WHEN God pronounced the sentence of
death upon our first parents, he did
not leave them without hope that at
some time and in some manner the
penalty might be lifted. A ray of
hope is to be noted in the statement
God made to the “serpent” pertaining
to a coming “seed” that would bruise
his head.—Gen. 3:15
We cannot suppose that Adam and Eve
understood clearly the implications
of God’s statement concerning the
seed of the woman; but they seemed
to have been given some hope by it,
for when their first son Cain was
born Eve said, “I have gotten a man
from the Lord.”—Gen. 4:1
In the light of subsequent promises
of God, it is now clear that God’s
statement concerning a seed that
would bruise the serpent’s head
actually did mean that in God’s due
time Adam and his race would be
delivered from Satan’s rulership and
from sin and death. (Rev. 20:1-3; I
Cor. 15:25,26) This means that the
original purpose of God in the
creation of man will be fulfilled,
and the earth will become one vast
paradise, populated by the redeemed
and restored offspring of Adam and
Eve.—Rev. 21:4
About two thousand years after man’s
fall into sin and death God made a
promise to Abram—who was later
called Abraham—saying that through
him and his seed all the families of
the earth would be blessed. (Gen.
12:3) Later, when Abraham proved his
worthiness by demonstrating his
willingness to obey the Lord in the
offering of his son Isaac in
sacrifice, God confirmed this
promise by his oath.—Gen. 22:15-18
In the New Testament the seed
promised to Abraham is identified as
Christ. (Gal. 3:8,16) The further
explanation is given that those who
follow in the footsteps of Christ
will be associated with him as the
promised seed. (Gal. 3:27-29) This
means that true Christians will
participate with Jesus in the future
work of blessing mankind with health
and life.
It was because of God’s great love
for his human creatures that, even
though he foreknew they would
disobey him, he had, through Christ,
made provision for them to be
released from the penalty of death.
(John 3:16) God’s plan for the
deliverance of mankind from death
through Christ is on the same basis
as the condemnation of the entire
human race through one man. All lost
life through Adam, and all will have
an opportunity to regain life
through Christ.—I Cor. 15:21,22
There are many promises in the Bible
to assure us that when the Divine
plan for the deliverance of mankind
from sin and death is complete there
will be no more sickness, pain, or
death, that joy will replace sorrow,
and that all tears will be wiped
away. (Isa. 25:8,9) This deliverance
of mankind from sin and death will
include the awakening of those who
have died. These have all been
“ransomed” by Jesus and will be
restored.—Isa. 35:10 (A)
STUDENTS’ HELPS
Questions
To know the answers to these
questions implies a priceless
knowledge of the revealed purposes
of God pertaining to his human
creation. How many of them can you
answer?
Did God leave our first parents
without hope when he pronounced the
sentence of death upon them?
What did Eve say which indicates
that she may have thought that her
son Cain was the “seed” mentioned by
God?
Who is the “Seed” of promise that
will yet “bruise” the “serpent’s”
head; and what will the complete
fulfillment of this promise mean in
human experience?
What promise did God make to Abraham
concerning a seed?
What explanation does Paul make
concerning the Seed and who it will
be?
Explain how the love of God provided
deliverance of mankind from sin and
death.
Describe the conditions on earth
which will be obtained when the
results of the fall are set aside.
Reference Material
(A) “The
Divine Plan of the Ages,” pages
191,192
Summary of Important Thoughts
The vague statement made to the
“serpent” concerning a “seed” is in
reality God’s first promise of
deliverance of fallen man from sin
and death.