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Sermon #5204

True History?

A Sermon on Genesis 3:15

Originally preached Oct. 30, 1955

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Scripture

Genesis 3:15 ESV KJV
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)

Sermon Description

Without the facts of biblical history there is no gospel. From a Christian perspective, this becomes most important in approaching the book of Genesis. While the first book of the Bible is full of historical facts, it is also much more than this. It is where the great biblical drama begins—the drama of what God is doing in salvation. In this sermon on Genesis 3:15 titled “True History?” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones calls the listener to see the big picture of the biblical message. He teaches literal historical facts but he also notes the beginning drama of deliverance as God pronounces a great conflict between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. In order to understand secular history that is marked by sin, evil, war, pride, and hopelessness, people must come to grips with the biblical history of God initiating liberation of humanity from the bondage of Satan. Genesis 3:15 reminds that humanity’s problems run much deeper than morality or mere happiness. As Dr. Lloyd-Jones says in this compelling sermon, Genesis 3:15 recalls the utter helpless condition that only the cross of Christ can fix. Listen as he traces biblical history from the beginning to the end where Christ returns in glory and subdues the devil fully and finally.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The Bible comes to us exactly where we are in the midst of our problems and difficulties.
  2. The third chapter of Genesis is essential to understanding life as it is.
  3. We are all confronted with problems in life that make us miserable and seek something we lack. There are only two possible explanations: accept the Bible's teaching or not. All other answers are not the biblical answer.
  4. The story of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3 happens to each of us. We repeat their actions.
  5. Man thought he could live independently of God but then heard God's voice and hid, thinking God couldn't find him. But God searched him out. We hide behind "trees" like problems or arguments to avoid the gospel.
  6. Preachers can be tempted to preach on popular topics but the gospel is of greater concern. The gospel says all are under God's wrath unless believing in Christ.
  7. Genesis 3:15 is the first proclamation of the gospel. It shows God will defeat Satan and deliver people from him.
  8. By nature, man is under Satan's dominion. The problem is escaping Satan's dominion and getting into paradise. Philosophy, education and cults can't solve this. Only the gospel can.
  9. Any evangelism not dealing with Satan's dominion is false. The test is being freed from Satan's dominion, knowing God and being reconciled to Him.
  10. Satan blinds minds to the gospel. Mankind needs to see its hopelessness to see the need for a savior. Man is helpless.
  11. Genesis 3:15 shows God's program to defeat Satan. God will put enmity between Satan and the woman and her seed and Satan's seed. The woman's seed will bruise Satan's head and Satan will bruise his heel.
  12. There are two histories: secular history of man's endeavors, going in circles, and God's history of defeating Satan. God's history intermingles with secular history but is separate. The Bible shows God defeating Satan.
  13. God's history began with Cain and Abel, showing conflict between God's seed and Satan's seed. It continues with Noah, Abraham, Israel, prophets, and ultimately Jesus, the woman's seed, defeating Satan.
  14. Jesus was bruised in the heel (died) but bruised Satan's head (dealt a mortal wound). Jesus defeated principalities and powers, triumphing over them.
  15. The gospel spreads Jesus's victory. When preached in the Spirit's power, it convicts of bondage to Satan, shows salvation in Christ and brings people out of Satan's dominion. This will continue until Jesus returns, defeats all enemies and destroys Satan.
  16. By nature, all belong to Satan. Only believing in Christ's redemption and rescue from Satan brings escape from Satan to God's kingdom, blessings and protection from judgment.
  17. Everyone is either in Satan's hands or God's hands. Their fate corresponds. Call on Christ to be delivered from Satan.

Old Testament

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.