Scripture: Genesis 3:15
I. Purpose of the Bible (to show us . . .)
A. Mankind is Lost (Is. 59:1-2)
B. God does not want it to be so (II Pet. 3:9)
C. What God has done to correct this (John 3:16)
D. What man must do to be redeemed (Matt. 7:21)
II. Sin separated man from God (Is. 59:1-2)
A. Man was pre-warned (Gen. 2:15-17 Gen. 3:1-3)
B. Man disobeyed (Gen. 3:6-7 Gen. 3:9-13)
C. Man was punished (Gen. 3:16-19 Gen. 3:22-24)
III. God made a promise
A. He promises one to defeat Satan (Gen. 3:15)
B. He provides a pattern of redemption
1. Laws of Sacrifice (Heb. 10:1-10 Lev. 16:)
2. Emblems of tabernacle (Heb. 9:23-27 Ex. chapters 25-27)
C. The promise fulfilled in Christ
1. Born of a woman (Gal. 4:4)
2. Born as the redeemer (Gal. 4:5)
D. Satan bruised
1. At the birth of Christ (Matt. 2:1-2)
2. At the Temptation of Christ (Matt. 4:1-11)
(compare Deut. 8:3, Deut. 6:16, and Deut. 6:13 to Matt. 4:1-11)
3. At the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ (Matt. 27:50-53 Matt. 28:18 Acts 1:9-11 Dan. 7:13-14 Acts 2:36)
Conclusion: When mankind sinned and was separated from God, the promise was made that the seed of woman would eventually defeat Satan for his actions. This promise was fulfilled in the Christ.
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Lesson Two: The First Promise Concerning Christ – Redemption
Introduction: In Genesis 3:15 is found the veiled promise of redemption for lost humanity. We will look at this promise, its purpose, and its fulfillment in Christ.
I. Purpose of the Bible: There is a very simple reason for God having presented the Bible to humanity. It was to convey four things to mankind that he must understand in order to be able to spend eternity reunited with God. These four things are that (1) man is lost (Isaiah 59:1-2), (2) God does not want this to be the case (II Peter 3:9), (3) God has done something so that man can be redeemed from his lost condition (John 3:16), and (4) what man must do to be redeemed (Matthew 7:21).
II. Sin Separated man from God: In Genesis 2: God prepares man for his existence in the garden of Eden. He is given authority, responsibility, and a warning against sin. But man did not heed the warning and exercised instead his own will. After having eaten from the forbidden tree, man found himself at odds with God. Man understood good from evil which assures us that he knew he had done evil. Man could no longer walk with God in the garden and so was driven out from his relationship with God, his beautiful home, and the tree of life. Man had separated himself from God because of sin (Isaiah 59:1-2).
III. God Made a Promise: In Genesis 3:15 God makes a promise to defeat Satan on behalf of man through the seed of woman. In Scriptures we will study in later lessons, He provides a pattern of redemption through symbolism in the laws of sacrifice and in the emblems of the temple. These are a pattern of things to come and were written for our learning (Romans 15:4). We find the start of the fulfillment in the birth of Christ as He was born of woman and born as a redeemer (Galatians 4:4-5).
There are several times throughout His ministry that Christ continued to bruise Satan but three of these deserve special attention. The first was at the birth of Christ in that little town in that little manger so many years ago. Born of a virgin, Christ, in principle, starts His mission of defeating Satan.
The second time Satan suffers a decisive blow in the Scriptures is when Christ is baptized and enters the wilderness to face Satan and his temptations. Three times He is tempted and three times He is victorious until Satan finally leaves (Luke 4:1-13).
The third time is at His death, burial, and resurrection where He offers His blood for our redemption (I John 1:6-7, Hebrews 9:11-12). Having made the perfect sacrifice, there would always from this point on be hope for penitent mankind. Satan’s head had indeed received the deathblow promised 4000 years earlier.
Conclusion: When mankind sinned and was separated from God, the promise was made that the seed of woman would eventually defeat Satan for his actions. This promise was fulfilled in Christ.