New Life Bible Fellowship Church
10/5/25

      • Psalm 37:1–4KJV1900

  • In Christ Alone
  • Open Our Eyes

      • Psalm 149KJV1900

  • Doxology

  • Introduction:

    We are currently in a three-sermon mini series called the Purpose of the Church. If you remember from last week, we began with the understanding that our primary purpose from which all the other purposes flow, is to Worship God. We saw how the Psalmist in Psalm 96, called us to sing a new song to the Lord, and ascribe to Him all of the attributes that make Him God. We finally looked at our responsibility to live in the here and now, declaring that God is reigning sovereignly with no rivals that will dethrone Him, and He will judge the earth in righteousness and equity. It is with this certainty that God alone will have the last word, that we can continue in a world filled with darkness and evil.
    As a result of this primary overarching purpose of His church to worship Him, we recognize the absolute essential need to prepare God’s people to do just that…to be a light, salt, and the voice of God’s saving grace in this dark world. How do we prepare God’s people to do this? The scripture clearly shows us that God has given to His church gifts…these gifts are to build up and prepare the church for this function in the world. Therefore, the second purpose of the church is to build up, or as we’ve entitled it, Edify the Saints. This we hope to clearly understand from Pauls letter to the Ephesians 4:11-16. To get a running start into the context of this text, we will begin in verse 1:

    Text: Ephesians 4:9-16

    Ephesians 4:1–16 ESV
    1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” 9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

    Main Idea: Since the church is a living organism, empowered by Christ, each member is called to use their gifts to promote growth, unity, and maturity in faith.

    Background:

    Paul founded this church as we read in Acts 19, spending more then two years in Ephesus, and it became the center for evangelizing the western part of Asia Minor. He wrote Ephesians from prison (Acts 28) along with Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.
    Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, may have been prompted by the darkness in which the church of Ephesus was surrounded. A darkness fueled by the most prominent civic monument, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the temple of the goddess Diana. In one inscription, the city describes itself as the “nurturer” of the goddess, and the goddess in turn makes Ephesus the “most glorious” of the Asian cities. People from the area would appreciate the irony of Paul’s words about Christ nourishing His own body, the church (5:29).
    Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is split into two main sections. Section one, Chapters 1-3, is loadied with indicatives, or statements of fact, that declare to us all that we have in Christ. For instance:
    Ephesians 1:3–4 ESV
    3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
    Ephesians 2:8–10 ESV
    8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
    Ephesians 3:6 ESV
    6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
    Paul ends this first section of indicatives with a doxology:
    Ephesians 3:20–21 ESV
    20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
    Then in chapters 4-6, we are given the imperatives, or commands on what to do, and how we are to use practically all that we have in Christ. For instance:
    Ephesians 4:1 ESV
    1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
    Ephesians 5:25 ESV
    25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,
    Ephesians 6:10–11 ESV
    10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
    This is where we find ourselves this morning, in this section of imperatives, where Paul discusses the gifts that Christ has given to the church, including apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. He emphasizes the importance of these roles in equipping believers for works of service, leading to the unity and maturity of the body of Christ.
    Christ is the one, not people, not educational institutions, but Christ who equips His church with various leaders and gifts for the edification of His body. This passage points to Christ as the head of the church, from whom all growth flows, illustrating His ongoing work in believers' lives through the Holy Spirit.
    So we begin this morning with the reality of Christ’s gifting, with the purpose of these gifts for the…

