God's Plan For Saving Man
LESSON TWO - THE PROMISE FULFILLED
The theme of the Bible is human redemption. In the first 3 chapters of Genesis, we have the story of man's beginning as God created him, the beginning of sin as Satan beguiled the woman, and the beginning of the consequences of sin as man fell from the close fellowship that he had with God in the garden and began to die. But in the third chapter we also have the beginning of the redemption of man through the promise of God.
Bible history falls into 3 great dispensations: the Patriarchal, from Adam to Moses, the Mosaic, from Moses to Christ, and the Christian age, from the death of Christ to the end of time. In this lesson we want to follow the promise God made to Adam and Eve in the garden through each age, and see the fulfillment of this promise in the final age of earth, the Christian age, as it is fulfilled in Jesus.
I.
THE PROMISE: ADAM TO ABRAHAM.A. Look again carefully at the promise( Gen. 3:15, see Lesson 1 ).
B. The terrible effects of sin in the world are seen in Gen. 4 in the murder of Abel by his brother Cain. Instead of leveling off or getting better, sin becomes more prevalent, until God must destroy the earth with the Flood( Gen. 6:1-3, 5ff ).
C. Man's efforts to lift himself up from the condemnation of sin are seen in the building by Noah's descendants of a tower whose top may reach into heaven, "and let us make us a name" ( Gen. 11:1-9 ).
II.
THE PROMISE: FROM ABRAHAM THROUGH THE PROPHETS.A. Not long after Noah, God called a man by the name of Abram (later called Abraham)to leave his land and go to a land God would show him; he gave him certain promises if he would obey ( Gen. 12:1-3 ).
B. The promise given to Abraham had two parts:
1. Of his seed, a great nation would come( 12:1-3a ). Physical
2. All nations of the earth would be blessed( 12:3b). Spiritual
C. EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE BIBLE IS INVOLVED IN THE UNFOLDING OF EITHER OF THESE TWO PROMISES OR THEIR FULFILLMENT. THE FIRST PROMISE WAS FULFILLED IN THE NATION OF ISRAEL, AND THE SECOND PART IN JESUS CHRIST, THE SEED OF THE WOMAN, AND THE CHURCH.
III.
THE SECOND PROMISE AND ITS UNFOLDING.THE UNFOLDING AND ELABORATION OF THIS PLAN COME IN THE FORM OF PROPHECIES.
A. The blessing promised through the see of Abraham would come through the tribe of Judah( Gen. 49:10 ), specifically, the family of David( 2 Sam. 7:12-13 ). Fulfilled ( Matt. 1:1,2,17 ).
B. The sign would be that of a virgin conceiving and bringing forth a son( Isa. 7:14 ). Fulfilled( Matt. 1:18-25 ).
C. Born in Bethlehem( Micah 5:2 ). Fulfilled( Matt. 2:1 ).
D. Preceded by a great prophet( Mal.3:1 ). Fulfilled( Matt. 3:1-3 ).
E. He would be a great prophet( Deut. 18:15-19 ). ( Acts 3:22-23 ).
F. A priest & king( Zech. 6:12-13 ). ( Acts 2:36; Heb. 4:14 ).
G. His sacrifice( Isa. 53:5-6 )( John 8:46; Mat. 27:4; 19:4-6; 1 Pet. 2:21-24 ).
H. As Jesus is the fulfillment of these prophets, he is also the fulfillment of the promises to Abraham and Eve.
1. His victory over sin and death( Acts 2:22-24; 1 Cor. 15:54-57 ).
2. There is no spiritual blessing outside Christ( Eph. 1:3 ). All things are summed up in him( vs. 10 ).
CONCLUSION
:Jesus is the fulfillment of the promise to Eve and Abraham. It is through him that all the nations of the earth are to be blessed. There is no blessing without him.
As we can see from this lesson, the redemption in Christ was known and revealed as far back as the Garden of Eden. Peter says the sacrifice of Jesus was foreknown before the foundation of the world( 1 Pet.1:18-20 ). So Paul calls God's plan for saving man through Jesus the "Eternal Purpose"( Eph. 3:8-11 ).
The seed of the woman, Jesus Christ, was victorious over Satan, and he bruised his head, wresting from him his power of death and Hades( Rev. 1:17 ). But in bruising Satan's head he was put to death, so in a figure his heel was bruised.
In our next lesson we want to consider the 2 covenants God made with his people.