Genesis: Jesus is the Creator and the Seed of the Woman
Preaching Christ Through The Bible |
GENESIS: JESUS IS THE CREATOR AND THE SEED OF THE WOMAN
Genesis 1:1-3 (ESV)
1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
Genesis 3:15 (ESV)
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.”
A Blessed New Year, BCI! Every time we approach a new year, we often see this as an opportunity to make some honest evaluations of how we can improve our lives for the coming year. More often, in our desire to be more productive, our immediate focus in our assessments is our habits. The question we usually ask is: “What are some habits that I need to alter, enhance, or put in place in order to achieve my goals this year?”
However, if this is what we prioritize, I firmly believe that we would easily fall short in our efforts without identifying our motivations why we need to improve these habits. Unless we have a firm grasp on the “why” we need to make some changes, it would be challenging to sustain our efforts until we have achieved our goals. Let me give you an example - I know that there are many Christians who would plan to improve their habit of studying the Bible or maintaining a healthy habit of reading the Bible every new year. It has been said that usually, 2 out of 10 people will eventually follow through on it.
On the other hand, if you give them the right motivation to do it, they jump to about 7 or 8 out of 10 would be able to do it. Such a big difference!
Last Sunday, I suggested a worthwhile goal for 2021 to know Jesus Christ intimately in our sermon. If you ask me why this goal is beneficial to us, at the outset, I could give at least two primary reasons:
1) If God, our creator, has spoken to us, we should listen.
Andrew E. Hill and John H. Walton, authors for the book, “A Survey of the Old Testament,” have adequately stated the main reason why believers should study the Bible by saying, “The Sovereign God who created the universe, who controls history and who will accomplish his plan in his time has chosen to speak. That in itself is an act of grace, and we should feel compelled to listen.”
I agree with this rationale. If I receive a direct email from the United States president, it would be foolish of me to totally ignore the email or carelessly read the contents of his email to me. How much more if it is a direct communication from the Sovereign God of the universe?
2) If I want to really listen to Him, the best way is to know Jesus Christ more.
To understand this reasoning, we need to refer to Hebrews 1:1-3 (ESV):
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,
2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
According to this passage, in order to help humanity know who God is, first, He has done His best to communicate at different times and in different ways. But, during these last days, He is primarily speaking through His Son, Jesus Christ, who is the exact imprint of His nature. This truth establishes the primary motivation of why we are recommending the need to know Christ more intimately. The more you know Jesus Christ, the more you will understand who God is and what He has done for us.
Last Sunday, I explained to you that in order to understand Jesus Christ, we have decided to go through the books of the Bible and expound specifically on how each book of the Bible portrays Jesus Christ. This study will reinforce what Jesus said to His two disciples when He walked with them on the road of Emmaus:
Luke 24:25-27 (ESV)
25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”
27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
As you can see from these verses, Jesus is the central theme in all of the Scriptures. So, let’s begin with the book of Genesis and be familiar with how Jesus is presented here:
I THE BOOK OF BEGINNINGS
The title of the book, Genesis, comes from translating the Greek “Origins.” In the Hebrew Bible, this is the translation of the first phrase found in the book, “In the beginning” (Gen.1:1). This book is the first of the five books written by Moses, often referred to as the “Pentateuch,” or among the Jewish community referred to as “Torah.”
The title “Genesis” is quite fitting for the book because the Holy Spirit through Moses traces the beginnings of all the significant subject matters discussed in the Bible. Here are the lists of beginnings in Genesis:
World
Mankind
Marriage
Home
Sin
Sacrifices
Trade
Agriculture
Worship
Languages
Races and Nations
Hebrew Nation
With the introduction of these topics, William MacDonald, a popular Bible commentator, said, “A solid grasp of Genesis is necessary for an understanding of the rest of the sixty-six books of the Bible.”
In other words, if any one of us wishes to have some good foundations on all the essential doctrines from the Bible, we have to go back and familiarize ourselves with the Book of Genesis.
Let me also give you the two main divisions of the book. At least, when you start reading through the book, you will know exactly where you are within the big divisions of the 50 chapters.
The Period of Beginnings (Chaps. 1-11)
The Patriarchs of Israel (Chaps. 12-50)
But most importantly, as you examine this very first book of the Bible, you don’t want to miss the twin themes presented attached to the holy nature of Jehovah God. The curses, which are direct consequences of sin – the fall of Adam and Eve, the universal flood, and confusion at Babel.
Then, the blessings, which are the fruits of obedience – the approval of Abel, the translation of Enoch, the remnant of the flood, the affirmation of Abraham, and the exaltation of Joseph.
