Discovering the Gospel Before Christ

In John 8:58, Jesus declares, “Before Abraham was even born, I am!” This profound statement asserts His eternal existence with God the Father. Therefore, it should not surprise us to encounter Jesus in the Old Testament, sometimes appearing as ‘The Angel of the Lord.’ The entire Old Testament points to Jesus through symbols, images, and direct prophecies, heralding His coming to earth as 'God with skin on.'

We start in Genesis 3, where Eve has an encounter with the serpent, Satan. This moment marks Satan’s finest hour, as he deceives Eve and disrupts God’s perfect plan. However, Satan's victory is short-lived. Genesis 3:15 foretells the end of Satan and his followers, spelling out God’s eternal plan for humanity. This verse is the first declaration of the Gospel, predicting the ultimate defeat of Satan by Jesus Christ through His sacrificial death and resurrection. It marks the beginning of an endless conflict between the descendants of Eve and the followers of Satan, a struggle that continues to this day.

The Consequences of Sin and God’s Redemption Plan
When Adam and Eve sinned, they immediately felt shame, guilt, and fear. These emotions led them to cover their nakedness, hide from God, and shift blame. Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent. This pattern of covering up, hiding, and blaming continues in human behavior today whenever we sin. The Bible shows us that despite these reactions, there is a remedy to the ugliness of sin.

Genesis 3:15 provides the solution, predicting the endless conflict on Earth and how Jesus would ultimately intervene and provide the remedy for our sin problem. God speaks to the serpent, declaring that He will cause hostility between the serpent and the woman, and between their offspring. The offspring of the woman will strike the serpent’s head, while the serpent will strike his heel. This prophetic message is a promise of Jesus' victory over Satan through His death on the cross and His resurrection.

This promise reveals the cost involved in this victory. Satan strikes Jesus’ heel, representing the pain and suffering He endured on the cross. But Jesus delivers the crushing blow to Satan’s head through His resurrection, defeating sin, Satan, and death. This victory is the cornerstone of our faith, providing hope and assurance of God’s ultimate plan for salvation.

A Battle Between Two Humanities
The conflict described in Genesis 3:15 extends through history, marking a battle between two humanities: those who reject God and follow their own ways, and those who follow God and His teachings. This ongoing struggle is evident throughout the Bible and history. Followers of God, represented by figures like Noah, Abraham, and David, are contrasted with those who oppose Him, like Cain and Pharaoh. This battle continues today, with the forces of good and evil clashing in various forms.

The Christian life is a challenging journey, often marked by attacks from Satan. The devil shoots fiery darts of discouragement, criticism, doubt, and temptation at believers, trying to lead them astray. However, the Bible reminds us that despite these attacks, Jesus has already secured the ultimate victory. By rising from the dead, He crushed Satan’s head, ensuring that evil will not prevail. This reminder of Jesus’ victory brings hope and joy, even in the midst of our battles.

So we invite you to consider where you are on your journey with Jesus. Have you accepted Him as your Savior, or are you still on your way? If you are ready to welcome Jesus into your life, we encourage you to make that decision today. No choice is more important. Embrace the opportunity to become part of God’s eternal family, trusting Jesus alone for your salvation.

​- Adapted from the sermons preached across our 3 campuses on 7/28/24.