24th December 2024

24th December 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (Genesis 3v14-15)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


If someone ever wrongs you then common wisdom says that you learn your lesson and never allow that person to get the better of you again. "Fool me once" we say "then shame on you. Fool me twice, then shame on me." Today we can be thankful that the Lord did not adopt this approach.


We have spoken over these Christmas weeks of promise and specifically God's promises. He willingly lowers Himself and deals with us by way of covenant. The covenant of redemption is a promise made in eternity past between the three persons of the Trinity. The Father chooses a people, the Son dies for them and the Spirit draws them to the Son. The covenant of works was made between God and man whereby eternal life was promised on the basis of Adam's obedience. With those foundations, this week we speak of the covenant of grace.


Amazingly the covenant of grace is proclaimed in the aftermath of the fall. The covenant of works lies in tatters and Adam and Eve's relationship with God is broken. Soon they will be put out of the garden and murder will enter their family dynamic. Sin and death have entered
the world and God's perfect creation has been utterly marred as a result. None of us could argue if at this stage, the Lord decreed "We're finished. I'll never be fooled again. I will have nothing further to do with sinful humanity." but thanks be to God because His response to our fall was a proclamation of grace.


In today's passage we meet the covenant of grace and stunningly it is first preached to the devil himself. We would be wrong to say that the covenant of grace begins at this point. It is an eternal covenant. We would also be incorrect if we stated that the covenant of grace and the covenant of redemption are two separate promises. By no means. The covenant of redemption is the covenant of grace as we see the three persons of the Godhead working for the salvation of humanity.


With that stated, the eternal covenant of grace is proclaimed in history as God tells the liar and father of lies that there will be constant trouble (enmity) between the children of God and the children of the devil. In just a few short words the rest of history is mapped out. We shouldn't be surprised when the world wages war against the church. In the world today Christianity is the world's most persecuted religion. We may not yet see it in the West, but ask a Christian in Saudi Arabia how easy life is and you will see the scale of enmity between the offspring of the woman and the devil.


This enmity would continue until a child would arrive. Jesus was the offspring promised and would wage war against Satan and his minions. The Lord would be beaten and bruised and would ultimately lose His life, but in victory He would stand again on the earth. Christ's heel would be bruised or in other words a non-fatal blow would be struck against Him. Not so for Satan. The Lord describes his wound as having his head crushed. At Calvary, Jesus Christ the offspring of the woman, would utterly destroy the enemy.


Today Satan still rages for he knows his time is short but he is not and will not be victorious - he is a bound and defeated foe who will know the punishment of eternal hell. The covenant of grace was declared in Genesis 3 and in Jesus Christ it was fulfilled. All those who believe in Jesus will be set free from Satan's chains and the one who Christ sets free, is free indeed. Brothers and sisters, happy Christmas! 


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q69 What is forbidden in the sixth commandment?
A. The sixth commandment forbiddeth the taking away of our own life, or the life of our neighbor unjustly, or whatsoever tendeth thereunto.
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