Genesis Part 009
Through Jesus Christ we are given the hope of salvation. Genesis 3:15 contains the first “protoevangelium” which means “first gospel or good news.” The good news that Christ will be victorious over Satan!
In Genesis 3:12-13 we see that man’s habit of not taking personal responsibility for our actions starts right away.
“The man said, ‘The woman You put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.’ Then the LORD God said to the woman, ‘What is this you have done?’ The woman said, ‘The serpent deceived me, and I ate.’”
Unfortunately blaming others for our failings instead of being responsible for our own actions is easy for us to default to.
Verse 15 of Genesis 3 has been called “the protoevangelium” which means “first gospel or good news.” We are given a prophecy that is important for all of us to understand.
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel” (Genesis 3:15).
Notice first that it says her “Seed,” which the translators have appropriately capitalized. In Genesis 22:18 it reads,
“In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."
Later Paul in Galatians 3:16 states,
“Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, ‘and to seeds,’ as of many, but as of one, 'and to your Seed,’ who is Christ.”
In Genesis 3:15, it says that this Seed (Jesus Christ) would bruise the head of the serpent, and the serpent would bruise His heel. This word for “bruise” means “to bruise, to crush.” We can see how Jesus Christ “crushed” Satan in a few ways:
- Through living His perfect life. "Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ‘Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth’” (1 Peter 2:22).
- His death paying the penalty of sin for all of mankind. “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1 John 2:2).
- And through God’s resurrection of Him from the dead that He may be the firstborn of many brethren. “And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18).
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:57
“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Several Bible commentators point out that a serpent’s poison gland is located in their head. A “bruise” on that part of their head would be fatal, just as Christ will ultimately destroy Satan in the end. However, Satan only bruised the heel of our Savior. Satan caused terrible suffering to Christ through the process of the Roman crucifixion, but Satan will not be triumphant.
Tomorrow we will discuss the curses that result from the decision Adam and Eve made.
UYA Team | uya@ucg.org
United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of the young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.
