WEBVTT

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 Hello, good morning.

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 Good morning.

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 It's good to be back with you.

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 In the UK, wet the accent.

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 It's got to be a bit of an American scream.

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 It's flying, so it's time to come back and wet the accent for a few weeks.

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 So nice to be with you again this week.

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 And thanks to Paul and the elders again for the invitation to share God's word with you.

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 If you have a Bible, please turn with me back to the passage that we read this morning and to Genesis chapter 3.

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 And we're going to focus this morning on Genesis chapter 3, verse 15.

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 Genesis 3 and verse 15.

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 And as we come to think about God's word, let me pray for us again.

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 Father, in your light, we see light.

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 And so we pray that you would come now and by your Holy Spirit, illuminate the reading and the preaching of your words so that we might see Jesus more clearly,

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 love him more dearly, and follow him more dearly.

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 We ask this in his name, who lives and reigns with you, and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever prays.

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 Amen.

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 Genesis 3, verse 15.

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 Family trees.

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 Family trees.

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 Family trees.

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 We all have a family tree.

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 Everyone here belongs to a family, to a line of descendants, to a family tree.

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 I don't know if you're interested much in your family tree, but I've become interested in mine in recent years.

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 On my father's side, there's a long line of Ulster farmers from the north of Ireland.

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 And a Scottish faith mission pilgrim, my great-grandmother Christina, came from Scotland, was a travelling evangelist to the north of Ireland,

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 and then clearly distracted my great-grandpa James, an Ulster farmer who himself was an open-air preacher,

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 and perhaps she thought she could teach him a bit about preaching.

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 My father's side reveals a long line of Christians over generations.

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 On my mother's side, my great-grandpa George Roberts originated from Halkin in north Wales,

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 before he moved to the Werrell near Liverpool.

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 There were no signs of any Christian influence on his side of the family until later in his life.

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 He had two sons with his first wife, Sarah, who then died in her late 20s.

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 And then he married a young Scottish woman called Margaret Ann Houston, a young Presbyterian lady.

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 And together they had eight children, six boys and two girls.

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 My grandfather, Arthur, was one of those six boys.

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 His mother, Margaret Ann Houston, this Scottish Presbyterian lady, was a divine Christian.

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 Each night she would read the Bible with her kids and pray for them after dinner.

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 And as I've traced the lines of these eight children that she had,

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 there are two or three lines from Margaret Ann Houston that reveal strong Christian families.

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 I like to think of my great-grandmother's prayers still having effect down from certain family trees all these years later.

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 Looking at your family tree can be a really useful exercise because it can help you understand how you came to exist,

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 how it is that you came to belong in your particular family.

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 It can also reveal some sadnesses and conflicts and fallouts in your family history,

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 as well as graces and providences in the family line.

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 That's what I've seen in the family trees on both my father and mother's sides.

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 I've seen graces and providences on the one hand,

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 sadnesses and conflicts and fallouts on the other hand.

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 Which brings us to our passage this morning, and in particular Genesis 3, verse 15.

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 What we have here is the first mention of family trees in the Bible.

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 We have the whole human race reduced down to two genealogies.

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 Two family trees, stated in the most general of terms.

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 There is the offspring of the serpent and the offspring of the woman.

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 And what we see in these two family trees is conflict and grace.

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 Conflict and grace.

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 We see the conflict at the heart of the human race.

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 We also see God's grace to the human race.

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 The great conflict at the heart of the human race is obvious enough.

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 It's stated in verse 15, right at the beginning.

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 I will put enmity between you and the woman.

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 The word enmity here is emphatic in the Hebrew.

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 And its presence is felt all the way through the verse.

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 The enmity begins with the serpent and the woman.

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 Then it continues between the offspring of the serpent and the offspring of the woman.

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 And then it comes to a climax in the fight between the individual offspring of the woman

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 and the serpent himself.

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 So we have two family trees.

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 Two lines of descendants in conflict with each other.

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 As I said earlier, looking at family trees can reveal sadnesses and conflicts.

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 And here in these two family lines of the human race,

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 we have the great conflict at the heart of the human race.

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 What Cornelius Van Til called the antithesis.

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 The great antithesis.

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 But there's something else present in this verse.

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 There's not just conflict.

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 There's also grace.

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 God's great grace.

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 A grace that relates to you and me here this morning.

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 Because if you're a Christian here this morning,

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 then you belong to this family tree of the offspring of the woman.

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 And you belong to it because of God's grace.

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 You belong to the family of God because of the grace of God.

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 And this verse reveals that to us in three ways.

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 Number one, we belong to God's family because of his electing grace.

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 We belong to God's family because of his electing grace.

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 Look at the beginning of verse 15.

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 I will put enmity between you and the woman.

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 At first sight, it's hard to see where we get electing grace here from.

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 But just think about what has happened.

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 God had made Adam and Eve as his own special covenant people.

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 But instead of responding in faith and obedience to God, their father,

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 they rebelled against him.

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 They chose to form an alliance with the serpent.

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 The serpent tempted them to eat the forbidden fruit.

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 And because they ate the forbidden fruit,

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 they formed an alliance with the serpent.

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 They stood against God now with the serpent.

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 Instead of living for God and fighting the serpent,

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 they changed sides and began to live against God.

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 Boys and girls, you know what this is like.

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 When you're playing a sports game in the park or at school,

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 and the player on your team changes sides to go and play for the other team.

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 They're no longer playing with you.

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 They're now playing against you.

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 Well, that's what Adam and Eve did.

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 They changed sides.

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 They started playing for the other team, the wrong team.

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 They started living for the serpent.

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 They joined with team devil.

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 Instead of staying on team God.

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 And when God came looking for them in the garden,

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 after they had sinned, after they had switched sides,

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 they didn't come out of the trees confessing their sins.

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 They came out excusing themselves and pointing the finger at others.

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 Adam blamed his wife.

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 She gave me the fruit.

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 The woman blamed the serpent.

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 The serpent deceived me and gave me the fruit.

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 And with this gleaming game, one thing became clear.

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 There was no repentance from them.

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 They were still on the side of the serpent.

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 The serpent still had control of them.

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 But then look what God said to the serpent in verse 15.

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 He said it to the serpent directly and to the first human pair indirectly.

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 I will put enmity between you and a woman.

