FHCC
20251130 Worship

                • Ephesians 1:21–23NKJV

                              • Luke 22:19ESV

                              • Matthew 26:27–28ESV

                                  • O Holy Night!

                                        • Genesis 3:14–19ESV

                                        • Introduction

                                          In the earliest chapters of the Bible we read of an act of rebellion that brought a curse upon the SERPENT, the SEED of Satan and the Woman, the Woman, and the ground which was the source of Adam’s diet. At the same time that the curse is pronounced God is already promising a future change and providing covering for the consequences of disobedience. This Advent season we will be looking at how the incarnation of Christ reverses the curse that rightfully fell upon our ancestors. Two pairs of words occur several times in the Scripture read a moment ago: “you have” and “I will”.
                                          Do you find yourself looking back or looking forward?
                                          As we gathered around the Lord’s Table, hopefully you did both. I started with my current sin, then I looked back on the Christ event that paid the penalty, and in hope I proclaimed the Lord’s death until He comes again. Looking for what Titus called “our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
                                          I’ve spent much of the last 2 weeks listening to a playlist called “Nostalgic Christmas” and as I visited with the person who decorated our sanctuary so lovely, she said she intentionally prefers traditional shades of red, rather than modern color palettes.
                                          Just as the Lord’s table takes us back, There is something about Advent that also takes us back to warm memories, but, at the same time, we anticipate good times as we approach the end of December this year. If we only look back, and never look forward, it can be called, like my Spotify playlist, nostalgic.
                                          I learned just a few weeks ago that nostalgia is considered by American Psychological Association experts as a mental defect.
                                          Nostalgia is often viewed as a deficit in psychology due to its potential negative impacts, such as stagnation and idealization. 1
                                          Stagnation: Clinging to the comforts of the past can hinder personal growth, as it may prevent individuals from adapting to the present or embracing the future.
                                          Idealization: Nostalgia can oversimplify the past, leading to an idealized view that may distort reality and result in poor decision-making based on false memories.
                                          Comparison and Dissatisfaction: Constantly comparing current experiences to past ones can lead to dissatisfaction and a sense of loss of authenticity.
                                          1 https://www.apa.org/news/podcasts/speaking-of-psychology/nostalgia
                                          If we think in terms of extreme homesickness or modern migrants who refuse to adapt, but insist on promoting the culture of their countries of origin, the great melting pot becomes nothing more than hobo stew.
                                          TRANSITION: This morning we will look back at the events that caused the Serpent’s curse, and adopt the Hope of Advent as we look forward to the time Christ crushed the head and power of Satan, providing a reversal for us.

                                          The Corrupt Serpent - Genesis 3:1-5

                                          As many of us have read portions from all over the Bible, it is impossible to approach the test as a blank slate. We read our fuller understanding into the characters of the story.
                                          I know some of you have watched certain programs for decades, some even predating television as the Soap manufacturers broadcasts stories on radio. You turn on the TV, see an aged man with dark hair and a moustache and know, “that’s Victor Newman”. But if your grandchild visited your house they would ask, “Who is he?” “Is he a good guy or a bad guy?”
                                          If we approach Genesis 3 like your grandchild (with no previous bias or assumptions) we quickly learn that this Serpent is not one of the good guys.

                                          a Sudden revelation - (Gen 3.1)

                                          The word crafty literally means cunning, clever, or able to figure things out.
                                          We would generally read this as a positive trait, until the 2nd half of the verse that depict his use of clever words to mislead the woman into doubting the God who had been nothing but very good to her ever since she was created.
                                          It is the crafty use of words that reveals the corrupt nature of this serpent.

                                          Give him enough rope -

                                          You’ve heard me describe snakes as “nope ropes” or the only good snake is one that has been turned into a boot.
                                          I know that Jenn C. agrees with me that snakes deserve the term ropes. and I’ve also learned that if you give a crafty person enough rope, he will eventually get himself tangled or hang himself.
                                          That is exactly what the serpent does here. This serpent is able to use words, and He uses his words to reveal his own corruption and his lack of respect for the God who made him, who made Eve, and who made all the fruit of all the trees in all of the Garden.
                                          TRANSITION: His corruption reveals itself and he merits (because you have done this) a curse that sets him below all other livestock and beasts.