    I. Equipping the Saints (11-12)

    We read also verses 1-9, seeing that Paul begins section two with the word, Therefore, which links to all of section one, ending with that great doxology we read earlier, setting the stage for his first imperative, to walk worthy of the calling to which we have been called (1),
    There will be characteristics that show we are walking correctly in verses 2-3. These characteristics are a result of the calling of our eternal triune God, who is at work to bring about a oneness in Christ body the church, that same oneness that is enjoyed in the Godhead, and is given to His church by grace (3-7). In order to do that, Paul explains how God sent His son Jesus as we see in verse 8-10.
    Thus, the immediate context of this morning’s text is found in verse 8-10, which describes both the finished work of Christ in verse 8, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”, which came about from His incarnation (descended into the lower regions, the earth). Christ descended from the highest heavens to the lowest regions (i.e., to the earth), where he suffered, died, and was buried, but where he also defeated death and rose again.
    He then ascended (9)(Acts 1:9) 40 days later to be seated in the highest heavens at the right hand of the Father (Acts 2:33).
    far above (10) - Christ is the supreme head of the church who fills all things (see 1:23) with his glory, power, and sovereign prerogative to dispense gifts to his people (see 4:11–16). Thus, Christ is seen as the conquering hero, home from the battle, and distributing gifts, made available from the battle’s outcome to His people.
    Here now are those gifts, which you will note is not an exhaustive list of all the gifts that are found in 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, or 1 Peter 4:10-11, but are those which He gave specifically, to bring about a unified church, enjoying the oneness of walking worthy of our calling…
    11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, - we begin with two gifts which have their impotance and primary use as the early church began:
    apostles (apostolos [noun] - one sent forth with a mission). In a restricted sense, these are those who had been with Jesus and witnessed His resurrection (or received a special revelation of the risen Jesus) and who had been commissioned by Jesus to be founders of the church (Acts 1:21, 22; 1 Cor. 15:1–9). The word was also used in a broader sense of people sent out as delegates of particular churches (2 Cor. 8:23; Phil. 2:25), though these do not appear to be the ones Paul has in mind in this passage.
    prophets (prophetes [noun] - one who speaks for God). The New Testament prophets conveyed special revelation to the early church. Their functions included prediction, exhortation, encouragement, warning, and explanation (Acts 15:32; 21:9–11; 1 Cor. 14:3). The teaching of the New Testament prophets and apostles laid the foundation of the church (2:20), and certain aspects of their work related to that unique task have been discontinued. All that the apostles and prophets accomplished has been set forth for us in God’s written word, the Bible.
    Ephesians 2:19–20 ESV
    19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
    evangelists. People especially gifted to proclaim the gospel (Acts 21:8; 1 Cor. 1:17).
    shepherds and teachers. The two words go together to refer to a single set of individuals who both shepherd and instruct God’s flock.
    in essence, the evangelist and pastor/teacher take what has been provided by the apostles and prophets in order to…
    12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
    Those church leaders with various gifts (v. 11) are to equip (katartismos [noun] - the bringing of someone or something to completion, and fit for some purpose ) the saints (all Christians) so that they can do the work (ergon [noun] - work a person is obliged to perform) of ministry.
    Note that this equipping is specific, it is not to make you smarter, richer, or anything else outside of the work of ministry.
    Thus, Sunday mornings are first and foremost for the saints (believers), in order to equip them.
    All Christians have spiritual gifts that should be used in ministering to one another (1 Cor. 12:7, 11; 1 Pet. 4:10), however, these gifts are seen as fundamental or foundational in the preparation for others to use their gifts thus…
    for [building up] (oikodome [noun] - to construct or build; edify) the body of Christ
    So how long do we do this, when is our job done?

