The Bible's First Promise
The first promise to fallen man, contained in Genesis 3:15, holds the whole gospel and the essence of the covenant of grace.
C.H. Spurgeon expounds on Genesis 3:15, highlighting it as the Bible's first promise to humanity, encapsulating the entire gospel and the essence of God's grace. He explains how this promise has been partially fulfilled through Jesus Christ, who was bruised but ultimately triumphed over sin and death, with a complete victory awaiting at His second coming. Spurgeon encourages believers to recognize that while they may face afflictions and temptations from evil, they can find hope and victory in Christ, who will ultimately crush the serpent's head. He emphasizes the importance of faith in overcoming the trials that bruise us, assuring that we will reign with Christ despite our struggles.
Text
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:15)
This is the first promise to fallen man. It contains the whole gospel and the essence of the covenant of grace. It has been in great measure fulfilled. The seed of the woman, even our Lord Jesus, was bruised in His heel, and a terrible bruising it was. How terrible will be the final bruising of the serpent's head! This was virtually done when Jesus took away sin, vanquished death, and broke the power of Satan; but it awaits a still fuller accomplishment at our Lord's second advent and in the Day of Judgment.
To us the promise stands as a prophecy that we shall be afflicted by the powers of evil in our lower nature, and thus bruised in our heel; but we shall triumph in Christ, who sets His foot on the old serpent's head. Throughout this year we may have to learn the first part of this promise by experience, through the temptations of the devil and the unkindness of the ungodly, who are his seed. They may so bruise us that we may limp with our sore heel; but let us grasp the second part of the text, and we shall not be dismayed. By faith let us rejoice that we shall still reign in Christ Jesus, the woman's seed.
Sermon Outline
- The First Promise
- Genesis 3:15
- The Seed of the Woman
- The Bruising of the Serpent's Head
Key Quotes
“This is the first promise to fallen man. It contains the whole gospel and the essence of the covenant of grace.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“To us the promise stands as a prophecy that we shall be afflicted by the powers of evil in our lower nature, and thus bruised in our heel; but we shall triumph in Christ, who sets His foot on the old serpent's head.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- We will be afflicted by the powers of evil in our lower nature, but we shall triumph in Christ.
- We must grasp the second part of the text, that we shall still reign in Christ Jesus, the woman's seed.
- Through faith, we can rejoice in our ultimate triumph over Satan and the power of evil.