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 You see that?

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 God promises to put conflict between the serpent and the woman.

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 Now think about it.

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 She's on his side.

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 So what's God doing?

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 He's bringing her back onto his side.

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 He's bringing her back onto God's side and against the serpent.

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 Eve, we might say, is the first elect member of the Christian church.

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 God elects her by putting enmity between the serpent and her.

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 This is God's electing grace.

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 Because just think about what God's doing.

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 He's rescuing Eve from the serpent.

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 He's rescuing Eve from herself in her sin.

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 Here was a woman whose attitude only moments or days earlier was hostile to God.

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 Her affections had shifted from God, from loving God to hating God.

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 Yet here is God now putting enmity between her and the serpent.

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 Which means that he must be changing her attitude towards God.

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 He must be renewing her affections for God.

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 In short, God must be giving her a new heart, a new mind.

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 And God does it not because she asks him to.

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 God does it because of his grace.

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 She's been making excuses when he confronted her with her sin.

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 Even in her opportunities to repent, she's still hiding behind her sin.

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 Yet here is God giving her something she doesn't deserve.

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 The only thing this woman deserves is to be judged alongside the serpent.

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 But God acts in grace.

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 He elects her back into his family.

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 He gives her what she does not deserve.

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 A new beginning.

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 A new heart.

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 A new mind.

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 That's what grace is.

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 Receiving a gift you do not deserve.

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 Boys and girls, this is a really helpful definition of grace.

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 You hear that big Bible word used all the time.

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 What is it?

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 What is it?

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 It is receiving a gift you do not deserve.

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 Mercy is not receiving a punishment you deserve.

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 Not receiving a punishment you deserve.

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 But grace is receiving a gift you do not deserve.

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 And Eve does not deserve to be brought back onto team God.

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 She deserves to be judged on team devil.

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 But here is God electing her back onto his team.

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 It's the same for us.

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 If we are in God's family this morning.

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 If we are on God's side.

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 Then we need to realize that the only reason we belong to God's family.

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 Is because of his electing grace.

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 Is the only reason we have a positive attitude towards God this morning.

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 The only reason we have any desire for God this morning.

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 The only reason we can sing some of the songs we've sung this morning.

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 Is because God has chosen to put enmity between us and the devil.

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 Because God chose to renew our affections to him.

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 Because God chose to elect us onto his team.

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 And why did he do that?

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 Well just like with Eve.

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 Not because of who we are.

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 Or what we have done.

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 But because of who he is.

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 God of grace.

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 We were children of wrath.

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 Haters of God.

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 Lovers of self.

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 Jesus even spoke about people being offspring of the devil.

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 You are like your father the devil.

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 He said to the Pharisees.

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 He was referring back to Genesis 3.15.

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 We were like that.

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 Yet God chose us.

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 I think in Christian circles God's grace can become so ordinary.

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 So common.

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 So expected.

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 We hear about God's love and grace every week in our home groups.

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 On the Lord's Day.

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 And so we just expect God to be gracious to us.

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 Isn't that the business that he's in?

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 He has to be gracious to us.

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 Well no.

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 He doesn't have to be gracious to us.

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 He chooses to be gracious to us.

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 To give us something we do not deserve.

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 And if you're here this morning and you're a Christian.

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 Then you have received his electing grace.

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 And that is extraordinary.

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 Not ordinary.

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 That is uncommon.

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 Not common.

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 That is surprising.

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 That is surprising.

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 It's unexpected.

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 We're going to sing at the end of this service.

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 A lovely hymn by Robert Murray.

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 He puts it like this.

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 Chosen not for good in me.

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 Waken up from wrath to flee.

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 Teach me Lord on earth to show by my love how much I owe.

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 Chosen not for good in me.

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 If we're Christians here this morning.

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 Then we belong to God's family because of his electing grace.

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 Second, we belong to God's family because of his preserving grace.

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 His preserving grace.

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 Look at the second part of verse 15.

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 I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring.

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 Now there is some question as to what the offspring of the serpent are.

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 Who they are.

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 Some people say that since the offspring of the women are real descendants.

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 From her family line.

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 So the offspring of the serpent must be some kind of real descendant from the serpent.

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 Some scholars say that they're real snakes.

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 Think about in the wilderness.

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 Snakes came and attacked God's people in the wilderness.

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 Others say that it must just be evil spirits.

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 I think the offspring of the serpent certainly includes evil spirits.

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 But the fact is that later in the Bible certain people are associated with the devil.

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 Like Cain is likened to the devil.

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 Or Saul or Judas.

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 Or even as I mentioned Jesus says to the Pharisees.

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 You are like your father the devil.

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 In other words you're the offspring of the serpent.

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 So the Bible speaks not just of evil spirits being the offspring of the serpent.

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 But actually people being the offspring of the serpent.

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 Who take on his image.

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 Who act like him in their lives.

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 And God promises that the enmity will continue between the offspring of the serpent and the offspring of the woman.

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 Now what does that continued enmity between the two offsprings reveal?

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 It reveals preserving grace.

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 Preserving grace.

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 Just like the enmity that God sovereignly put between the serpent and the woman reveals electing grace.

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 So the continued enmity between their respective offsprings reveals God's preserving grace.

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 Because just think about it.

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 If the enmity is going to continue between the offspring of the serpent and the offspring of the woman.

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 Then that means God must continue to preserve and elect offspring of the woman.

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 He must continue to put enmity between the offspring of the woman and the offspring of the serpent.

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 What we have here in this second part of the judgment of the serpent is God's preserving grace.

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 He promises to preserve a people for himself.

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 Down through the centuries.

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 Down through the generations.

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 Who will fight against the offspring of the serpent.

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 Who will have affections for God.

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 Who will be on his team.

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 Not the devil's team.

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 And as you read the Bible, isn't that what you see?

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 You boys and girls, you'll know some of these stories.

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 Just think of Israel and Egypt.

00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:56.299
 When Pharaoh tried to kill all the newborn sons.

00:17:57.259 --> 00:18:02.039
 Had Pharaoh been successful, he would have wiped out the offspring of the woman.

00:18:02.039 --> 00:18:07.279
 The offspring of the serpent would have crushed the offspring of the woman.

