God pronounces Judgement on the serpent without any questions.

Matthew Henry said, “God passes sentence; and he begins where the sin began, with the serpent.” [1]

The question of how much of this sentence for the serpent and how much for satan himself is debated.

The judgment on the serpent is a physical representation of the just as real spiritual judgement that is being carried out on satan.

The we get the words, "he shall bruise your head”, we understand that God is speaking directly of the fate in store for the devil himself.

The two words translated bruise. They come from the same root but they are not the same word. What we understand is that the “he” being referred to and the serpent will not bruise each other in the same way.

The first work is more like crush

The second word is more like strike

The difference is also evident in the target, Head and Heel.

In Pronouncing Judgment on the serpent God promises a new Champion and will have ultimate victory.

Illustration

Imagine a court room where there is no jury, no defendant hearing, no lawyers, just one all knowing judge. There serpent is hauled into this austere room. There is no trial, his guilt is already known, he there for a sentence. There is no place here for a plea deal, no way out.

Application

God has every right to deal with each of us as the serpent.

Transition

But, he doesn’t. He doesn’t handle Adam and Eve like he handled the serpent. Check out verses 16-19

Main Body Division 2

Text

Genesis 3:16–19 ESV

To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.” And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

Explanation

There is no bruising here.

There is hardship for the man and women.

Hardship but promise, the woman would the one to bring forth the serpent bruiser.

They deserved death but God mercifully forestalled death.

They are afflicted not with the irrevocable sentence that the serpent had, but rather with trials that lead to are to lead them to repentance.

The serpent crusher was promised before ever the human race was sentence for their crimes.

This is why we call verse 15, the first gospel, the protoevangelium, the first good news.

The Good news that even before the judge finds us guilty he promises that we will have a champion to come to our aid.

1 John 2:1 says we have a advocate with the father. “if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (1 Jn 2:1, ESV)

Illustration

Imagine the same court room as before. Only this time they are hauling you in to stand before this all knowing judge and you know you are guilty. You know there is no plea deal for you. You are doomed. The gavel is falling, there is no way out. You close your eyes knowing the end has come. Then you hear the words from the judges mouth, Pardoned! The price is paid! You open you eyes in astonishment, how can this be? Standing there is the advocate, nail pierced hands held out as evidence of the price that was paid and under his heel is that old serpent, crushed.

Application

Friends this is the source of all holiness. You don’t need more then the see this redeemer as your king. You only need be reminded the the sentence has been remitted, you are pardoned. If you know this pardon the gratitude in you heart will overflow into a life style that hates the sin that cost so much.

Transition

God provides a visible example of this in verse 20 and 21. God himself is the one that covers his people.

Main Body Division 3

Text

Genesis 3:20–21 ESV

The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.

Explanation

In verse 20 we see the pardon, the sentence is with held. Eve gets to be a mother, our first mother.

God had the right to execute Adam and Eve right there

If he had you and I would not be here

He shows mercy, the death sentence does not immediately fall.

In some way it had already fallen because being separated from God is death.

The London Baptist Confession of 1698 says, in chapter 7 article 1

The distance between God and the creature is so great, that although reasonable creatures do owe obedience to Him as their creator, yet they could never have attained the reward of life but by some voluntary condescension on God’s part, which He has been pleased to express by way of covenant.[2]

God does this condescension himself.

God does not say, go kill some animals and make cloths.

God makes the kill, substitution.

God covers their shame himself.

Illustration

Think about the court room again. You have just heard the words pardoned! The price is paid! But you are still destitute, you have no way to live, you own nothing. Not even the air you are breathing. The advocate turns to you and say everything you lack is yours when you are in me. My righteousness is yours. My family is your new family. You will have a place in my kingdom. You will leave all and follow me.

Application

God is the solo provider in this, he saves his people by himself, from himself, and for himself.

Conclusion

Have you considered this advocate and judge who Jesus Christ the righteous? To you consider him every day? When you make a decision, is he your motivation?

Have you understood that before sentence was ever passed on you for your crimes he already accepted the substitute in your place.

Have you fathomed the depth of grace that not only pardons but adopts and provides.

Lets Pray

References

[1] Matthew Henry and Thomas Scott, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, 1997), Ge 3:14.

[2] R. C. Sproul, ed., The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2015), 2482

Bibliography

Henry, Matthew, and Thomas Scott. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, 1997

Sproul, R. C., ed. The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition). Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2015.