Meditation on a Mighty Miracle
Genesis 3:15
Introduction
The Evangel and the Protevangelium
We are familiar with the prefix “proto” as in the word “prototype.” It designates the first, original, or earliest form of the word it introduces.
The Evangel is the Gospel, the “good news.”
“We rejoice in the light, and we echo the song
that comes down through the night from the heavenly throng.
Ay! we shout to the lovely evangel they bring,
and we greet in his cradle our Savior and King!”
— Joseph G. Holland, “There’s a Song in the Air”
The Evangel is the Gospel, and the Protevangelium (or, protoevangelium, sometimes seen hyphenated as proto-evangelium) is the very first announcement of this “good news.”
Transition
Full disclosure: None of the following were the basis for this sermon idea concerning Incarnation Day as the final sermon in 2020 since I had the rough draft done prior to encountering each of them.
The Bible memory verse for this week: Genesis 3:15.
The Bible reading for tomorrow: Genesis 1–3.
What has been on the radio recently:
Alistair Begg, “Christmas in Genesis — Part One” (Gen. 3:15), sermon (8 DEC 2019; ID: 3398) from series “Christmas in the Beginning” (48:59 audio with transcript) on Truth For Life at https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/christmas-genesis/ [accessed 24 DEC 2020]; excerpt rebroadcast 18 DEC 2020 (24:59 audio) on Truth For Life at https://www.truthforlife.org/broadcasts/2020/12/18/christmas-in-genesis-part-1-of-6/ [accessed 24 DEC 2020].
Outline
I. The Promise of a Seed in the Midst of a Cosmic Conflict
II. The Promise
of Victory Despite Seeming Defeat
I. The Promise of a Seed in the Midst of a Cosmic Conflict
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed
Seed = just a beginning.
It continues through the line of Abraham and David to Christ, and through Christ to us!
Heb. 2:16 — For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Gal. 3:16, 19, 29 — 16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ…. 19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator…. 29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Jn. 7:42 — Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?
Rom. 1:3 — Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
2 Tim. 2:8 — Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
Rom. 9:8 — That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
Baby = helpless, needy, dependent, vulnerable.
II. The Promise of Victory Despite Seeming Defeat
it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
This first “Evangel” is good news in the midst of bad news.
It is hope bound up in a curse — hope for mankind in the curse on the serpent.
It means resurrection to life from a fall into death.
It signals ultimate victory won out of temporary defeat.
While the focus of the subjects in the Protevangelium is singular, the fulfillment involves a corporate sense whereby the Lord Jesus Christ carries on His warfare to victory through His people by His indwelling Holy Spirit.
Lk. 10:19 — Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Rom. 16:20 — And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Rev. 12:17 — And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Conclusion:
Maltbie D. Babcock, “This is My Father’s World” (last 3 verses, not often sung)
“While a pastor in Lockport, New York, Babcock liked to hike in an area called “the escarpment,” an ancient upthrust ledge near Lockport. It has a marvelous view of farms, orchards, and Lake Ontario, about 15 miles distant. It is said those walks in the woods inspired these lyrics. The title recalls an expression Babcock used when starting a walk: “I’m going out to see my Father’s world.”
Source: Cyber
Hymnal at http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/t/i/s/m/tismyfw.htm
[accessed 6 JAN 2021].
“This is my
Father’s world, dreaming, I see His face.
I ope my eyes, and in glad surprise cry, “The Lord is in this place.”
This is my Father’s world, from the shining courts above,
The Beloved One, His Only Son,
Came—a pledge of deathless love.
This is my
Father’s world, should my heart be ever sad?
The lord is King—let the heavens ring. God reigns—let the earth be glad.
This is my Father’s world. Now closer to Heaven bound,
For dear to God is the earth Christ trod.
No place but is holy ground.
This is my
Father’s world. I walk a desert lone.
In a bush ablaze to my wondering gaze God makes His glory known.
This is my Father’s world, a wanderer I may roam
Whate’er my lot, it matters not,
My heart is still at home.”
[Sermon preached 27 DEC 2020 by Pastor John T. “Jack” Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown, PA.]
Bibliography
Jared M. August, “The Messianic Hope of Genesis: The Protoevangelium and Patriarchal Promises,” Themelios 42:1 (APR 2017), pp. 46–62; on Themelios at https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/themelios/article/the-messianic-hope-of-genesis-the-protoevangelium-and-patriarchal-promises/ [accessed 24 DEC 2020].
Alistair Begg, “Christmas in Genesis — Part One” (Gen. 3:15), sermon (8 DEC 2019; ID: 3398) from series “Christmas in the Beginning” (48:59 audio with transcript) on Truth For Life at https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/christmas-genesis/ [accessed 24 DEC 2020]; excerpt rebroadcast 18 DEC 2020 (24:59 audio) on Truth For Life at https://www.truthforlife.org/broadcasts/2020/12/18/christmas-in-genesis-part-1-of-6/ [accessed 24 DEC 2020].
Charles Lee Feinberg, “The Virgin Birth in the Old Testament,” Bibliotheca Sacra 117:468 (OCT 1960), pp. 313–324.
Warren Austin Gage, The Gospel of Genesis: Studies in Protology and Eschatology (Winona Lake, IN: Carpenter, 2014), pp. 98–100.
“The Proto-Evangelium” (unsigned article from Tabletalk Magazine) on Ligonier Ministries at https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/proto-evangelium/ [accessed 24 DEC 2020].
Thomas R. Schreiner, “Foundations for Faith” (editorial), Southern Baptist Journal of Theology 5:3 (Fall 2001), pp. 2–3; on Southern Equip at https://d3pi8hptl0qhh4.cloudfront.net/documents/sbjt/sbjt_2001fall1.pdf [accessed 24 DEC 2020].
Matt Slick, “What is the protoevangelium?” on Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry (CARM) at https://carm.org/what-is-the-protoevangelium [accessed 24 DEC 2020].
R. Fowler White, “The Last Adam And His Seed: An Exercise In Theological Preemption,” Trinity Journal ns 6:1 (Spring 1985), pp. 60–73.
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