00:18:07.579 --> 00:18:12.720
 Or just think about when Assyria and Babylon came and attacked Israel and Judah.

00:18:13.179 --> 00:18:22.339
 Had they been successful and wiped out both nations, then the offspring of the serpent would have crushed the offspring of the woman.

00:18:22.399 --> 00:18:23.659
 Would have annihilated them.

00:18:23.660 --> 00:18:30.240
 Or think about King Ahasuerus and Haman's plot to wipe out the Jews in the book of Esther.

00:18:31.060 --> 00:18:38.180
 Had they been successful, the Jews dispersed across the Persian Empire would have been extinguished.

00:18:38.980 --> 00:18:43.759
 The offspring of the serpent would have triumphed over the offspring of the woman.

00:18:43.880 --> 00:18:50.759
 Yet at every attempt by the offspring of the serpent to wipe out the offspring of the woman, what did God do?

00:18:50.759 --> 00:18:56.879
 He intervened and preserved a people for himself.

00:18:56.980 --> 00:18:59.379
 He continued to choose people.

00:18:59.799 --> 00:19:07.319
 He continued to ensure that there was enmity between them and the offspring of the serpent down through the centuries.

00:19:07.319 --> 00:19:16.159
 He raised up Moses from within Pharaoh's own house to fight against Pharaoh and rescue Israel from the Egyptians.

00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:26.559
 He preserved a remnant of people in the exile to ensure that King Jehoiachin was released from prison and et at the king's table in Babylon.

00:19:27.159 --> 00:19:33.720
 Later he stirred up the heart of Cyrus, king of Persia, to send his people back home from exile.

00:19:33.720 --> 00:19:40.460
 God raised up Esther to save the Jews from Haman's plot to wipe them out.

00:19:41.460 --> 00:19:51.860
 God's preserving grace runs like a golden thread through the pages of biblical history all the way down to us here today.

00:19:51.859 --> 00:20:00.539
 If we are Christians this morning, then we belong to God's family by his preserving grace.

00:20:02.539 --> 00:20:08.339
 As I mentioned at the beginning, I've become interested in researching my family history.

00:20:08.599 --> 00:20:14.099
 And as I've done so, I find sadnesses and conflicts and fallouts.

00:20:14.099 --> 00:20:22.839
 But I also find God's electing, preserving grace running like a golden thread through my family.

00:20:23.379 --> 00:20:29.199
 On my father's side, I come from four plus generations of faithful Christians.

00:20:30.139 --> 00:20:36.439
 On my mother's side, in my ancestral line, there is a child born out of wedlock.

00:20:36.440 --> 00:20:45.200
 It is called an extra-marital affair between a married man and a young single lady called Nellie Wallace from the Shefflin Islands.

00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:49.259
 Nellie became pregnant in the early 1900s.

00:20:49.259 --> 00:20:55.000
 She later gave birth to a little baby girl called Frances Maud.

00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:59.680
 And she took her to Glasgow and gave her up into a foster home.

00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:08.680
 home. Frances Maud was taken in by a foster family in Carlisle who very sadly had an abusive

00:21:08.680 --> 00:21:16.680
 alcoholic mother who was very unkind to Frances Maud. Frances Maud grew up in very difficult

00:21:16.680 --> 00:21:24.680
 circumstances, lots of conflict, lots of fallout, and it wasn't until her late 20s that she met

00:21:24.680 --> 00:21:33.680
 a young man called Arthur Roberts, the son of Margaret Ann Houston, that Scottish Presbyterian

00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:40.680
 woman I told you about earlier. They married in 1935. In their first two years of marriage,

00:21:40.680 --> 00:21:48.680
 Arthur and Frances had two premature boys. Neil was born at six months, he lived 55 minutes.

00:21:48.680 --> 00:21:57.680
 A year later, Arthur John was born. At six months, he lived nine hours. Year after year,

00:21:57.680 --> 00:22:04.680
 Frances would have miscarriages, never able to hold a child beyond six months. But eight

00:22:04.680 --> 00:22:11.680
 years into their marriage, they had a boy called Alan Houston Roberts. You can see what Arthur

00:22:11.680 --> 00:22:20.680
 was doing, naming his son after this woman, Margaret Ann Houston, after his mother. After

00:22:20.680 --> 00:22:29.680
 Alan, they had many more years of infertility and more miscarriages, until at 44 years of age,

00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:38.680
 Frances fell pregnant with a little girl. Evelyn Margaret Roberts. Again, notice her middle name,

00:22:38.680 --> 00:22:45.680
 Margaret, after this grandmother, Margaret Ann Houston, the woman of faith in Arthur's family.

00:22:45.680 --> 00:22:52.680
 Evelyn grew up in a non-Christian home. Arthur and Frances were not Christians. But one day,

00:22:52.680 --> 00:23:01.680
 when she was reading her school Bible, her prayer book at the World Grammar School for Girls, she

00:23:01.680 --> 00:23:10.680
 was converted on a sports field. And then started taking her mother, Frances Maud, to church with her,

00:23:10.680 --> 00:23:20.680
 who was later converted. Evelyn grew up, married a man from Ulster, and together they had three sons. And when

00:23:20.680 --> 00:23:30.680
 Evelyn had her third son, her mother said to her, you have the three boys I've always wanted. Remember Neil, who died

00:23:30.680 --> 00:23:41.680
 six months, Arthur John died at six months, and then she had Alan, who lived into his 40s. That's my family history on my

00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:51.680
 mother's side. I am one of those three boys that Evelyn and Margaret had. That's my mother, Evelyn and Margaret. My family history on my

00:23:51.680 --> 00:24:00.680
 mother's side is full of sadness and conflict and fallout. But it's also full of grief. There's sadness with the

00:24:00.680 --> 00:24:09.680
 deaths of Neil and Arthur John, these little boys who lived for six months, sorry, four and six months lived just a

00:24:09.680 --> 00:24:20.680
 matter of minutes and hours. There's conflict between my grandmother and her abusive foster mother. But there's also grace. The grace of the

00:24:20.680 --> 00:24:31.680
 Margaret Ann Huston and her prayers that were heard for my mother and her mother. Yes, there are sadnesses and

00:24:31.680 --> 00:24:40.680
 conflicts and crises, but there's also grace woven into my family like a golden thread. And I'm here today as a

00:24:40.680 --> 00:24:49.680
 Christian because of God's grace. Think about it. You read that family history, how did you become a

00:24:49.680 --> 00:25:09.680
 Christian? How did it happen? That God would step in and convert a young girl on a sports field. And I would encourage you to think about your family history. If you take time to think through where you've come from, you'll see sadness and

00:25:09.680 --> 00:25:38.680
 conflicts. You'll see sadness and conflicts. But if you're a Christian, you'll see grace running through your family like a golden thread. Or you'll see grace interrupting your family history and bringing you to faith perhaps as the first Christian in your family line of unbelievers. I mean, just think about why you are here today as a Christian. It's all because of God's electing and preserving grace.

