Corruption

Introduction: Art gallery. Seeing a painting up close and noticing the details, then stepping back and looking at the whole picture again and appreciating the beauty.

Transition: Today we are going to be focusing on the Biblical theme of corruption. Turn to Genesis three. In order to see the theme of corruption through the scriptures we are going t look at two key point today, 1. Serpent Profile and 2. Seed progression. Begin with a serpent profile.

Serpent Profile

Defiant

Ezekiel 28:11-19, Isaiah 14:12-15, Luke 10:18

Deceiver

I Tim 4:1, II Tim 2:24-26, II Cor 11:12-15, John 8:39-44

Days are Determined

Revelation 20:1-3;7-10

Seed Progress

Promise of Gen 3:15. See the progression of corruption “offspring of Serpent and offspring of Eve” culminate in the promised snake crusher.

Immediately in Cain killing Able, and the genealogy of Seth in Gen 4:25-26.

Wickedness of offspring but favor of God with Noah. (Gen. 6:1-8)

God’s promise to Abraham. (Gen 12:1-3) Out of order blessing and cursing of patriarchs and eventually Judah being the line of the promised snake crusher.

Throughout the History of Moses, Joshua. Through the Time of Judges and Kings as we read OT we are conflicted to ask, “Is this genesis 3:15 promises going to come true?” It seems as if the serpent will win when we look at all the idolatry, failure, and slavery of the offspring of the woman.

But we are not left without glimmers of hope. For example, during the time of the judges we have this record in the little book of Ruth 4:18-22

Why is the list of offspring important? Because it records the promised line of the serpent crusher. David, was a mighty king in Israel. However, He was not the promised one. After David’s son Solomon served as king the nation of Isreal divided and were judged by God to be taken back into captivity. Even though the Poetic books and Prophets gave glimmers of hope that the promised offspring was coming, by the time we get to the end of the OT, it seems that hope was futile.

Then, a New day dawned. And in the fulness of Time God, sent His son. Turn to Matthew 1. Point out Abraham and verse 16, “Who is the Christ”.

Turn to Luke 3. Point out verse 23 and verse 38.

Jesus’ temptation Mark 1:12-13

Judas betrayal John 13:2

Then.. the Messiah died. His heel was stricken by the serpent. Jesus was buried in the grave. Again, it seemed as if the enemy had won.

read last pages of Kevin DeYoung “The Biggest Story”. starting at 110…

Transition: So where does that leave us? What application of this might we make today?

At this very moment every human being is either a child of God or a child of the devil. Your eternal destiny will be determined by who’s child you are. A decedent of Christ or of the devil. You will either spend eternity with Christ in a New heaven and earth or in hell , suffering the same eternal days destined for the devil.

For those who are children of God, we can rest in the same faithful God who sent His Son and will send Him again for His people. Regardless of what may seem like hopelessness, or that it seems like evil is prevailing, our faith can remain strong in Christ who is greater!

I John 3:8-10, 4:4

1 John 3:8–10 ESV

Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

1 John 4:4 ESV

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.