The Prophecy of The Seed of The Woman - Part 1 - The Seed of The Woman

Temple Baptist Church - 12-7-2025

Matthew 1:18-25; Genesis 3:15-16

 

Introduction: 

 

Genesis 3:15-16  And 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.  (16)  Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

 

A.  What about the coming of the Messiah?  The most prophesied event in the Bible is that of the birth of the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ.  The first man was given this blessed hope in Genesis 3:15, four thousand years before His birth. 

 

1.  He was and is the Hope of mankind.  The promised Savior!

 

2.  He was and is the Hope of Israel.  The promised King!

 

3.  He was and is the Hope of the Church.  The Promised Eternal Bridegroom!

B.  The Old Testament saints looked forward to the coming of the promised “Seed” with as much anticipation as the New Testament saints look back to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with exaltation. 

 

1.  The Jews still place notes into the “Wailing Wall” and pray for the promised Messiah, realizing that He is their only Hope! 

 

2.  We, as New Testament saints, look back with thrill and wonder that God so loved us that He gave His only begotten Son to die in our place.  God help us never to lose that!

 

C.  There are literally hundreds of prophetic verses (324) that detail the first coming of Christ, beginning with the “seed of the woman,” and her offspring, Israel’s Messiah.  Each of these verses is filled with precise specifics, not general ones.  Not a single prophecy, given thousands of years before His arrival, failed!

 

When you use the mathematics of probability and statistics to analyze these prophecies, the likelihood of all of them coming true is nearly beyond human comprehension. The odds of any one person fulfilling just 8, not 324, Old Testament prophecies are astronomically low, calculated as 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000 ( in .

 

Ill.  The state of Texas covers 268,820 square miles.  The odds of just 8 prophecies being fulfilled by the coming and life of the Messiah and our Saviour are like covering that 268.820 square miles with 18 inches of silver dollars. Placing one marked silver dollar anywhere in Texas, underneath the 18 inches, blindfolding a man, and letting him roam over 268,820 square miles, he would need just a single pick to find the marked coin!

 

If just eight prophecies only have 1 in .   Probability, what would 324 fulfilled be?

D.  What a blessed, wonderful Book the Bible is! What a wonderful God our Heavenly Father is! What a wonderful Savior!

E.  I want to look at prophecies of the Coming of Christ, “The Seed of The Woman.”

 

1.  The Foundational Prophecy of the Seed.  Genesis 3:15  And 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.

 

a.  This is often called the Protoevangelium (Proto-evangelium), a theological term meaning “the first gospel” or “the first announcement of the good news.” Protoevangelium comes from Greek proto = first; evangelium = gospel.

 

b.  A miraculously born Redeemer.  There has never been nor ever will be a conception without the seed of man being involved.  A virgin birth!

 

c.  Genesis 3:15 specifically states that the “seed of the serpent” would bruise the heel of Messiah on the cross, and the seed of the woman would one day crush the serpent’s head—Christ’s triumph!

 

2.  The Precise Lineage of the Seed.  The coming of the Messiah narrowed down.

 

a.  Eve.  Genesis 4:25  And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.

 

b.  Abraham.   Genesis 12:2-3  And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:  (3)  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

 

c.  Judah.  Genesis 49:10  The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

 

d.  David.  2 Samuel 7:12-13  And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.  (13)  He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

 

e.  Mary.  Isaiah 7:14  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

 

Luke 1:26-27  And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,  (27)  To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

 

f.  The Holy Ghost.  Matthew 1:19-20  Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.  (20)  But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

 

3.  The Suffering of the Seed. 

 

a.  The Prophecy of the Cross  Isaiah 53:6-11  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.  (7)  He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.  (8)  He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.  (9)  And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.  (10)  Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.  (11)  He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

 

b.  The Performance of the Cross.  John 19:17,30  And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha … (30)  When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

 

c.  The Price of the Cross.  Philippians 2:6-8  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  (7)  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  (8)  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

 

d.  The People of the Cross.  Colossians 2:14  Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

 

2 Corinthians 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

How Long, LORD?

 Temple Baptist Church - 4-27-2025

Psalm 79

 

Introduction:

 

A. A Psalm of Asaph. Asaph was contemporary with King David and probably his assistant in matters of the Tabernacle and worship.

 

B. The Psalm is national, not individual, as Asaph references Israel, Jerusalem, and the future Temple instead of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness.