00:25:38.680 --> 00:26:08.680


00:26:08.680 --> 00:26:38.660
 God's grace. We belong to God's grace. We belong to God's family because of His saving grace. That's the last part of verse 15. Cast your eye down there. He shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel. The enmity between the offspring of the serpent and the offspring of the woman comes to a climax in a final battle. Between an individual offspring of the woman. Notice it's a he, not a they.

00:26:38.660 --> 00:26:51.660
 The offspring of the offspring of the woman gets narrowed down to an individual person. He will bruise your head. And notice he doesn't fight the offspring of the serpent. He fights the serpent himself.

00:26:51.660 --> 00:27:10.060
 And notice how the order flips around. So far it's the, I will put enmity between you the serpent and the woman. Between your offspring and her offspring. And he shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel. Notice the last part flips around.

00:27:10.059 --> 00:27:17.059
 I think to show us that in the end of the serpent.

00:27:17.059 --> 00:27:18.059
 The serpent.

00:27:18.059 --> 00:27:19.059
 The serpent.

00:27:19.059 --> 00:27:36.559
 Now there are a number of things we could learn about this representative individual in the line of the woman. But I just want to point out three this morning. Notice he will descend from a woman. Now that's so obvious, right? Offspring of the woman.

00:27:36.559 --> 00:27:37.559
 Well that's so obvious, right?

00:27:37.559 --> 00:27:37.559


00:27:37.559 --> 00:27:43.559
 Well that's actually surprising. Because it's the man who holds the power of begetting descendants.

00:27:43.559 --> 00:28:03.559
 The seed required for descendants belongs to the man, not the woman. But notice how this son, this individual will descend from a woman without any reference to a man. There's no mention of Adam here.

00:28:03.559 --> 00:28:32.559
 This individual will descend from a woman without any reference to a man. Now in order for the woman to have any offspring, Adam would obviously need to be involved. But notice there's no mention of him. The focus is on this representative individual coming from the woman. What we have here I think is the faintest echoes of the virgin birth. The person will descend from a woman with no reference to a woman.

00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:55.559
 The second, he will be a son. The very fact that this person is a he who descends from a woman tells us that he will be a son. A son is going to come and fight the serpent. And all the way through the Bible, that's the controlling category for this person who is coming.

00:28:55.559 --> 00:29:17.639
 It's not prophet, it's not prophet, it's not priest, it's not king, it's not Messiah. The controlling category for the coming individual from the offspring of the woman is a son. A son is coming. Adam was called God's son. But he forfeited the right. So God promised another son.

00:29:17.640 --> 00:29:34.300
 Abraham was promised a son. Abraham was promised a son. Abraham was promised a son through whom he would be made into a great nation. David was promised a son through whom his kingdom would be established forever. All the way through the Bible we are waiting for a son to come.

00:29:34.299 --> 00:29:38.460
 a son who will come and fight the serpent

00:29:38.460 --> 00:29:40.799
 on behalf of his people

00:29:40.799 --> 00:29:42.960
 the offspring of the woman

00:29:42.960 --> 00:29:44.680
 will be a son

00:29:44.680 --> 00:29:49.200
 he will come from the offspring of the woman

00:29:49.200 --> 00:29:50.720
 without any reference to his father

00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:52.240
 he will be a son

00:29:52.240 --> 00:29:52.879
 and third

00:29:52.879 --> 00:29:57.419
 he will be a victorious but suffering son

00:29:57.419 --> 00:30:01.839
 the offspring will bruise the serpent's head

00:30:01.839 --> 00:30:05.079
 but the serpent will bruise his heel

00:30:05.079 --> 00:30:08.319
 precisely because the serpent has been cursed

00:30:08.319 --> 00:30:11.179
 to crawl on his belly all the days of his life

00:30:11.179 --> 00:30:14.159
 it can only bite at the person's heel

00:30:14.159 --> 00:30:17.759
 the curse in verse 14 ensures the victory

00:30:17.759 --> 00:30:19.359
 in verse 15

00:30:19.359 --> 00:30:23.339
 the serpent from its humiliated position can only injure

00:30:23.339 --> 00:30:24.819
 it cannot kill

00:30:24.819 --> 00:30:28.059
 but for this upright man

00:30:28.059 --> 00:30:29.539
 who is standing

00:30:29.539 --> 00:30:32.399
 he has the immediate advantage

00:30:32.399 --> 00:30:35.839
 and so he can stand on the serpent's head and crush him

00:30:35.839 --> 00:30:37.720
 and since he will crush him

00:30:37.720 --> 00:30:39.299
 the point is that he saves

00:30:39.299 --> 00:30:41.000
 the offspring of the woman

00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:43.440
 from the power of the serpent

00:30:43.440 --> 00:30:46.680
 the offspring of the woman saves those people

00:30:46.680 --> 00:30:50.920
 even though he himself becomes injured in the fight

00:30:50.920 --> 00:30:55.619
 it's as if as he goes to crush the serpent in the head

00:30:55.619 --> 00:30:58.419
 the serpent bites him in the heel

00:30:58.419 --> 00:31:02.479
 here is God's saving grace

00:31:02.479 --> 00:31:05.659
 God provides a representative son

00:31:05.659 --> 00:31:07.079
 who will descend from over him

00:31:07.079 --> 00:31:10.579
 to fight and triumph over the serpent

00:31:10.579 --> 00:31:14.459
 even though he himself is injured in the fight

00:31:14.459 --> 00:31:17.619
 he will be a victorious but suffering son

00:31:18.219 --> 00:31:19.859
 what's interesting

00:31:19.859 --> 00:31:23.519
 is to trace the development of this verse

00:31:23.519 --> 00:31:24.420
 through the whole bible

00:31:24.420 --> 00:31:26.139
 Sinclair Ferguson put it well

00:31:26.139 --> 00:31:27.379
 Genesis 3.15

00:31:27.379 --> 00:31:30.400
 is like the whole bible

00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:31.859
 with the rest of the old testament

