True History?
A Sermon on Genesis 3:15
Originally preached Oct. 30, 1955
Scripture
15And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Sermon Description
Without the facts of biblical history there is no gospel. From a Christian perspective, this becomes most important in approaching the book of Genesis. While the first book of the Bible is full of historical facts, it is also much more than this. It is where the great biblical drama begins—the drama of what God is doing in salvation. In this sermon on Genesis 3:15 titled “True History?” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones calls the listener to see the big picture of the biblical message. He teaches literal historical facts but he also notes the beginning drama of deliverance as God pronounces a great conflict between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. In order to understand secular history that is marked by sin, evil, war, pride, and hopelessness, people must come to grips with the biblical history of God initiating liberation of humanity from the bondage of Satan. Genesis 3:15 reminds that humanity’s problems run much deeper than morality or mere happiness. As Dr. Lloyd-Jones says in this compelling sermon, Genesis 3:15 recalls the utter helpless condition that only the cross of Christ can fix. Listen as he traces biblical history from the beginning to the end where Christ returns in glory and subdues the devil fully and finally.
Sermon Breakdown
- The Bible comes to us exactly where we are in the midst of our problems and difficulties.
- The third chapter of Genesis is essential to understanding life as it is.
- We are all confronted with problems in life that make us miserable and seek something we lack. There are only two possible explanations: accept the Bible's teaching or not. All other answers are not the biblical answer.
- The story of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3 happens to each of us. We repeat their actions.
- Man thought he could live independently of God but then heard God's voice and hid, thinking God couldn't find him. But God searched him out. We hide behind "trees" like problems or arguments to avoid the gospel.
- Preachers can be tempted to preach on popular topics but the gospel is of greater concern. The gospel says all are under God's wrath unless believing in Christ.
- Genesis 3:15 is the first proclamation of the gospel. It shows God will defeat Satan and deliver people from him.
- By nature, man is under Satan's dominion. The problem is escaping Satan's dominion and getting into paradise. Philosophy, education and cults can't solve this. Only the gospel can.
- Any evangelism not dealing with Satan's dominion is false. The test is being freed from Satan's dominion, knowing God and being reconciled to Him.
- Satan blinds minds to the gospel. Mankind needs to see its hopelessness to see the need for a savior. Man is helpless.
- Genesis 3:15 shows God's program to defeat Satan. God will put enmity between Satan and the woman and her seed and Satan's seed. The woman's seed will bruise Satan's head and Satan will bruise his heel.
- There are two histories: secular history of man's endeavors, going in circles, and God's history of defeating Satan. God's history intermingles with secular history but is separate. The Bible shows God defeating Satan.
- God's history began with Cain and Abel, showing conflict between God's seed and Satan's seed. It continues with Noah, Abraham, Israel, prophets, and ultimately Jesus, the woman's seed, defeating Satan.
- Jesus was bruised in the heel (died) but bruised Satan's head (dealt a mortal wound). Jesus defeated principalities and powers, triumphing over them.
- The gospel spreads Jesus's victory. When preached in the Spirit's power, it convicts of bondage to Satan, shows salvation in Christ and brings people out of Satan's dominion. This will continue until Jesus returns, defeats all enemies and destroys Satan.
- By nature, all belong to Satan. Only believing in Christ's redemption and rescue from Satan brings escape from Satan to God's kingdom, blessings and protection from judgment.
- Everyone is either in Satan's hands or God's hands. Their fate corresponds. Call on Christ to be delivered from Satan.
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Genesis 3:15
What is the main problem confronting humanity according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the main problem confronting humanity is not just individual sins or unhappiness, but rather that we are under the dominion and control of the devil. He states: "The problem confronting every one of us is how to escape from the dominion of Satan, how to get out of the clutches of the devil, how to get somehow make an exit out of this kingdom of darkness into light and knowledge and God." Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that we need to recognize our fundamental problem is spiritual bondage, not merely personal difficulties.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the two kinds of history in the Bible?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes two kinds of history: secular history and spiritual history. Secular history is what we read in regular history books about nations, cultures, art, and philosophy, which merely moves in cycles without true progress. The second is spiritual history, which is "God initiating a process, raising up a seed that is going to fight this foul tyrant that has conquered men, is going to vanquish him and deliver humanity." This spiritual history follows God's program announced in Genesis 3:15 and runs parallel to secular history while occasionally intersecting with it.