 

1. Most Psalms of this nature are the cry of the individual for divine involvement in an immediate crisis.

 

2. Many Psalms are contemporary and prophetic in nature, as they address the present while prophesying the future. Thus, Messianic Psalms imply the coming of and the work of the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

3. This Psalm is simply prophetic. It is a prophetic cry for divine intervention for the nation of Israel.

 

4. Three things are mentioned that have yet to occur in Asaphs’ lifetime.

 

a) “The heathen are come into thine inheritance.” The heathen entered the land and nation of Israel. Though this is well noted in Israel’s history up to this point, there had been many instances where the heathen overran and controlled Israel over the centuries due to disobedience to God.

 

Psalms 79:7 For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place.

 

b) “Thy holy temple have they defiled.” During King David’s lifetime, worship was still in the Tabernacle. At Asaph’s time, neither the Tabernacle nor the future Temple had ever been “defiled” by the enemies of Israel.

 

c) “They have laid Jerusalem on heaps.” The utter destruction of Jerusalem. The heathen had never destroyed Jerusalem.

 

C. This Psalm speaks of the anger of God against the nation of Israel, indicating His judgment due to the sins committed. Israel had many periods when it turned from God, and judgment fell.

 

Psalms 79:5 How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?

 

1. “How Long” indicates a future event. If this had been a historical event mentioned in the Psalm, Asaph would have known how long God’s anger lasted.

 

2. “How Long … for ever” indicates an extended event. The judgment of God will be over a prolonged period of time.

 

D. Three future events could be considered in the partial fulfillment of this prophecy, two of which I will eliminate because they do not fit all the requirements of the Psalm.

 

1. The Babylonian Captivity occurred nearly 600 years before the arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ. During this time, the walls of Jerusalem were torn down, its gates were burned, and the Temple was destroyed. Israel spent 70 years in captivity before God raised Ezra and Nehemiah to rebuild the Temple and the walls of Jerusalem. I have examined the spoiling of Solomon’s Temple and the destruction of Israel by the Babylonians. However, I find no evidence of defilement related to sacrifices.

 

The Babylonian Captivity fulfilled two aspects of the prophecy but not the third. Israel was overrun, the Temple was torn down and spoiled, and Jerusalem was ravaged. The gates were burned, and many of the walls were torn down. However, the altar was spoiled but not defiled. I dismiss this theory for another reason. During the Babylonian Captivity, Daniel spoke of the most significant point: Daniel, Jesus Christ, and the Book of Revelation reference the "abomination that maketh desolate" as future events, rather than past occurrences.

 

2. Antiochus IV Epiphanes

 

Three hundred fifty-six years before the arrival of Israel's Messiah, the Greek World Empire was led by two notable kings. Alexander the Great reigned from 356 to 323 BC, conquering much of the known world before dying at 33 of possible Guillain-Barré Syndrome (Guillain-Barré syndrome), which paralyzes the peripheral parts of the body. His body did not begin to decompose for six days after they pronounced him dead, leading them to think he was a god, but probably was not dead yet. He had exhausted his ambitions for conquest.

 

After Alexander the Great, Antiochus IV Epiphanes ruled the Seleucid Empire from 175 BC until his death in 164 BC. His reign was marked by significant events, including an attempted conquest of Egypt, the persecution of Jews in Judea, and the subsequent Maccabean Revolt.

 

Between the Babylonian Captivity and Israel’s rejection of the Messiah, a crucial event occurred that is referenced in 1 Maccabees 1:54-64, a book from the Apocrypha (a Greek word meaning “hidden” or “outside the canon”). The Apocrypha consists of 14 historical books written during the time of the Maccabees, often called the "400 Silent Years." These texts were included in the first King James Bible between the Old and New Testaments for their historical value; however, they were never considered inspired or canonized. They were later removed due to the confusion they caused as readers of the Bible considered them inspired, like the Old and New Testaments.

 

The account in 1 Maccabees 1:54-64 details the conflict with Antiochus IV, who called himself Epiphanes, meaning "illustrious one" or "god manifest." He was a Greek king who defiled the Temple by setting up an altar to the Greek god Zeus over the altar of burnt offerings and sacrificing a pig on this altar. This event is often interpreted as a foreshadowing of the Abomination of Desolation mentioned during Jacob’s Trouble, or the Tribulation Period. Notably, this act is not recorded in the Bible, as it was neither mentioned by any inspired writers nor by the Lord Jesus.

 

Flavius Josephus, the Jewish historian, mentioned the "abomination of desolation" in his work "The Wars of the Jews." According to Josephus, this prophecy was fulfilled by Antiochus Epiphanes, who desecrated the temple in 167 BC.

