Last week’s article was titled The God of Covenants, but when considering God’s operational nature through covenant relationships, one must also recognize that God’s covenants are connected to the great promise God has made and fulfilled. I say THE promise because while there are many things in scripture promised by God to those who earnestly seek Him, they all hinge on the one great multifaceted promise. This promise was a concealed mystery from the beginning of the world till it was finally revealed (Romans 16:25-27). Following are numerous verses from scripture. Take time now to read through them as printing them in this article would consume an enormous amount of space; after reading them, return to this article, and I will make some comments regarding their collective content.
Matthew 13:10-17 (particularly 11 and 17); Colossians 1:24-2:3; Ephesians 1:9-10 and 3:1-7 and 6:19;
1 Timothy 3:14-16; 1 Corinthians 2:7-8; 1 Peter 1:10-12
Thank you for taking the time to read the above verses. As you can see from what these verses contain God was keeping His plans for our salvation a secret from the beginning until it came to fulfillment. Not even the angels knew the entirety of God’s plan. These scriptures also inform the reader that God’s mystery is the promise, the gospel, and the Christ (Ephesians 3:1-7). This great promise is contained in the scriptures of the Old Testament primarily by way of the three seed promises (which are, in essence, one and the same). Being that God was keeping the full details of His ultimate plan of redemption a mystery, it is understandable that those of ancient times might have misinterpreted God’s intent at times.
First, we have the promise made to Eve in Genesis 3:15 while God was expounding her punishment for partaking of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. This passage has two parts; the first (although not properly translated in every Bible version) is plural, indicating all the descendants of Eve…and since she was the first woman, we are all her descendants. This part is the enmity between us mortal humans and the Devil (Revelation 12:9 informs us he was the serpent of old). I do not believe that I need to spend time here compiling for the reader all the numerous verses that display our ongoing conflict with the Devil but let this one from 1 Peter 5:8 suffice. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the Devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” Peter makes it quite clear that the Devil is our enemy and seeks our destruction.
The latter half of Genesis 3:15 uses the singular pronoun ‘He’ and ‘His’ indicating a particular individual descent of the ‘seed’ of Eve that will crush the Devil. So, who is the singular descendant of Eve that would put an end to the Devil? Well, Jesus the Christ. How do we know this? First, the accounts of Jesus’ birth recording in Matthew 1 and Luke 1-3 provide us with a genealogical record that can be used to trace Jesus back to Adam and Eve. Yes, Matthew only goes back to Abraham, but one can simply pick up on that genealogy back in Genesis and take it from Abraham back to Adam and Eve. So, concerning the flesh, He is a descendant of Eve. Like with the enmity between the Devil and humanity, there are a host of verses that could be considered regarding the great victory that Jesus obtained defeating the Devil, but the following two should serve to give a clear picture of the totality of Jesus’ victory.
Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself (Jesus) likewise shared in the same, that through death, He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the Devil. (Hebrews 2:14)
For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested that He might destroy the works of the Devil.
(1 John 8b)
Note the word ‘destroy’ in both of these passages. Jesus has not only defeated the Devil and his works but has utterly destroyed both the Devil and his works. Thus, the reason Paul could make such a bold proclamation in 1 Corinthians 15:50-58…
Now, this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O Death, where is you sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
May I suggest that the victory can be yours! Christ is both uncorrupted and immortal…and as Paul said above that we simply need to put on incorruption and immortality. The Bible provides us with a clear answer on how we can put on the uncorrupted immortal Christ in Galatians 3:26-29, also written by Paul. Here he also connects us to the second seed promise which we will cover next week.
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.
Have you put on Christ? If not, and you would like to, or would like to know more, please visit with me at the Main Street Church of Christ. You can also connect via the website cogitations.net under the ‘Talk Back’ tab or email at connect@cogitations.net. Feel free to stop by for a Bible Class at 9:30 AM on Sundays and 7 PM on Wednesdays or visit for Worship Services at 10:30 AM and 6 PM on Sundays. Be sure to return to this column next week as we continue to cogitate about what the Bible says regarding the promise that God has made.
(Carl Hartman is the Minister at Main Street Church of Christ in Lockney)