    II. Unity in Diversity (13)

    13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, - We see here the extent of the work to be done, as well as, the diversity of gifts that serve to bring about the unity of Christ’s people.
    until (mechri [conjunction] - temporary action that continues to a completed end) we (the body of Christ) all attain (katantao [aor, act, sub] - the possibility of reaching) - So, in essence, this work of equipping is ongoing and continues to focus as directed by three prepositions of direction (to - eis), which are seen not as a series of accomplishments that moves from one level to the next, but actions that take place in parallel, or concurrently, moving like concentric circles along cohesively to a final end:
    to the unity (henotes [noun] - the quality of becoming one, amidst diversity of gifts) of the faith (pistis [noun] - in the context, our Christian faith) and of the knowledge (epiginosis [noun] - full knowledge) of the Son of God - the idea is that the more we know Christ, the greater our faith grows, and the greater our faith grows, the more we desire to know Christ, and the more we engage in this growth it shows itself directed…
    to mature manhood extends the body metaphor used earlier for the church and contrasts with “children” in the next verse (see Heb. 5:11–14). Some people think that the learning of doctrine is inherently divisive, but it is people who divide the church, whereas the knowledge of the Son of God (both knowing Christ personally and understanding all that he did and taught) is edifying and brings about “mature manhood” when set forth in love (Phil. 3:10). Which in turn brings us closer…
    to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ - Christ Jesus is the standard of the maturity to which the church must aspire, the full expression of his divine and human perfection (see Eph. 1:23; 3:19; Col. 1:19; 2:9).
    Therefore, as we equip through our teaching, we learn more of Christ together, becoming more unified in our faith, maturing in our manhood, and thus becoming closer to the fullness of Christ.
    So we see here the the work of the gifted evangelist to preach the gospel and bring those who profess Christ into the church so that the gifted pastor-teacher can equip them through the proclamation and teaching of the word centered on Christ, and not on feel good or pragmatic teachings of their own (cf. 1 Cor. 2:2), for only then will the church be edified.
    As a natural by-product of this edification, when done properly, will cause unwavering…

    III. Maturing in Truth (14-15)

    14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
    so that - purpose of maturing to the fullness of Christ
    we may no longer be children. Immaturity in the truths of Christian doctrine makes the church like gullible children tossed helplessly by the waves and wind of cunning and deceitful schemes of false teachers (1 Pet. 2:1; 1 John 4:1–3; Jude 4; Rev. 2:2).
    15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, - when done right, …
    Rather (de [conjunction of contrast]) - in contrast to staying immature as children.
    [speaking the truth] (aletheuo [pre, act, par] - to make statements consistent with reality) - being equipped in truth and by truth, their maturity shows itself in their speaking of truth…but the caution is to always do so…
    in love (agape)- truth must not be used as a club to bludgeon people into acceptance and obedience but must always be presented in love. As a result, instead of beating down growth…
    we are to grow up - Ths truth in love leads the Christian to maturity, which is defined here as growing up into Christ.
    in every way into him who is the head, into Christ - As head, Christ leads, directs, and guides the body (see 5:23; 1 Cor. 11:3). This reminder of the headship of Christ, transitions us into a snapshot of the true church edified through the gifts presented to it by the holy Spirit and stands as an edifice of the wisdom, power, and amazing grace of our God, for as we do what He has called us to do, the church perpetuates as one who is…

    IV. Building in Love (16)

    16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
    from (ek [preposition of source]) whom (hos [relative pronoun]) - Refers back to Christ the head.
    the whole body - the entire invisible church
    joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped. When those gifted do what they have been called to do, creates a cohesive whole, which…
    when each part is working properly, - as believers use correctly the gifts they are given, not for their own private benefit, but done for the benefit of the corporate body, for no one can grow to maturity in isolation, it…
    makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. - shows us God’s plan for perpetuating His true church…it is not by our wisdom, pragmatism, or somehow tricking people into a temporary growth scheme, but by the slow, meticulous use of God’s gifts to His church, and done with God’s love for His church. This plan of God is the good seed, good soil, water, and fertilizer of church growth.

    So What?

    Do we understand that it is Christ who gave us gifts as an outcome of His victory over sin and death?
    Do we understand that the sole purpose of these gifts is that His church would grow and mature in to the fullness of Christ?
    Do we further understand that this growth plan of God to edify the saints through gifted leaders, to do the work of the ministry is the only growth plan that will work?

