The First Promise of Christmas

In the previous studies, we’ve seen that the idea of a coming deliverer runs deep within Jewish belief and that belief arises from the prophecies and promises of Scripture. At first, it was a vague promise, then a definite prophecy, and finally a hopeful anticipation. The coming Savior would be a deliverer and prophet like Moses, a priest like Melchizedek (Her. 7), a healer and miracle worker like Elijah, and a king like David. The savior is the messiah, the anointed, the chosen one. In the Greek language, the word ‘messiah’ is the word ‘Christ.” This is why our Lord is called Jesus Christ. He is the messiah, the anointed one, the Christ. 

Now that we’ve done our survey of prophecies and promises, let’s give special consideration to the first of these, the pro-evangelium. Where did the idea of a messiah originate? Why did the people of God begin to look for a deliverer? The answer to these two questions is found in Genesis chapter 3. I venture to say that if you do not have an adequate grasp of Genesis chapter 3, you are probably having a hard time understanding what the Bible is all about and why God took such drastic measures to deal with the problem of sin. 

Romans chapter 5 teaches that Adam was the representative of mankind. God made a perfect man, in the perfect environment, and yet man gave in to the temptation of Satan. Here we see man tested and it is here that we see man fail. In the garden, mankind was given the opportunity to love and obey God above all else but yielded to personal ambition. Therefore, we may say with the old Puritans, “In Adam’s fall, we sin all.” 

There was in the garden a cosmic dilemma. Not that God had a problem but that man had an eternal problem with being accepted with God. No, God had a plan; man had the problem. The problem is stated by God Himself in verses 13-15 and 22 of Genesis chapter 3, 

[13] Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

[14] The LORD God said to the serpent,

“Because you have done this,

cursed are you above all livestock

and above all beasts of the field;

on your belly you shall go,

and dust you shall eat

all the days of your life. (ESV)

[15] I will put enmity between you and the woman,

and between your offspring and her offspring;

he shall bruise your head,

and you shall bruise his heel.” (ESV)

“Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—” (ESV)