Protevangelium
2-15-03-08
Genesis 3:14-15
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 (crush) His
heel."
Satan thought he had led successful rebellions in heaven/earth against
God.
· God’s purposes
are never thwarted by anyone or anything. Core Value
o Satan
again was inadvertently used to carry out God’s eternal plan.
· Maybe he anticipated
man, like the fallen angels, would be condemned to hell for their sin.
o The opposite
occurred: God would redeem & protect mankind. Rom 5:20,
§ This only
magnifies His grace as He freely pardons us. Heb 2:16
In the midst of the curse on Satan, is the promise of salvation for men.
Gen 3:14-15, Rom 11:22
· Some
believe the snake was originally upright on all fours…called dragon & serpent.
· It did not
literally mean he would eat dust; it figuratively depicts Satan’s humiliation
& total defeat.
o The crawling
snake is a living symbol of the divine judgment on Satan.
· The “enmity”
here is divinely established hostility, antagonism, war.
The history of redemption is the history of God-originated enmity on three
fronts.
· Between Eve
and the serpent, Christians and the lost & the Messiah and Satan.
God established this wedge (enmity) between the one deceived & one
who deceived her.
· Satan
already hated Eve, but God graciously turned Eve’s heart and affections from
Satan to Himself.
· Her offspring
also had enmity toward Satan. Not all mankind, only Christians. Jn 8:44a, Gen 22:18, Eph 6:12-13,
o There is
a massive conflict in society/history between Christians & the lost.
o God
plants spiritual enmity in the hearts of Christians toward sin….remorse.
§ When
there is a spiritual warfare/struggle within, this is evidence that a person is
alive spiritually.
Finally, a specific battle: Satan brought sin into world through Eve, so
God brings man’s salvation & Satan’s destruction through the line of Eve, a
special man. Gen 3:15, Luther
· The first
prophecy in the Word is the comprehensive promise of the coming of Jesus Christ:
He is the Redeemer who will overcome, restore creation to its original state
& be a member of human race born of virgin.
o Virgin
birth was a prophecy (not primary pt.) Unique. Elsewhere through male.
· The first
preaching of the gospel: Prot (1st) evangelium (gospel).
· The sufferings
on cross were Jesus Christ’s bruised heel
(it was temporary & will heal) & where Satan's head was crushed (fatal/final wound). Heb 2:14; 1 Jn 3:8; Is 53:5, Rom 5:17, Col 2:13-15
In a few concise words hidden in an eternal curse of Satan is mercy,
grace, forgiveness, salvation, & victory for sinners.
· In the cross
God offers reconciliation & freedom from Satan’s domain by defeating our adversary
for us. Col. 1:13-14; Rom 16:20,
1 Jn 4:4
· If you
are in Christ (a true Christian) then His victory is your victory.
o You will fall
victim to temptations but Satan will not take away what God has given you in Christ
Jesus.
· God is continually
taking the worst the Devil can do & turns it into a glorious victory.
o In history
& in our lives God’s purposes can never be thwarted by anyone or
anything.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.