3.2 THE PROMISE IN EDEN
In Genesis Chapter 3 tells the story of the fall of man. The serpent was cursed by misrepresenting the word of God and tempting Eve to disobey. The man and woman were punished for their disobedience. But comes a ray of hope in this dark picture when God tells the serpent:
I will put enmity [hatred, opposition] between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; this [the seed the woman] shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel "(Gen. 3:15).
This verse contains multiple teaching, we need to carefully define the various elements that there is mentioned. A "seed" means a descendant or child, but can also be plural and mean descendants or children. We shall see that the "seed" of Abraham was Jesus (Gal. 3:16), but if we are "in" Jesus by baptism, then they are the seed (Gal. 3:27-29). The word "seed" also refers to the idea of \u200b\u200bsperm (1 Peter 1:23), so a true seed have the characteristics of his father.
Therefore, the seed of the serpent must refer to what he has family resemblance to the serpent,
-distorting God's word
-lying
-leads others to sin
In Study 6 we see that there is a literal person to do this, but something inside us:
- "our old man" of the flesh (Rom. 6:6).
- "natural man" (1 Cor 2:14).
- "the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts" (Eph. 4:22).
- "the old man with his deeds" (Col. 3:9).
This "man" of sin within of us is the "devil" of the Bible, the serpent.
The seed of the woman was to be a specific person: "You [the snake] shall bruise his heel" (Gen. 3:15). This person was to destroy forever the serpent, that is sin, "he will crush your head." Hitting a serpent's head is deal a mortal blow, given that his brain is in his head. The only person as a likely candidate for seed of the woman must be the Lord Jesus
- "Jesus Christ, which [by the Cross] took his death [and therefore the power of sin - Ro . 6:23] and brought to light life and immortality through the gospel "(2 Tim. 1:10).
-" God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh ", ie the devil of the Bible, the serpent (Rom. 8:3).
" Jesus "appeared to take away our sins" (1 Jn. 3:5).
- "Thou shalt call his name Jesus [meaning 'savior'] because he will save his people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21).
Jesus was literally "born of woman" (Gal. 4:4). He was the son of Mary, Although his father was God. In this sense, he was also the seed of the woman, but not the seed of man, since it had no human father. This seed of the woman had to be temporarily hurt by sin, the seed of the serpent: "Thou shalt bruise his heel" (Gen. 3:15). The bite of a snake in the heel is usually a temporary wound compared to the irreparable damage to hit a snake on the head. Many figures of speech have biblical roots, 'Hit it on the head' (ie, stop or end something completely) is probably based on this prophecy about Jesus who struck the serpent's head.
The condemnation of sin, the serpent, came through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, note how the verses already cited speak of the victory of Christ over sin in the past tense. Therefore, the temporary wound that Jesus suffered on the heel is a reference to his death for three days. His resurrection proved that it was only a temporary wound compared with the fatal blow he gave to sin. Interestingly, extra-biblical historical records indicate that crucifixion victims were nailed to wooden stake going through the heels. Thus, Jesus was "wounded in the heel ' by his death. In Isaiah 53:4,5 states that Christ was "wounded God." This clearly alludes to the prophecy of Genesis 3:15 that Christ would be wounded by the serpent. Eventually, however, God used the evil that Christ faced, so that He is described here as the executor of the disease (Isaiah 53:10), because he controlled the forces of evil that injured his son. So God also of the bad experiences of each of their children.
CONFLICT TODAY
But perhaps you could ask the question: "If Jesus has destroyed sin and death (the snake) Why are still present? The answer is that on the cross Jesus destroyed the power of sin in itself, the prophecy of Genesis 3:15 refers primarily to the conflict between Jesus and sin. This means that because he has invited us to share his victory, we too can finally conquer sin and death. Of course, those who are not invited to share his victory, or declining the offer, they must inevitably experience the sin and death. Although sin and death are also experienced by true believers, through its relationship with the seed of the woman to be baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:27-29), can be forgiven of their sins and, therefore, may ultimately be saved from death, which is the result of sin. Thus, in perspective, Jesus "abolished death on the cross (2 Tim. 1:10), but not until God's purpose for the earth is completed at the end of the millennium, people will die, when death will never again exist on earth: "For he must reign him [in the first part of the kingdom of God] until he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy shall be destroyed is death "(1 Corinthians 15:25,26).