      • Genesis 3:15KJV1900

      • Matthew 28:16–18ESV

      • Daniel 7:14ESV

      • Matthew 28:19ESV

      • Genesis 12:3ESV

      • Romans 6:3–4ESV

      • 1 Corinthians 12:13ESV

      • Galatians 3:27ESV

      • Ephesians 4:4–6ESV

      • Romans 10:9–17ESV

      • Matthew 28:20ESV

      • 2 Timothy 3:16–17ESV

      • John 20:21ESV

  • Introduction:

    We begin this morning with a new series, a series that explores nine key passages from the Old Testament, revealing how God's plan of redemption through Jesus Christ was woven into the fabric of salvation history from the very beginning. It has been our tradition to preach a series of messages from both the Old and New Testaments, since they represent the whole of the Word of God. Therefore these nine messages will be our series from the Old Testament.
    It’s easy to think of the Old Testament as just a collection of ancient laws, history, and poetry—a story separate from the New Testament. But the truth is far more exciting! The coming of Jesus Christ wasn't a historical accident or a divine Plan B. It was the centerpiece of God's strategy, meticulously planned and woven into the very fabric of creation and history. In this nine-part series, "Christ in the Old Testament," we will trace the scarlet thread of redemption, proving that long before the manger in Bethlehem, God had already pointed to His Son. Join us as we explore nine stunning passages from Genesis to the minor prophets that confirm Jesus was truly the Desire of all nations—planned, promised, and prepared for centuries.
    In order to set the tone for this morning’s first sermon, I want us to imagine the scene: the perfection of God’s creation from chapter’s one and two has been invaded by an evil intruder and as a result, Paradise is shattered. The air is thick with the dust of disobedience. Adam and Eve, hiding in shame, have just ushered sin and death into human history. As God walks through the garden, pronouncing the curses that will forever change the world, you might expect only condemnation. But right here, in the darkest moment, God performs the greatest pivot of all time. He speaks a promise hidden in a curse—a prophecy so powerful that theologians call it the Protoevangelium, the "First Gospel." The coming of Christ was not an afterthought, but an immediate, unshakeable assurance given at the very moment the world fell, and prepared for in eternity past in the counsel of the God-head. So this morning, we focus our attention on Genesis 3:15, the opening shot in the war between light and darkness, to see in The First Promise how God promised a Conquering Seed—a Savior who would crush the head of the serpent.

    Text: Genesis 3:1-15

    Genesis 3:1–15 ESV
    1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. 8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14 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. 15 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.”

    Main Idea: Since sin entered the world through the sin of Adam, God in implementing His eternal covenant of redemption, promised a future deliverer who will crush the head of the serpent.

    Background:

    Genesis is the foundational book of the Bible, with its name literally meaning "beginning." It is traditionally attributed to Moses and covers history from the creation of the universe and humanity (Chapters 1–2) through the entrance of sin into the world (Chapter 3), the Flood (Chapters 6–9), and the lives of the early patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Chapters 12–50).
    The context for Sermon 1, focusing on Genesis 3:15, is critical:
    Chapters 1-2: God creates a perfect, ordered world and places humanity in a relationship of trust and fellowship with Him in the Garden of Eden.
    Chapter 3: This is the hinge point, describing the Fall of Man. When God speaks in 3:15, He is not speaking into a neutral environment, but into a world that has just been shattered by disobedience, shame, and the introduction of a powerful enemy (the serpent/Satan).
    The sermon's passage (3:15) is therefore the first instance of hope immediately following humanity's utter failure, showing that redemption was God's plan from the very start.

