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 (God talking to the serpent)
This morning's worship service went smoothly even though my chaplain was not here...
and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise
thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Genesis 3:15 (God talking to the serpent)
This morning's worship service went smoothly even though my chaplain was not here...
We had several visitors from a church in Queens, New York, who came to be with us, however. But prior to the preacher's coming forth to deliver his message to the congregation, I was able to give a short "Christmas" lesson. I used Genesis 3:1-15 as my text. I reminded the men that, long before the Savior came into the world through Mary's womb, the story of what is today traditionally called Christmas actually began in the Garden of Eden.
I explained that Jesus came into the world as the "Lamb of God" to pay for our sins with His own blood. And I also showed them the first Messianic prophecy, which had been given by the Lord Himself as He spoke with Adam and Eve and the serpent (Satan). As God stood among them, He declared that the "seed of the woman (Eve)" shall "bruise" the serpent's head.
I said to the congregation that the Messianic prophecy found here in Genesis 3:15 was the first in a long line of prophecies that God has woven throughout the Old Testament, which would eventually lead to Jesus' birth in Bethlehem. I wanted them to see how prophetic scriptures* are connected together.
I told the guys that Christmas is much more than Jesus' being born in a manger used to feed livestock. That the Lord's birth into the world, as glorious as this event was, is only one tiny part of the so-called "scarlet thread of redemption" which has already spanned many generations. And, as the Bible reveals, it will culminate at some future time when God is ready to create a new heaven and a new earth where He will dwell with His children, forever.
D.B.
*Prophetic scriptures are those portions of the Bible which deal with prophecy and future events, some of which have since come to pass, while others are yet to be fulfilled.
I explained that Jesus came into the world as the "Lamb of God" to pay for our sins with His own blood. And I also showed them the first Messianic prophecy, which had been given by the Lord Himself as He spoke with Adam and Eve and the serpent (Satan). As God stood among them, He declared that the "seed of the woman (Eve)" shall "bruise" the serpent's head.
I said to the congregation that the Messianic prophecy found here in Genesis 3:15 was the first in a long line of prophecies that God has woven throughout the Old Testament, which would eventually lead to Jesus' birth in Bethlehem. I wanted them to see how prophetic scriptures* are connected together.
I told the guys that Christmas is much more than Jesus' being born in a manger used to feed livestock. That the Lord's birth into the world, as glorious as this event was, is only one tiny part of the so-called "scarlet thread of redemption" which has already spanned many generations. And, as the Bible reveals, it will culminate at some future time when God is ready to create a new heaven and a new earth where He will dwell with His children, forever.
D.B.
*Prophetic scriptures are those portions of the Bible which deal with prophecy and future events, some of which have since come to pass, while others are yet to be fulfilled.