00:31:31.859 --> 00:31:32.779
 as a footnote

00:31:32.779 --> 00:31:35.160
 so boys and girls

00:31:35.160 --> 00:31:36.720
 if you ever want to summarize the whole bible

00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:38.460
 just quote Genesis 3.15

00:31:38.460 --> 00:31:40.139
 and just say to your parents

00:31:40.139 --> 00:31:41.460
 the rest of the bible

00:31:41.460 --> 00:31:42.460
 is a footnote

00:31:42.460 --> 00:31:44.859
 Genesis 3.15

00:31:44.859 --> 00:31:46.359
 because what's interesting

00:31:46.359 --> 00:31:47.900
 is you trace this promise

00:31:47.900 --> 00:31:48.680
 through the bible

00:31:48.680 --> 00:31:50.460
 what you see is that God

00:31:50.460 --> 00:31:52.299
 gets victory over his enemies

00:31:52.299 --> 00:31:56.019
 often with a blow to the head

00:31:56.019 --> 00:31:59.640
 Joshua captures the five Aborite kings

00:31:59.640 --> 00:32:02.740
 and gets his commanders to lie on the ground

00:32:02.740 --> 00:32:05.259
 and then they stand on their necks

00:32:05.259 --> 00:32:09.539
 before he hangs them on the trees

00:32:09.539 --> 00:32:12.160
 Deborah and Barak fight for Israel

00:32:12.160 --> 00:32:13.059
 against Sisera

00:32:13.059 --> 00:32:15.819
 the representative of the king of Hazor

00:32:15.819 --> 00:32:19.659
 who eventually gets a tent peg

00:32:19.659 --> 00:32:20.659
 where?

00:32:21.379 --> 00:32:22.439
 in the head

00:32:22.439 --> 00:32:24.539
 also in Judges of Emelech

00:32:24.539 --> 00:32:26.399
 gets a millstone to the head

00:32:26.399 --> 00:32:27.939
 think about David

00:32:27.939 --> 00:32:28.659
 boys and girls

00:32:28.659 --> 00:32:30.339
 where did David throw the stone

00:32:30.339 --> 00:32:31.659
 that killed Goliath?

00:32:32.319 --> 00:32:33.559
 did it hit him in the knee?