                                          The Cursed Serpent - Genesis 3:14-15

                                          Something happens to the Serpent and to the Earth that does NOT happen to the humans: Gen 3.14 begins with a play on words in the Hebrew language.
                                          The Book of Genesis, Chapters 1–17 3. The Consequences of Transgression (3:14–19)

                                          He who is ʿārûm, “

                                          corruption leads to deception - John 10:10

                                          This corruption will be explained centuries later by Jesus as he describes himself as the Good Shepherd.
                                          John 10:10 ESV:2016
                                          The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
                                          If the Serpent was reversed from crafty to cursed, Jesus himself testifies that He came to complete the curse that fell upon the corrupt serpent! Jesus gives life to the humans by destroying the deception of the serpent.

                                          corruption leads to humiliation - belly and dust - Gen 3.14

                                          The Book of Genesis, Chapters 1–17 3. The Consequences of Transgression (3:14–19)

                                          Obviously, snakes do not eat dust, and no ancient writer ever thought they did. One has to take this passage symbolically, not literally... The writer clearly intends these two facts to be expressions of

                                          Hamilton, Victor P. 1990. The Book of Genesis, Chapters 1–17. The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

                                          corruption leads to enmity - Gen 3.15

                                          The basic meaning of the verb is “to be hostile to,” “to be or treat as an enemy”
                                          Mccomiskey, Thomas E. 1999. “78 אָיַב.” In Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, edited by R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer Jr., and Bruce K. Waltke, electronic ed., 36. Chicago: Moody Press.
                                          The idea of enmity is best described in Exodus 23:22
                                          Exodus 23:22 ESV:2016
                                          “But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.

                                          corruption result in bruising.

                                          the word bruising is the same in both phrases
                                          The Book of Genesis, Chapters 1–17 3. The Consequences of Transgression (3:14–19)

                                          The precedent for translating šûp̄ in two different ways is the Vulgate (Latin) rendering.

                                          Hamilton, Victor P. 1990. The Book of Genesis, Chapters 1–17. The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
                                          the location head/heel is where we find meaning.
                                          This word only appears in 3 texts (and the other 2 are in poetry) so it is hard to get a clear understanding of what this word meant at this time in history. The best explanation I read is that the word is to snap at. So God is saying to the serpent the seed of woman will snap at your head (rendering a snake useless or defeated) but the best you will be able to do is snap at his heel/hoof (rendering a beast annoyed, but not mortally wounded.
                                          TRANSITION: After the Resurrection we see that the corruption and curse play themselves out. After the Resurrection we find...

                                          The Conquered Serpent - Hebrews 2:14-15

                                          Hebrews 2:14–15 ESV:2016
                                          Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
                                          destruction of the serpent/devil/evil one gives deliverance to all who had been enslaved by the results of the curse.
                                          TRANSITION: But since God is gracious and kind, He not only destroys the negative consequences, but He delivers a positive future described as...

                                          The Comfort of Hope - Ephesians 1:15-23

                                          Ephesians 1:15–23 ESV:2016
                                          For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe,...And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
                                          Wisdom (Ep 1.17)
                                          Enlightenment (Ep 1.18)
                                          Knowledge (Ep 1.19)
                                          Authority (Ep 1:22)
                                          Everything that Eve hoped to gain by listening to the lies of the Serpent, are freely given by the exalted Christ.

                                          Conclusion

                                          Advent is an annual reminder of Hope! Hope that, because Jesus came, lived, died & rose, we can exchange the lies believed by the original parents for truth expressed by the eternal Father and His eternal Son who will become our bridegroom as promised by the eternal Spirit.
                                          Because of Advent, we hold onto the great reversal. We take confidence in the doom of our enemy, and the victory of all saints.

                                          Light & Lamp Application:

                                          Light for my Path

                                          The Serpent’s curse is immediate, but Satan's crushing is completed in the Christ event

                                          Lamps for my Steps

                                          Know – know that the Devil CANNOT “make you do it.”
                                          Feel – When you “take the field”, do so as a champion
                                          Do – Claim Christ’s authority over that thing the Holy Spirit is point out, 1 day at a time for 5 days.
                                          1 https://www.apa.org/news/podcasts/speaking-of-psychology/nostalgia

                                            • John 10:10NKJV

                                            • Exodus 23:22NKJV

                                            • Hebrews 2:14–15NKJV

                                            • Ephesians 1:15–23NKJV

                                              • Victory In Jesus

                                                  • 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24ESV

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