II JESUS AS THE CREATOR
As you begin reading the book of Genesis, Moses introduces the existence of the Triune God. He doesn’t bother defending the existence of God, presenting systematic arguments why we should believe in Him. He simply puts Him on the stage, doing the work of creation. Those who deny the doctrine of the Trinity read Genesis chapters 1 and 2 and conclude God the Father did all the creating.
However, when you examine the Scriptures as a whole, you will find the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit as being involved in the creation process. Here are direct Biblical references for them:
The Holy Spirit
Genesis 1:1-2 (ESV)
1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
If you notice the last part of verse 2, you will find the Holy Spirit hovering to prepare himself in the work of creation. It is also worth mentioning that the title “God” in verse 2 is taken from the Hebrew word “Elohim.” This title is significant because it is rendered in plural form, implying Godhead's compound essence. In Hebrew, the singular form of God is simply “El.”
Of course, there are additional references about the Holy Spirit creating. For example - Psalm 33:6 (ESV)
6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host.
The Lord Jesus
To see the participation of Jesus Christ in creation, you will have to seek the New Testament's enlightenment. There are two explicit references:
John 1:1-3 (ESV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
The Gospel of John opened with the Lord Jesus Christ existing in heaven with God, the Father before His incarnation on earth. If you read verse 3, you will find a direct reference of Jesus being the Creator of “all things.” The key phrase that we also need to emphasize here is “through him.” Meaning, although the Father and Spirit are involved in the creation, Jesus Christ was the primary agent or the main executor of the work of creation.
Consistently, the apostle Paul also taught the very same doctrine in Colossians 1:15-16 (ESV):
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
Paul communicated almost the same things “all things were created through Him.”
This perspective about the Lord Jesus Christ is critical in our fundamental beliefs as evangelical Christians. Why? It is because His divinity is necessary for His work of salvation. You see, the Bible is quite evident in saying that only the Lord can truly save.
Isaiah 43:11 (ESV)
11 I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior.
Indeed, there are no other saviors except Jesus Christ. He is most capable of saving those who will humbly come to Him by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).
III THE SEED OF A WOMAN
A significant part of the book of Genesis is Adam and Eve's fall into sin, which is found in chapter 3. This chapter opened with Satan disguised as a Serpent tempting Eve to disobey God's command not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. To make the long story short, after they fell, the Lord confronted them and handed them the direct consequences of their sin. Included in the curses directed to the Serpent (Satan) was this first prophecy concerning the Promised Messiah:
Genesis 3:15 (ESV)
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.”
This verse is so significant in the life of Jesus Christ and is known as “Protevangelium” or “The First Gospel.” If you carefully examine it, there are two predictions that we need to highlight:
1. “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring.”
There will be perpetual hostility between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman. In other words, demonic forces will always treat the Messiah as an enemy.
2. “he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
Based on these words, the Messiah (seed of the woman) would crush the head of the Devil. While the only injury that Satan would be able to do is hurt the heel of the Savior. This statement is a direct reference to the work of salvation that Jesus Christ would fulfill on the cross. Yes, although Jesus suffered, even died on the cross physically. The resurrection of Jesus on the third day brought about total defeat on the Devil.
The New Testament counterpart of this prophecy in Genesis 3:15 is Galatians 4:4-5 (ESV):
4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,
5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
The two reasons why Jesus Christ came to our world is to redeem us from our sins and give us the honor of being adopted in His family.
Going back to Genesis 3, it is incredible to see the grace of God that as soon as the first couple, Adam and Eve, fell into sin, God immediately laid down His plan for their salvation. Martin Luther puts this truth in perspective for us:
“All the promises of God lead back to the first promise concerning Christ in Genesis 3:15. The faith of the fathers in the Old Testament era, and our faith in the New Testament are one and the same faith in Christ Jesus. . . . Time does not change the object of true faith, or the Holy Spirit. There has always been and always will be one mind, one impression, one faith concerning Christ among true believers whether they live in times past, now, or in times to come.”
As I close this sermon, allow me to summarize the two representations of Jesus Christ in Genesis by saying that I hope we will not fail to see the double-claim that Jesus has over our lives. The first claim comes because He is our Creator. We indeed came into existence because of Him and for Him (Col. 1:16). Then, the second claim is brought about by our redemption. He paid the price for our salvation, so He literally owns us (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Having established these truths, I pray we recognized the reality that the only way we can enjoy this life to the fullest is when we surrender our lives to Him.
-Dr. Jeremiah Lepasana