00:32:34.519 --> 00:32:34.859
 no

00:32:34.859 --> 00:32:35.819
 it hit him in the head

00:32:35.819 --> 00:32:38.200
 it was a blow to the head

00:32:38.200 --> 00:32:41.639
 David was a mini Messiah

00:32:41.640 --> 00:32:43.300
 the son of God

00:32:43.300 --> 00:32:43.920
 fighting

00:32:43.920 --> 00:32:45.360
 the representative

00:32:45.360 --> 00:32:46.180
 arch enemy

00:32:46.180 --> 00:32:47.600
 of his people Goliath

00:32:47.600 --> 00:32:48.460
 and he killed him

00:32:48.460 --> 00:32:50.240
 with a blow to the head

00:32:50.240 --> 00:32:51.240
 in other words

00:32:51.240 --> 00:32:52.600
 as the Old Testament develops

00:32:52.600 --> 00:32:53.520
 you see that God

00:32:53.520 --> 00:32:55.080
 saves his people

00:32:55.080 --> 00:32:56.700
 through a chosen representative

00:32:56.700 --> 00:32:58.560
 who defeats their enemies

00:32:58.560 --> 00:33:00.440
 often by inflicting

00:33:00.440 --> 00:33:01.580
 a deadly blow

00:33:01.580 --> 00:33:02.740
 to the head

00:33:02.740 --> 00:33:04.520
 all of these fights

00:33:04.520 --> 00:33:06.520
 are miniature dramas

00:33:07.220 --> 00:33:08.800
 of Genesis 3.15

00:33:08.799 --> 00:33:10.819
 each of them pointing forward

00:33:10.819 --> 00:33:12.680
 to that ultimate fight

00:33:12.680 --> 00:33:14.639
 between the representative

00:33:14.639 --> 00:33:15.779
 of offspring of the woman

00:33:15.779 --> 00:33:16.980
 and the serpent

00:33:16.980 --> 00:33:19.700
 these were only little skirmishes

00:33:19.700 --> 00:33:21.139
 in biblical history

00:33:21.139 --> 00:33:23.019
 waiting for the great battle

00:33:23.019 --> 00:33:25.099
 between this son

00:33:25.099 --> 00:33:26.139
 and the serpent

00:33:26.139 --> 00:33:27.720
 and it's in the Gospels

00:33:27.720 --> 00:33:29.119
 that this fight

00:33:29.119 --> 00:33:30.799
 comes to its fulfillment

00:33:30.799 --> 00:33:31.539
 in the life

00:33:31.539 --> 00:33:32.480
 death

00:33:32.480 --> 00:33:33.440
 resurrection

00:33:33.440 --> 00:33:34.680
 of Jesus Christ

00:33:34.680 --> 00:33:36.819
 just think about

00:33:36.819 --> 00:33:37.899
 when Jesus was born

00:33:37.900 --> 00:33:40.120
 what did King Herod

00:33:40.120 --> 00:33:41.120
 try to do to him

00:33:41.120 --> 00:33:42.960
 try to kill him

00:33:42.960 --> 00:33:45.519
 during his temptations

00:33:45.519 --> 00:33:46.280
 what did Satan

00:33:46.280 --> 00:33:46.940
 try to do

00:33:46.940 --> 00:33:48.120
 he came to fight him

00:33:48.120 --> 00:33:49.280
 in the wilderness

00:33:49.280 --> 00:33:50.259
 and tempt him

00:33:50.259 --> 00:33:51.460
 just think about

00:33:51.460 --> 00:33:52.460
 during his ministry

00:33:52.460 --> 00:33:53.600
 the Pharisees

00:33:53.600 --> 00:33:54.420
 and the scribes

00:33:54.420 --> 00:33:55.160
 opposed him

00:33:55.160 --> 00:33:56.080
 and tried to plot

00:33:56.080 --> 00:33:56.920
 to kill him

00:33:56.920 --> 00:33:58.360
 later on

00:33:58.360 --> 00:33:59.440
 Satan entered

00:33:59.440 --> 00:34:00.740
 Judas Iscariot

00:34:00.740 --> 00:34:02.400
 who then betrayed Jesus

00:34:02.400 --> 00:34:03.380
 which led to his

00:34:03.380 --> 00:34:04.140
 trial

00:34:04.140 --> 00:34:05.740
 and crucifixion

00:34:05.740 --> 00:34:06.500
 Satan

00:34:06.500 --> 00:34:07.380
 the serpent

00:34:07.380 --> 00:34:09.019
 went to war

00:34:09.019 --> 00:34:10.579
 against Jesus

00:34:10.579 --> 00:34:11.539
 the son

00:34:11.539 --> 00:34:15.739
 he tried to strike him

00:34:15.739 --> 00:34:17.019
 in the heel

00:34:17.019 --> 00:34:18.179
 he tried to bite him

00:34:18.179 --> 00:34:20.400
 and at first sight

00:34:20.400 --> 00:34:21.380
 the strike looked

00:34:21.380 --> 00:34:22.960
 like it was a deadly one

00:34:22.960 --> 00:34:24.780
 Jesus hangs on a cross

00:34:24.780 --> 00:34:25.460
 dead

00:34:25.460 --> 00:34:26.820
 he lies

00:34:26.820 --> 00:34:27.699
 in a tomb

00:34:27.699 --> 00:34:28.420
 dead

00:34:28.420 --> 00:34:29.719
 it seems like

00:34:29.719 --> 00:34:30.460
 the serpent

00:34:30.460 --> 00:34:31.659
 has triumphed

00:34:31.659 --> 00:34:32.639
 over the offspring

00:34:32.639 --> 00:34:33.900
 of the woman

00:34:33.900 --> 00:34:36.619
 but when Jesus dies

00:34:36.619 --> 00:34:37.219
 notice

00:34:37.219 --> 00:34:38.920
 who is standing

00:34:38.920 --> 00:34:39.960
 near the cross

00:34:39.960 --> 00:34:40.879
 watching

00:34:40.879 --> 00:34:42.559
 you know how

00:34:42.559 --> 00:34:43.480
 the gospel writers

00:34:43.480 --> 00:34:44.359
 talk about

00:34:44.359 --> 00:34:45.339
 there were women

00:34:45.339 --> 00:34:46.359
 standing by

00:34:46.359 --> 00:34:47.900
 and it names them

00:34:47.900 --> 00:34:48.420
 two women

00:34:48.420 --> 00:34:48.980
 called Mary

00:34:48.980 --> 00:34:49.500
 one of her

00:34:49.500 --> 00:34:50.339
 was his mother

00:34:50.339 --> 00:34:52.739
 and we Protestants

00:34:52.739 --> 00:34:54.179
 get all very nervous

00:34:54.179 --> 00:34:54.859
 at this point

00:34:54.859 --> 00:34:56.279
 Mary's

00:34:56.279 --> 00:34:57.299
 getting too close

00:34:57.299 --> 00:34:58.079
 to the cross

00:34:58.079 --> 00:34:59.259
 you know

00:34:59.259 --> 00:35:00.279
 get her away

00:35:00.279 --> 00:35:01.059
 from the cross

00:35:01.059 --> 00:35:02.179
 so Jesus is our

00:35:02.179 --> 00:35:02.519
 savior

00:35:02.519 --> 00:35:03.360