If we are "baptized into Christ", then the promises concerning Jesus, like that of Genesis 3:15, become personal to us, no longer only interesting parts of the Bible are prophecies and promises which also includes us! Those that have been properly baptized into Christ by immersion in water, take part in his death and resurrection, symbolized by the time they leave the water (see Rom. 6:3-5).
If we are truly in Christ, then our lives reflect the words of Genesis 3:15, within us there will be a constant sense of conflict ("hostility") between good and evil. The great apostle Paul described an almost schizophrenic conflict between sin and their true selves struggling within him (Romans 7:14-25).
After baptism in Christ, this conflict with the sin that is naturally within us, and should increase and continue throughout our days. In one sense it is difficult because the power of sin is strong. But in another sense it is not, given that we are in Christ, who has fought and won the conflict.
The first seed of the serpent was Cain. Unlike the snake, which had no moral understanding, Cain understood what was true and what was the lie, and he understood what God required of him, but he preferred follow the thought of the serpent that led him to kill and lie.
Since the Jews were the people who really killed Jesus, ie, injuring the seed of the woman in the heel, it is assumed that they were the prime examples of the seed of the serpent. John the Baptist and Jesus confirmed this:
"Seeing him [John] that many of the Pharisees and the Sadducees [the group of Jews who condemned Jesus] came to his baptism, he said: Generation [ie, generated or created by] snake [snake]! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? " (Matt. 3:7).
"Jesus knew their thoughts [the Pharisees] said to them, generation of vipers, how can you speak good, being bad?" (Mt. 12:25,34).
The world has the same characteristics of the snake. Only those baptized into Christ participate in the seed of the woman, all the others, to varying degrees, are the seed of the serpent. The way Jesus treated people who were the seed of the serpent, should serve as an example:
"Although he preached in a spirit of love and true interest,
"It allowed them influenced him with their customs and ways of thinking, and
-
showed them the loving character of God for the way he lived.
However, for all that they hated him. His effort to be obedient to God became jealous. Even his family (John 7:5; Mr. 3:21) and close friends (John 6:66) they put obstacles and some even walked away from it physically. Paul suffered the same experience when he complained to those who until then had remained with him in the good and the bad fortune
"Have I done, because your enemy, by telling you the truth? "(Gal. 4:14-16).
The truth is never popular, learn and practice as we should always create some kind of problem, it could even result in persecution:
"But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit [by the true knowledge of God's word - 1P. 1:23.], So now "(Gal. 4:29).
" is an abomination to the just unjust man and the ungodly abomination the straight paths "(Proverbs 29:27) . There is a mutual antagonism the believer and the world.
If we are truly united with Christ, we experience something of their suffering so that they too can share in his glorious reward. Again, Paul gives us this as a unique example:
"Therefore I endure all things ... is a faithful saying: If we died with Him [to Christ], we shall also live with him: if we suffer [ with it], we shall also reign with him ... " (2 Tim. 2:10-12).
"If I [Jesus] have persecuted me, also persecute you ... all you do because of my name" (John 15:20,21) that is, because we are baptized in the name of Jesus (Acts 2:38, 8:16).
First verses like these is tempting to reason as well: "If that's all what I expected for being united with Jesus, the seed of the woman, I prefer to abstain." But of course, we were never asked to suffer something that we can not bear. Although we definitely requires dedication to fully unite with Christ, our union with him will result in a glorious reward "that our present sufferings are not comparable with the glory that is revealed to us" (Romans 8:18) . And even now, their sacrifice allows our prayers in which ask for help against the traumas of life are especially powerful before God. And add to this glorious assurance follows:
"God is faithful, who will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, but will with the temptation also out so that you can stand" (1 Cor 10:13).
"These things I have spoken to that in me ye might have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take heart I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
"What shall we say to this? If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31).
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