Scripture Introduction
When we were in Jackson, MS, our pastor told us about his interactions with a young follower of Satan. After speaking with him several times, Pastor Mike asked him directly, “Is it because you hate Jesus Christ and love the devil that you worship him the way you do?”
Scott said, “Oh no, Pastor Ross. Don’t let anyone fool you. No one loves the master [meaning the devil]. It’s only fear that makes me follow him. I fear that his power is stronger than God’s, and when the final conflict comes at the end, I’d rather be on his side than on the side of Christ the loser. [He then began to tear up.] But no one loves the devil; you only serve him because you fear him.”
Even his own followers have no affection for him. There is a permanent and irreversible conflict between Satan and humanity, a hatred, what the Bible calls, enmity. It began with the first promise of God, a promise which protects us from the full consequences of sin and provides for a full and final redemption. Genesis 3 describes the beginning of promise.
[Read Genesis 3.14-15. Pray.]
Introduction
Our God is a promise maker and the promise keeper. He began that work in Genesis by pledging a Messiah to separate us from Satan with an enmity which protects us from the power of evil one. God then weaves into the Bible a great string of promises looking forward to his Christ.
• In Exodus, the promise is a lamb slain so that death and destruction “Passover” the people of God.
• In Leviticus, the promise is a perfect high priest making sacrifices sufficient for forgiveness and effectual for sanctification
• In Numbers, the promise is lifted up in the wilderness, so that whoever believes in him may not die, but have eternal life.
• In Deuteronomy, the promise is the law spoken through one greater than Moses, and kept by him for the blessing of God’s people.
• In Joshua, the promise is God’s conqueror, fighting all his and our enemies to take the promised land
• In Judges, the promise is a lawgiver rescuing his people from the downward spiral of rebellion’s consequences
• In Ruth, the promise is a kinsmen redeemer, a husband who absorbs disgrace and marries the Gentiles into God’s family
• In Samuel, the promise is appointed by a perfect prophet, a king after God’s own heart, one who loves the Lord and leads with complete selflessness
• In Kings, the promise is the all-wise ruler who unites God’s people in both pure worship and holy living
• In Chronicles, the promise is a descendant of Adam through Seth, the omnipotent king who wisely prioritizes a heart of worship
• In Ezra/Nehemiah, the promise is a rebuilder of the city and temple of the Lord, in order that things that cannot be shaken may remain
• In Esther, the promise is the providence of God working all things together for the salvation of the Lord
• In Job, the promise is the righteous sufferer made perfect, now able to intercede for eternal salvation
• In Psalms, the promise is not ashamed to be our brother, the singing Savior worshiping God in our midst
• In Proverbs, the promise is the wisdom of God walking straight paths and preparing beforehand the way for us to walk in them
• In Ecclesiastes, the promise is the meaning of life, the wisdom who makes all other philosophies vain and foolish
• In Solomon’s Song, the promise is the perfect love of God made flesh, wedding the church and washing her clean of all sin
• In Isaiah, the promise is the suffering servant restoring peace, the virgin’s child who is the Son of God
• In Jeremiah, the promise is the prophet weeping over the sins of his people, pronouncing judgment followed by the redemption and restoration of Messiah
• In Lamentations, the promise absorbs God’s full wrath with sorrow of soul, leaving love, mercy, and faithfulness which fully overcome pain and destruction
• In Ezekiel, the promise gives his Spirit to resurrect a people reduced to dry bones
• In Daniel, the promise rescues from the furnace of judgment, a man in the fire, one like a son of the gods
• In Hosea, the promise is the faithful husband washing a filthy bride
• In Joel, the promise brings the day of the Lord and the pouring out of the Spirit on all flesh
• In Amos, the promise judges cruelty and pride, calling God’s people to faith in the crucified
• In Obadiah, the promise demands justice so as to vindicate the people of God
• In Jonah, the promise is a resurrected preacher, a missionary of salvation to the Gentiles
• In Micah, the promise born in Bethlehem beats swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks, for glory to God in highest and peace on earth
• In Nahum, the promise is jealous and avenging, keeping wrath for God’s enemies, and providing a stronghold and shield those who take refuge in him
• In Habakkuk, the promise is received by faith, for Messiah is swallowed up by evil men to bring salvation to his own
• In Zephaniah, the promise hides his people on the great and terrible day of the Lord
• In Haggai, the promise is a signet ring on the hand of God, guaranteeing blessings to God’s people
• In Zechariah, the promise is prophecies and visions of a shepherd pierced to open a fountain of cleansing
• In Malachi, the promise is a messenger who prepares the way of the Lord, the Son of righteousness rising with healing in his wings
Is it any wonder that when Zechariah saw his son John, he prophesied saying, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people, and has raised up a horn of salvation…; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant…” (Luke 1.68-72).
Is it any wonder that when Paul preached the gospel, he reminded Israel that this was “the good news that God promised,” brought through “David’s offspring, a Savior, Jesus, as he promised.”
Is it any wonder that Hebrews, the book which, more than any other, shows how Jesus fulfills the Old Testament prophecies, uses the word, “promise” 17 times?