 Mary's got nothing

00:35:03.360 --> 00:35:04.039
 to do with it

00:35:04.039 --> 00:35:05.500
 and that's true

00:35:05.500 --> 00:35:06.980
 Mary doesn't save us

00:35:06.980 --> 00:35:07.980
 in any way whatsoever

00:35:07.980 --> 00:35:10.320
 but why is Mary

00:35:10.320 --> 00:35:11.059
 mentioned

00:35:11.059 --> 00:35:12.259
 as standing

00:35:12.259 --> 00:35:13.519
 by the cross

00:35:13.519 --> 00:35:16.440
 because on the cross

00:35:16.440 --> 00:35:18.139
 is the offspring

00:35:18.139 --> 00:35:19.960
 of the woman

00:35:19.960 --> 00:35:23.019
 on the cross

00:35:23.019 --> 00:35:23.739
 is the offspring

00:35:23.739 --> 00:35:24.460
 of the woman

00:35:24.460 --> 00:35:26.559
 it's interesting

00:35:26.559 --> 00:35:27.440
 that in his

00:35:27.440 --> 00:35:28.059
 first miracle

00:35:28.059 --> 00:35:28.619
 miracle

00:35:28.619 --> 00:35:30.579
 Jesus refers

00:35:30.579 --> 00:35:31.299
 to his mother

00:35:31.299 --> 00:35:32.820
 as woman

00:35:32.820 --> 00:35:34.679
 woman

00:35:34.679 --> 00:35:36.119
 my time

00:35:36.119 --> 00:35:37.799
 has not yet come

00:35:37.799 --> 00:35:39.480
 he was alluding

00:35:39.480 --> 00:35:40.219
 back to

00:35:40.219 --> 00:35:41.500
 Genesis 3.15

00:35:41.500 --> 00:35:43.400
 and do you remember

00:35:43.400 --> 00:35:44.279
 the place name

00:35:44.279 --> 00:35:45.400
 where Jesus dies

00:35:45.400 --> 00:35:46.659
 Golgotha

00:35:46.659 --> 00:35:48.179
 the place of the

00:35:48.179 --> 00:35:49.599
 skull

00:35:49.599 --> 00:35:51.320
 and he

00:35:51.320 --> 00:35:52.480
 shall crush

00:35:52.480 --> 00:35:53.960
 your head

00:35:53.960 --> 00:35:56.380
 first Adam

00:35:56.380 --> 00:35:57.960
 failed to crush

00:35:57.960 --> 00:35:58.559
 the serpent

00:35:58.559 --> 00:35:59.519
 by a tree

00:35:59.519 --> 00:36:00.460
 and lost

00:36:00.460 --> 00:36:01.240
 his bride

00:36:01.240 --> 00:36:02.380
 Jesus

00:36:02.380 --> 00:36:03.059
 crushes

00:36:03.059 --> 00:36:03.539
 the serpent

00:36:03.539 --> 00:36:04.380
 on a tree

00:36:04.380 --> 00:36:05.800
 and saves

00:36:05.800 --> 00:36:06.559
 his bride

00:36:06.559 --> 00:36:08.280
 he kneels

00:36:08.280 --> 00:36:08.860
 the serpent

00:36:08.860 --> 00:36:09.519
 to the tree

00:36:09.519 --> 00:36:10.119
 puts it

00:36:10.119 --> 00:36:10.720
 in a grave

00:36:10.720 --> 00:36:12.079
 and he did

00:36:12.079 --> 00:36:12.599
 it for all

00:36:12.599 --> 00:36:13.039
 of us

00:36:13.039 --> 00:36:14.760
 if we trust

00:36:14.760 --> 00:36:15.820
 in the Lord

00:36:15.820 --> 00:36:16.139
 Jesus

00:36:16.139 --> 00:36:17.019
 this is the

00:36:17.019 --> 00:36:17.539
 gospel

00:36:17.539 --> 00:36:18.500
 of grace

00:36:18.500 --> 00:36:19.840
 Jesus

00:36:19.840 --> 00:36:21.320
 the representative

00:36:21.320 --> 00:36:21.900
 son

00:36:21.900 --> 00:36:22.539
 fought

00:36:22.539 --> 00:36:23.199
 on our

00:36:23.199 --> 00:36:23.820
 behalf

00:36:23.820 --> 00:36:24.759
 crushed

00:36:24.759 --> 00:36:25.659
 the devil

00:36:25.659 --> 00:36:26.779
 it cost

00:36:26.779 --> 00:36:27.179
 him his

00:36:27.179 --> 00:36:27.559
 life

00:36:27.559 --> 00:36:28.500
 he has

00:36:28.500 --> 00:36:29.639
 the scars

00:36:29.639 --> 00:36:30.380
 to prove

00:36:30.380 --> 00:36:30.639
 it

00:36:30.639 --> 00:36:31.539
 just like

00:36:31.539 --> 00:36:32.059
 any man

00:36:32.059 --> 00:36:32.420
 who's ever

00:36:32.420 --> 00:36:33.420
 bitten by a snake

00:36:33.420 --> 00:36:34.259
 has scars

00:36:34.259 --> 00:36:35.159
 to prove it

00:36:35.159 --> 00:36:35.860
 Jesus

00:36:35.860 --> 00:36:37.059
 has the scars

00:36:37.059 --> 00:36:37.820
 to prove

00:36:37.820 --> 00:36:38.739
 that he went

00:36:38.739 --> 00:36:39.739
 into battle

00:36:39.739 --> 00:36:40.579
 with the devil

00:36:40.579 --> 00:36:42.779
 he did it

00:36:42.779 --> 00:36:43.980
 to save us

00:36:43.980 --> 00:36:45.639
 this is God's

00:36:45.639 --> 00:36:47.360
 saving grace

00:36:47.360 --> 00:36:48.139
 this is the

00:36:48.139 --> 00:36:48.920
 third reason

00:36:48.920 --> 00:36:50.039
 why we belong

00:36:50.039 --> 00:36:50.820
 to God's family

00:36:50.820 --> 00:36:51.800
 because of his

00:36:51.800 --> 00:36:54.019
 saving grace

00:36:54.019 --> 00:36:55.280
 while we were

00:36:55.280 --> 00:36:55.960
 still sinners

00:36:55.960 --> 00:36:56.720
 while we were

00:36:56.720 --> 00:36:57.500
 still enemies

00:36:57.500 --> 00:36:59.060
 Jesus died

00:36:59.060 --> 00:36:59.640
 for us

00:36:59.640 --> 00:37:01.480
 while we were

00:37:01.480 --> 00:37:02.240
 on Satan's

00:37:02.240 --> 00:37:02.580
 team

00:37:02.580 --> 00:37:04.620
 Jesus died

00:37:04.620 --> 00:37:05.039
 for us

00:37:05.039 --> 00:37:06.519
 to bring us

00:37:06.519 --> 00:37:07.060
 back onto

00:37:07.060 --> 00:37:07.960
 God's team

00:37:07.960 --> 00:37:08.960
 God sent

00:37:08.960 --> 00:37:09.720
 his son

00:37:09.720 --> 00:37:10.700
 to fight

00:37:10.700 --> 00:37:11.240
 the devil

00:37:11.240 --> 00:37:12.320
 and bring us

00:37:12.320 --> 00:37:13.420
 back onto

00:37:13.420 --> 00:37:14.120
 his team

00:37:14.120 --> 00:37:14.860
 this is the

00:37:14.860 --> 00:37:15.960
 great good news

00:37:15.960 --> 00:37:16.580
 of God's

00:37:16.580 --> 00:37:17.960
 great grace

00:37:17.960 --> 00:37:20.179
 grace