    I. The Fall of Man (3:1−7)

    Adam and Eve's rebellion introduces sin and curses into the world, and therefore, in order to understand the immensity of the good news, we must try and understand the severity of the bad news.
    1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”
    The origin of evil has long been a discussion among theologians for centuries, however, this we know, sometime before the fall of man, Satan who originally was a prominent angel of God, fell and took myriads of angels with him as his demon cohorts (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezek. 28:12-19). It is not our purpose this morning to explore this any further but to simply state that this happened and figures greatly into our context.
    The speaking serpent is suddenly introduced into the story with minimum detail. Nothing is mentioned about its origin, other than that it is one of the beasts of the field. Although the serpent is eventually portrayed as God’s enemy, the initial introduction is full of ambiguity regarding its true nature. While the brief comment that it is the craftiest of the beasts possibly indicates more of the idea of potential danger, rather than our English words for “crafty” and “cunning.” Later Scripture indicates that Satan worked through the serpent (Isa. 27:1; Rev. 12:9).
    Isaiah 27:1 ESV
    1 In that day the Lord with his hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and he will slay the dragon that is in the sea.
    Revelation 12:9 ESV
    9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
    woman. Satan subverts the marriage institution by bypassing the man, tempting the woman to usurp his authority (1 Tim. 2:12, 14). Nevertheless, the husband is held accountable for obeying her (vv. 9, 17).
    Similarly, the serpent’s initial question may have sounded quite innocent, although it deliberately misquotes God as saying that the couple must not eat of any tree in the garden. Did the serpent merely misunderstand what God had said? In these ways the subtlety of the serpent’s approach to the woman is captured by the narrator.
    It is noteworthy that the serpent also deliberately avoids using God’s personal name “Yahweh” (“LORD”) when he addresses the woman. Here is another hint that his presence in the garden presents a threat. Although his initial words appear deceptively innocent, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”, his subsequent contradiction of God leaves no doubt about the serpent’s motive and purpose.
    The text does not indicate when or how the serpent became evil. As the narrative proceeds, it becomes clear that more than a simple snake is at work here; an evil power is using the snake. As indicated by God’s declaration that “everything he had made … was very good” (1:31), clearly evil entered the created world at some unknown point after God’s work of creation was completed. Likewise, nothing in the Bible suggests the eternal existence of evil, thus evil had a beginning.
    2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ”
    The woman’s response largely echoes the divine instruction given in 2:16–17 regarding the tree of knowledge, although she fails to identify the tree clearly as the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and adds the comment neither shall you touch it. These minor variations are possibly meant to convey, even at this stage, that the woman views God’s instructions as possibly open to human modification.
    We see in these verses the subtlety of the serpent as he tempts Eve by:
    emphasizing God’s prohibition, not His provision;
    reducing God’s command to a question;
    casting doubt upon God’s sincerity and defaming His motives; and
    denying the truthfulness of His threat, as we see next…
    4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.
    You will not surely die. It is sometimes claimed that the serpent is correct when he says these things to the couple, for they do not “die”; Adam lives to be 930 years old (5:5). Yet the serpent speaks half-truths, promising much but delivering little. And while they do not cease to exist physically, they are expelled from the garden-sanctuary and God’s presence. Cut off from the source of life and the tree of life, they are in the realm of the dead. What they experience outside of Eden is not life as God intended, but spiritual death.
    Throughout history Satan is engaged in deceiving and casting doubt on the word of God. When tempted by Satan, Christ rejected his lies. In spite of Satan’s attacks, the word of God will stand forever.
    5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
    The serpent not only directly contradicts what God has said but goes on to present the fruit of the tree as something worth obtaining: by eating it, the couple will be like God, knowing good and evil. The irony of the serpent’s remarks should not be overlooked. The couple, unlike the serpent, has been made in the image of God (1:26–27). In this way they are already like God. Moreover, being in the image of God, they are expected to exercise authority over all the beasts of the field, which includes the serpent. By obeying the serpent, however, they betray the trust placed in them by God. This is not merely an act of disobedience; it is an act of treachery. Those who were meant to govern the earth on God’s behalf instead rebel against their divine King and obey one of his creatures.
    We now see that with all of Satan’s tempting, subtile words, Eve works out in her own mind her justification for disobedience…
    6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
    BTW, this is essentially the entry point of all sin as described in 1 John 2:16
    1 John 2:16 ESV
    16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
    Sin is essentially man’s failure to trust in God, an act or state of unbelief, an assertion of autonomy. Sin manifests itself in both doing what God has forbidden, and failing to do what He has commanded. True religion consists of communion with God based on trust and issuing into obedience (John 14:15).
    John 14:15 ESV
    15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
    the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise. Her decision was based on practical values, aesthetic appreciation, and intellectual gratification.
    she took of its fruit and ate. By this act she sealed an alliance with the prince of death and darkness. God’s loving election and plan of redemption are her only hope.
    gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Man becomes a rebel: surrounded with sufficient motives to trust and obey God, he chooses disobedience against God (6:5; 8:21). Salvation depends entirely upon the Lord, not the rebel. By God’s appointment Adam represented the race as its federal head and brought death upon all (Rom. 5:12). He also represents, as a model and prototype, mankind’s hostility against God.
    Romans 5:12 ESV
    12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
    7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
    Then the eyes of both were opened - yes, their eyes were opened but not just to what is good, now they knew evil and for the first time, they immersed themselves in it.
    Their spiritual death is shown by their alienation from one another, symbolized by the sewing of fig leaves together for clothing, and separation from God, signified by their hiding among the trees.
    they knew that they were naked. Nakedness in the Old Testament suggests weakness, need, and humiliation. The Hebrew word for “naked” sounds like the Hebrew for “crafty” in 3:1. The intimacy of marriage is shattered; trust is replaced by distrust. The first experience of guilt was expressed in terms of an awareness of nakedness. Redemption is linked to God’s providing a covering for human sin.
    Eating the fruit transforms the couple, but not for the better. Now ashamed of their nakedness, they attempt to clothe themselves. Conscious of the Lord God’s presence, they hide. When confronted by God regarding the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the man blames the woman, who in turn blames the serpent.
    3:8 hid themselves. Their consciences condemning them, they shrank from the intimacy with God they formerly enjoyed in the garden. Their expulsion from it matches their attitudes and actions. Throughout scripture, fear and hiding was always a result of sin and rebellion. If that were the end of the story, we would be truly left with no hope for not only Adam and Eve, but all mankind. It is into this tragic hopeless scene, God pronounce a curse and…

