Layman’s Corner

Q: Glen writes:  What does Genesis 3:15 refer to?

A: Thank you Glen for sending in your question. Genesis 3:15 is the first promise in the Bible for the plan of redemption.

In other words, the gospel, which means good news, is first mentioned in Genesis 3:15 and is the keynote message of the whole Bible. To man, the first hint of redemption was communicated in the sentence pronounced upon Satan in the garden. The Lord declared, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heal.”  Enmity means hatred or animosity. The woman represents God’s church which is made up of His people – the sons and daughters of God.  Satan bruised Christ’s heal at the cross, but He rose from the tomb victorious and will ultimately bruise Satan’s head, referring to an eternal deadly wound.  

This bruising of Satan head as referred to in Genesis 3:15 – is described in a number of texts throughout the Bible, Malachi 4:1 to 3 sums up the ultimate end of Satan, the angels who fell with him and those who chose not to accept by faith Christ’s gift of forgiveness and salvation.  It says: “For, behold, the day will come, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yes, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that will come shall burn them up, says the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. And you shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, says the LORD of hosts.” This text makes it clear that Satan and those who are lost won’t be living on burning forever. Many picture Satan as the foreman in hell wearing red leotards with a pointed tail and a pitchfork.  Satan won’t oversee hell. God will use him as part of the kindling. Ultimately Satan, along with the third of the Angels that fell with him and the unrighteous who in their lives chose to pass by the gift of salvation, will be ashes under our feet, never more to live and torture the living or the lost.  

“Genesis 3:15 uttered in the hearing of our first parents, was to them a promise. This promise foretold war between man and Satan, and it also declared that the power of the great adversary would finally be broken.  Adam and his companion were assured that notwithstanding their great sin, they were not to be abandoned to the control of Satan. The Son of God had offered to atone, with His own life, for their transgression. A period of probation would be granted them, and through repentance, and faith in Christ, they might again become the children of God.  As soon as there was sin, there was a Saviour. Christ knew that He would have to suffer, yet He became man’s substitute.  Adam and Eve believed the precious promise of God and were saved from utter ruin.”  -Patriarchs and Prophets, EGW.

As we except Christ’s gift of salvation that he promised in Genesis 3:15 and provided on the cross, we too can have the hope of eternal life and one day meet Adam and Eve in person in the Earth made new.  There is no better time than now to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour. In Isaiah 55:6,7 we are counseled to: “Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon Him while He is near: Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” What a promise! The hope of salvation and grace is not just limited to the New Testament of the Bible but all through the Old Testament as well, starting with Genesis 3:15. Send your Bible questions to: laymanscornerqa@gmail.com