When Adam sinned in the garden he entered into a state of sin and misery. Suffering, manifested first in a guilty conscience, would be his lot in life. What is surprising in the following verses is how the gospel is going to address the problem of suffering in humanity. Surprising, I say, especially in light of the modern “Prosperity Gospel” so called. The Bible tells us that the problem of sin will be dealt with by the suffering and death of a promises Messiah, who is God himself. God will enter into time in human flesh and experience what we experience in the flesh, yet without sin. This is the stage on which man’s salvation will be won.
God promises to enter into a prolonged and intense conflict with Satan. The mention of “seed” points to an undefined period of time and succession of generations. Also, the mention of the crushed head and wounded heal speaks of the intensity of the conflict with Satan
The first and primary reason for the incarnation is the “glory of God.” This is implied from the fact that God address Satan first. Genesis 3:15-19 teaches us that Christ enters into a conflict with Satan for the vindication of his own glory. Christ will reveal His glory to the world through this prolonged and intense conflict with Satan and in doing so he will redeem men. It is, as Peter said glory through suffering (1 Peter 1:10-11). It is victory through conflict, it is rest through hardship.
We have a tendency to make the gospel all about US, to put the glory of Christ’s salvation in the back seat by promoting the happiness of man as though man is in the driver’s seat. The gospel that promotes the happiness of the saved demotes the glory of the Saviour.
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Aaron Dunlop, who is originally from Northern Ireland, graduated from the Geneva Reformed Seminary, SC. He pastored for ten years in Victoria, British Columbia and is currently preparing to move to Kenya with his family to work with the FAME Reformed Theological College.