    II. The Promise of a Seed (3:15)

    15 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.”
    Amidst the judgment, God gives a glimmer of hope: a "seed of the woman" will one day defeat the serpent.
    [I will put] (syt [verb] - to ordain; something pre-planned) enmity (eba [noun] - a state of deep seated ill-will). God graciously converts the depraved woman’s affections from Satan to Himself.
    between (bayin [noun]) - interval or space between
    you and the woman…your offspring and her offspring. Humanity is now divided into two communities: the redeemed, who love God, and the reprobate, who love self (John 8:33, 44; 1 John 3:8). The division finds immediate expression in the hostility of Cain against Abel (ch. 4). This prophecy finds ultimate fulfillment in the triumph of the second Adam, and the community united with Him, over the forces of sin, death, and the devil (Dan. 7:13, 14; Rom. 5:12–19; 16:20; 1 Cor. 15:45–49; Heb. 2:14, 15). The rest of Genesis traces the woman’s offspring, beginning with Eve’s son Seth, and ending with the sons of Jacob. Ultimately, this line of descendants leads to Jesus Christ (Luke 3:23–38).
    he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. This verse points forward to the suffering Christ and His victory. Speaking in such a way that declares that He has already won the victory at the cross by providing atonement for the saints (Col. 2:13–15) and will consummate it at His second coming (2 Thess. 1:5–10).
    bruise ... bruise (swp [verb imperfect]). - The verbs though the same our defined by context to show their severity and show a process that progresses throughout history. Before His glorious victory, the woman’s seed must suffer (be bruised) to win the new community from the serpent’s dominion (Is. 53:12; Luke 24:26, 46; 2 Cor. 1:5–7; Col. 1:24; 1 Pet. 1:11).
    head…heel. - Thus the verb bruise in each case is defined in its severity by the object (head vs. heal) on which it is performed.
    he shall bruise your head - in essence means that Satan will be dealt a fatal blow or crushed out of his natural shape or condition which was symbolically shown when the serpent was made to crawl instead of standing erect.
    you shall bruise his heel - in essence means that in the battle to crush the serpent Satan, the seed of the woman would be struck and bruised in the process, but would emerge the victor!
    By using the pronouns “he” and “his,” the intended meaning is that one particular offspring is in view. Within the larger biblical framework, this hope comes to fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who is clearly presented in the NT as overcoming Satan, while at the same time being bruised.
    Due to the announcement of the defeat of the serpent by the seed of the woman, Jesus the Messiah, theologians, as was mentioned in the introduction, have long referred to Gen. 3:15 as the protoevangelion, or “the first gospel.” This verse is the first promise of redemption in Scripture. So what was the fulfillment of this first promise, we shall go to the New Testament for that as we see…