00:37:20.179 --> 00:37:20.780
 the question

00:37:20.780 --> 00:37:21.579
 we each need

00:37:21.579 --> 00:37:22.320
 to ask ourselves

00:37:22.320 --> 00:37:22.860
 this morning

00:37:22.860 --> 00:37:23.260
 is

00:37:23.260 --> 00:37:24.619
 have we

00:37:24.619 --> 00:37:25.579
 experienced

00:37:25.579 --> 00:37:27.179
 this electing

00:37:27.179 --> 00:37:28.340
 preserving

00:37:28.340 --> 00:37:29.699
 saving

00:37:29.699 --> 00:37:30.679
 grace

00:37:30.679 --> 00:37:31.960
 so let me

00:37:31.960 --> 00:37:32.460
 ask you

00:37:32.460 --> 00:37:33.860
 which family

00:37:33.860 --> 00:37:34.300
 tree

00:37:34.300 --> 00:37:35.280
 do you belong

00:37:35.280 --> 00:37:35.559
 to

00:37:35.559 --> 00:37:37.579
 which family

00:37:37.579 --> 00:37:38.300
 are you in

00:37:38.300 --> 00:37:40.559
 the offspring

00:37:40.559 --> 00:37:41.760
 of the serpent

00:37:41.760 --> 00:37:43.500
 or the offspring

00:37:43.500 --> 00:37:44.880
 of the woman

00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:46.079
 you may say

00:37:46.079 --> 00:37:46.460
 well I don't

00:37:46.460 --> 00:37:47.079
 belong to either

00:37:47.079 --> 00:37:47.880
 family tree

00:37:47.880 --> 00:37:48.639
 whose are

00:37:48.639 --> 00:37:49.500
 viable family

00:37:49.500 --> 00:37:49.880
 trees

00:37:49.880 --> 00:37:50.300
 that's all

00:37:50.300 --> 00:37:51.039
 very interesting

00:37:51.039 --> 00:37:51.360
 do you know

00:37:51.360 --> 00:37:51.539
 what I mean

00:37:51.539 --> 00:37:52.800
 but not that

00:37:52.800 --> 00:37:53.900
 interested myself

00:37:53.900 --> 00:37:55.139
 well

00:37:55.139 --> 00:37:56.659
 listen to Jesus

00:37:56.659 --> 00:37:58.460
 if you are not

00:37:58.460 --> 00:37:59.079
 for me

00:37:59.079 --> 00:38:00.679
 you are against

00:38:00.679 --> 00:38:01.059
 me

00:38:01.059 --> 00:38:02.539
 if we're not

00:38:02.539 --> 00:38:03.440
 on God's side

00:38:03.440 --> 00:38:04.079
 this morning

00:38:04.079 --> 00:38:05.079
 then we need

00:38:05.079 --> 00:38:05.480
 to know

00:38:05.480 --> 00:38:06.019
 that we are

00:38:06.019 --> 00:38:06.800
 on the side

00:38:06.800 --> 00:38:07.500
 of the serpent

00:38:07.500 --> 00:38:08.159
 whether we like

00:38:08.159 --> 00:38:08.579
 it or not

00:38:08.579 --> 00:38:09.340
 whether we agree

00:38:09.340 --> 00:38:09.980
 with it or not

00:38:09.980 --> 00:38:10.719
 whether we believe

00:38:10.719 --> 00:38:11.119
 it or not

00:38:11.119 --> 00:38:11.639
 it doesn't

00:38:11.639 --> 00:38:12.719
 change reality

00:38:12.719 --> 00:38:13.480
 the reality

00:38:13.480 --> 00:38:13.980
 is

00:38:13.980 --> 00:38:15.159
 we are in

00:38:15.159 --> 00:38:15.759
 one of these

00:38:15.759 --> 00:38:16.460
 two family

00:38:16.460 --> 00:38:17.099
 trees

00:38:17.099 --> 00:38:18.480
 and Jesus

00:38:18.480 --> 00:38:19.219
 says if you're

00:38:19.219 --> 00:38:20.000
 against me

00:38:20.000 --> 00:38:20.460
 you're in

00:38:20.460 --> 00:38:21.119
 the serpent

00:38:21.119 --> 00:38:22.699
 the serpent's

00:38:22.699 --> 00:38:23.199
 family tree

00:38:23.199 --> 00:38:23.619
 you're in the

00:38:23.619 --> 00:38:24.359
 offspring of the

00:38:24.359 --> 00:38:24.579
 serpent

00:38:24.579 --> 00:38:25.139
 but if you

00:38:25.139 --> 00:38:26.219
 are for me

00:38:26.219 --> 00:38:27.619
 then you have

00:38:27.619 --> 00:38:28.380
 received

00:38:28.380 --> 00:38:29.500
 my electing

00:38:29.500 --> 00:38:30.359
 preserving

00:38:30.359 --> 00:38:31.940
 and saving

00:38:31.940 --> 00:38:32.960
 grace

00:38:32.960 --> 00:38:35.319
 if we are

00:38:35.319 --> 00:38:36.059
 Christians here

00:38:36.059 --> 00:38:36.539
 this morning

00:38:36.539 --> 00:38:37.000
 if we've

00:38:37.000 --> 00:38:37.739
 repented of

00:38:37.739 --> 00:38:38.239
 our sin

00:38:38.239 --> 00:38:39.139
 put our faith

00:38:39.139 --> 00:38:40.159
 in the Lord

00:38:40.159 --> 00:38:40.440
 Jesus

00:38:40.440 --> 00:38:41.200
 then we are

00:38:41.200 --> 00:38:42.260
 united by

00:38:42.260 --> 00:38:42.900
 faith to

00:38:42.900 --> 00:38:43.760
 that son

00:38:43.760 --> 00:38:45.500
 the son

00:38:45.500 --> 00:38:46.079
 of the woman

00:38:46.079 --> 00:38:48.539
 the victorious

00:38:48.539 --> 00:38:49.360
 but suffering

00:38:49.360 --> 00:38:49.960
 son who

00:38:49.960 --> 00:38:50.400
 crushed

00:38:50.400 --> 00:38:51.519
 the serpent

00:38:51.519 --> 00:38:53.800
 and if we

00:38:53.800 --> 00:38:54.559
 belong to him

00:38:54.559 --> 00:38:55.159
 then it is

00:38:55.159 --> 00:38:56.639
 all by

00:38:56.639 --> 00:38:57.559
 God's grace

00:38:57.559 --> 00:39:00.780
 we've sung it

00:39:00.780 --> 00:39:01.240
 this morning

00:39:01.240 --> 00:39:01.679
 already

00:39:01.679 --> 00:39:02.760
 what a mystery

00:39:02.760 --> 00:39:03.440
 I see

00:39:03.440 --> 00:39:04.940
 what a miracle

00:39:04.940 --> 00:39:06.619
 has joined me

00:39:06.619 --> 00:39:07.579
 to this life

00:39:07.579 --> 00:39:08.740
 that never

00:39:08.740 --> 00:39:09.280
 ends

00:39:09.280 --> 00:39:11.600
 let us pray

00:39:11.599 --> 00:39:13.719
 a dream

00:39:13.719 --> 00:39:13.719


00:39:13.719 --> 00:39:13.719


00:39:13.719 --> 00:39:13.719


00:39:13.719 --> 00:39:13.719


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00:39:13.719 --> 00:39:13.719


00:39:13.719 --> 00:39:13.719