Is it any wonder that when Paul defended himself before Agrippa, he said to the king: “I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers.”
Is it any wonder that Romans tells us that God promised the gospel beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
This is why Paul calls himself an apostle of Jesus Christ…, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began….
This is why John reminds the church, “Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you…, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.”
No wonder that Paul summarizes the work of Christ, saying, “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory” (2Corinthians 1.20-21). The Bible is the record of the promise making and promise keeping God.
Hebrews 10.23: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” Here are four reasons to hope in God’s promises.
1. We Must Hope in the Promise Because We Need It
Genesis 3 shows three reasons we need God’s promise.
1.1. We Need It Because of Satan (Genesis 3.1-5)
In his book, The Silver Chair, C. S. Lewis describes the evil witch as the most beautiful lady imaginable. Her voice is angelic; her charm disarms; her words soothe as they deceive. She weaves a spell of entrapment around her victims, and they are defeated—that is until they utter the name above all names. Then they break the witch’s control, and her rage returns her true form of a hideous serpent seeking to crush and kill.
The Devil hates God and God’s people, but he disguises himself as an angel, deceiving, tempting, and destroying. He is a malevolent being of greater power than I can resist. I need a Savior to battle Satan for me.
1.2. We Need It Because of Sin (Genesis 3.9-19)
When our first parents rebelled, devastation blasted outward over all the earth. Childbearing is painful, relationships are strained, work is cursed, and we end in the dust from which we were taken. Yuck! As sad a story as that is, however, the problem is worse than we dare imagine.
John 8.34: “Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.”
Many people suppose they are sinners because they sin. If that were true, deliverance would be obtained by holy living, by not sinning any more. Instead, Jesus reminds us that we sin because we are sinners, and if we quit sinning, we remain sinners. The power of sin can only be broken by the promise of God, by the death of Christ. Oh, how I need a Savior to deliver me from the dark hold sin has on my soul.
1.3. We Need It Because of Self (Genesis 3.6-8)
From Genesis 1.1, the entire universe has been God-centered. Now Adam and Eve rewrite the story around themselves. Eve looks at the tree and sees that it is good for food—and she wants it. Of course it was good for food! Every tree in the garden was good for food! But she wanted to decide for herself what was allowed. Next, she notes its beauty, and lusts for it. Third, she realizes it would make her wise, and her pride runs amuck. “I can be wise without God’s help!” Adam and Eve reject God’s wisdom and take the knowledge of good and evil into their very souls.
And with this newfound wisdom what do they think to do? They hide from the all-knowing, all-wise, all-seeing God of the universe. How bright is that?
Satan is a terrible enemy, and sin an awful master. But they are weak without the flesh. The things I want to do, I do not do; and the things I want not to do, I do. And then, when I have done those things, I, like our first parents, seek to excuse my sins, blame others, and tell God I have no need for his intervention—for I will cover my own sins with fig leaves which I have made. I cannot be bothered with the righteousness by faith, for I am working hard to earn God’s appreciation and blessing. But God’s promise saves me from myself; he gives true rest for our souls.
2. We Must Hope in the Promise Because of Its Result (Genesis 3.15a)
We live in a fallen world, and examples of depravity which mankind has descended into in the last 100 years shock us with their terror and evil. And yet, given the nature of the devil, all might be much worse.
This promise of warfare (enmity) between God’s people and Satan delivers us from the precipice. God has placed within mankind a sense of disgust with evil that only the most rebellious can ignore. Even apart the regeneration of the Holy Spirit, none is as evil as we could be. God’s promise spares us from the complete consequences of the fall.
3. We Must Hope in the Promise Because of Its Nature (Genesis 3.15b)
The promise will bruise Satan’s head. “Head” represents authority and power; Christ will crush Satan’s dominion over men and women; the victory belongs to Jesus! But it comes at a price. The promise bruises the head, but in so doing, he takes a bruise to the heel. Here is the first description of the cross.
Imagine the victory Satan thought he won when Jesus died. He seems to have reversed this very promise. Sure, Jesus nipped at Satan’s heel while he was here, casting out some demons and freeing some captives. But doesn’t the evil one inflict the mortal wound to the head of Christ on the cross?
But then, up from the grave he arose. And by and through the very event which he considered his great victory, Satan is shown to have played the fool as his rule is revealed to be destined to destruction. The nature of the promise is God’s victory which makes all things right.
4. We Must Hope in the Promise Because of Its Application
When God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden he said, “Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (Genesis 2.17). That judgment remains; sin requires death.
Some prefer to die for their own sins. They hate admitting their need for help, and refuse God’s promise because they are offended that they need saving from themselves. “How dare you, pastor, say that my gifts to God damn me rather than redeem? How can you suggest that my efforts to keep the commandments drive me further from God? How dare you say that I need a promised Savior?”
I do not say it; God does: For there is no one righteous, no, not one. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, so that no one is justified by works of the law.
Michael Card has a song:
The Promise was love, and the Promise was life
The Promise meant light to the world
Living proof that Yahweh saves
For the name of the Promise was Jesus.
The promise made; the promise kept; will you place your hope on God’s promise, “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.” Amen.