    III. Christ, the Conquering Seed (Heb 2:14-15)

    This seed is Jesus Christ, whose death and resurrection "crushes" Satan's power once and for all. The writer of Hebrews, writing to fellow Jewish believers who were undergoing persecution for their faith and as a result, were tempted to abandoned their faith, very skillfully declares to them, the fulfillment of Genesis 3:15 when he says:
    14 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,
    flesh and blood. This is an idiomatic way of saying “human.” It may emphasize the limitations of the human condition.
    partook of the same things. That is, the same humanity, a phrase emphasizing the completeness of the Son’s incarnation. In order for Christ to triumph over death and the devil by enduring God’s judgment upon sinners, it was necessary for Him to share their “flesh and blood” nature in order that He could be a true human representative in bearing this judgment.
    that through death he might destroy - this is the bruising that Jesus would receive, but that bruising brought the eternal destruction of…
    the one who has the power of death. Having tempted humanity to sin, the devil acts as an accuser (Rev. 12:10), demanding that a just punishment be exacted; and “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). The devil’s power to kill is destroyed only when our sin has been punished—in Christ’s death. Then his accusations have no ground (Col. 2:14, 15).
    Colossians 2:14–15 ESV
    14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
    15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
    deliver all those - gives hope and deliverance to those who were in slavery to the fear of death. the one who has the power of death. Satan’s power is not absolute, but is under the control of God, who ultimately rules over life and death. Nevertheless, Satan “was a murderer from the beginning”, and he does have power to harm people to some extent.
    The verse at least means Satan has power to work in the realm of death, and to incite people into sin that leads to death. However, the emphasis of the verse is not on Satan’s power but on Christ’s triumph over Satan and over death….thus binding Satan and his subtleties to temp and destroy God’s elect.
    (This verse is the most explicit fulfillment of the "crushing" in Genesis 3:15.)
    Thus the seed of the woman, Jesus Christ was on a destroy and deliver mission as prophesied in the first promise.

    So What?

    Do we understand that sin happens when we seek to replace the eternal glory of God with the temporal promises of the creation?
    Do we understand that there are only two classes of people in the world, those apart of the seed of the woman and those who are apart of the seed of the serpent?
    Do we understand that the entrance of sin in the garden required the necessity of one who would be bruised for us while crushing Satan?
    Do we understand that Christ truly has crushed the head of the serpent Satan and delivered His people from the slavery of sin?

      • Genesis 3:1–15ESV

      • Genesis 3:1ESV

      • Isaiah 27:1ESV

      • Revelation 12:9ESV

      • Genesis 3:2–6ESV

      • 1 John 2:16ESV

      • John 14:15ESV

      • Romans 5:12ESV

      • Genesis 3:7–8ESV

      • Genesis 3:15ESV

      • Hebrews 2:14–15ESV

      • Hebrews 2:14ESV

      • Colossians 2:14–15ESV

      • Hebrews 2:15ESV

  • O Come Let Us Adore Him
New Life Bible Fellowship Church
dick.bickings@gmail.com
(302) 945-8145
https://newlifebfcde.org
18 members • 1 follower