What is the significance of Genesis 3:15 in Dr. Lloyd-Jones' sermon?
Genesis 3:15 is described as "the first pronouncement and proclamation of the Christian gospel" and "the beginning of it all." Lloyd-Jones says this verse contains God's entire program for conquering Satan and delivering people from his dominion. He states: "I'll never allow anybody to take this out of my Bible. It's my gospel. It's the beginning of it all." According to Lloyd-Jones, this verse is the foundation of the whole Bible's message, showing how God would raise up the seed of the woman (ultimately Christ) to bruise the serpent's head.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the conflict between the two seeds throughout history?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones traces the conflict between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent throughout biblical history. He shows how it began with Abel and Cain, continued with Noah and the rest of the world, then Abraham and the pagan nations, and through Israel's history. This conflict intensified with Christ's coming when the seed of the serpent (represented by Herod, Pharisees, etc.) tried to destroy him. The ultimate confrontation came at the cross, where Jesus, while appearing defeated, actually delivered the "mortal wound" to Satan's head while his own heel was bruised, fulfilling Genesis 3:15.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say is the only way to escape from Satan's dominion?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphatically states that the only way to escape from Satan's dominion is through the death of Christ. He explains: "There is no deliverance from Satan except through the death of Christ. It meant that's how he delivers. His heel was bruised, he suffered, he bore the punishment." He urges his listeners to recognize their bondage to Satan and to cast themselves upon Christ: "Cast yourself upon him. Speak to him. Tell him, though I cannot see you, I believe you're there. I believe the message. Deliver me, and he will deliver you."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe mankind's natural condition using Christ's metaphor?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones uses Christ's metaphor of "the strong man armed" to describe mankind's natural condition. He explains that humanity is like people trapped in a great castle governed by a powerful chieftain (Satan). Though people have some liberty to move around within the castle grounds, they cannot escape its walls. Lloyd-Jones states: "The strong man, armed, keepeth his goods in peace. They're absolutely under his control." This illustrates how people may feel free while actually remaining in spiritual bondage to Satan.
What criticism does Dr. Lloyd-Jones make of modern philosophies and cults?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones criticizes modern philosophies and cults because they only try to make people feel happier but never address the radical problem of Satan's dominion. He states: "All your philosophic systems, all your educational systems, all your cults, they know nothing about that and they're not interested in it. They are out to make you feel happier." He argues that these approaches may provide temporary happiness (like alcohol does for a drunkard) but leave people in deeper bondage, never addressing the fundamental spiritual problem.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say will be the final outcome of the conflict between Christ and Satan?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes the final outcome as Christ's complete victory over Satan. He states that Christ "will come back finally to route all his enemies. Satan and all who belong to him will be cast into the lake of perdition. Evil and all its vestiges will be burned out of existence. There shall be a new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness." He emphasizes that Satan will be "finally destroyed to all eternity" and that Christ's kingdom will be established forever.
What test does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say should be applied to determine true evangelism?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones states that the test of true evangelism is not merely whether it makes people feel happier or helps them shed certain sins, but whether it delivers them from Satan's dominion. He says: "The test to apply is not whether we feel happier or better, not whether we've got a joy which we didn't have before, not that we've shed certain sins. But are we out from under the dominion of Satan? Do we know God? Are we reconciled to him? Are we rarely in the light? That's the question."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the Bible's primary purpose?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the Bible is not primarily a book telling us what we must do to put ourselves right or teaching morality and ethics. Instead, he describes it as "a great announcement of what God has done. It's God acting." He emphasizes that the Bible is God's revelation of His plan to defeat Satan and deliver humanity: "It's entirely from God. It's God announcing his program, revealing it. I know nothing about it apart from this book." The Bible, according to Lloyd-Jones, is fundamentally about God's initiative in salvation, not human effort.
Old Testament
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.