 

3. The Third Event. Jacob’s Trouble also referred to the Tribulation Period. Two intertwining events make up a whole that is separated by 2,000 years. This third event began with the rejection of Israel's Messiah by the Jewish nation (John 1:11).

 

The rejection of Israel's Messiah initiated a curse upon Israel and its descendants, culminating in the devastation and scattering of the nation. After the crucifixion of Christ, Israel continued to experience significant spiritual decline as they persecuted the Apostles, putting some to death and imprisoning others in the Book of Acts.

 

The Gospel, though still available to the Jews, was carried to the Gentile nations. This involved breaking off the natural branch, Israel, and grafting in the unnatural branch, a Gentile Church.

 

About 35 years after the rejection of Christ, the destruction of the Temple and the scattering of the Jews occurred between 70 and 73 AD, carried out by Titus of Rome. Israel, as a nation, ceased to exist when its people were driven from their land and scattered across the globe.

 

In the mid-twentieth century, God began to gather His covenant people home again, and in 1948, Israel was re-established as a nation. Now, we wait! After the Rapture of God’s Church, the third event will culminate in Jacob’s Trouble, a time prophesied by both Daniel and our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

E. The Book of Daniel goes hand-in-hand with the Book of Revelation.

 

Daniel 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

 

Daniel 11:31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.

 

Daniel 12:11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.

 

F. Our Lord Jesus Christ confirmed what Daniel prophesied during His walk on earth.

 

Matthew 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

 

Mark 13:14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:

 

G. Now for a quick look at the fulfillment of Verse 1.

 

1. First Prophecy.

 

Psalms 79:1-2 A Psalm of Asaph. O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps. (2) The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.

 

Fulfillment. Revelation 11:7-8 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. (8) And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

 

Revelation 11:7-8 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. (8) And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

 

Revelation 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

 

2. Second Prophecy. Psalms 79:1 A Psalm of Asaph. O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.

 

Fulfillment. Daniel 12:11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.

 

3. Third Prophecy. Psalms 79:1 A Psalm of Asaph. O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.

 

Fulfillment. Revelation 11:2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

 

Conclusion: The time is near when we will be called home, and God will restore the natural branch while breaking off the unnatural branch.

 

Revelation 22:20-21 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (21) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

The Doctrine of Holy Ground - The Virgin Birth of Christ

Temple Baptist Church - 12-17-2023

Matthew 1:18-25

Introduction: 

 

A.  At least once a year, especially around the Christmas Season, I preach on the precious doctrine of the Virgin Birth of Christ. 

 

1.  The Virgin Birth of Christ is often called “The Doctrine of Holy Ground!” 

 

2.  The virgin birth of Christ is the pivotal point between Promise or Prophecy and Performance. 

 

a)  The Prophecy of Israel’s Messiah looked forward to His First Advent.

 

b)  The Performance of the birth of Israel’s Messiah was the Fulfillment of that Prophecy.

 

B.  The Book of Matthew portrays the Lord Jesus Christ as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the coming of the King of Israel. 

 

1.  Matthew 1:1-17 shows the lineage of Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.  In these verses, we find the names of men who “begat” sons divided into three time periods. 

 

2.  From Abraham to David, from David to the Babylonish Captivity, from the Babylonish Captivity to Christ.

 

C.  In Matthew 1:18, we find the words: “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise.”  Showing a deviation, a differentiation from the natural births of the last 42 generations mentioned where the seed of men begat men.

 

“Espoused wife” and “before they came together” declares a birth like none that preceded it and none that would come after it. 

 

D.  The word “espoused” in Matthew 1:18, speaks of Mary’s relationship to Joseph and is also found in Luke 1:27 and Luke 2:5.  Espoused means betrothed or engaged to. 

 

1.  Well explained within Matthew’s context:

 

Matthew 1:18 - “before they came together”

 

Matthew 1:23 “a virgin shall be with child”

 

Matthew 1:25 - “and knew her not till”

 

2.  The Virgin Birth is further explained in Luke’s Gospel.  Luke 1:34  Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

 

E.  The Virgin Birth of Christ is a doctrine both sweetly adored and severely attacked.  Love by God’s people and hated by Satan’s people. 

 

A birth like none other.  There has never been nor will there ever be another virgin birth. No man or woman since Adam and Eve, except for Jesus Christ, came into the world through a virgin birth or without the seed of man involved. 

 

F.  The Virgin Birth of Christ is the mystery of mysteries, the jewel of all ages, the hope of mankind, and the love of God manifested.  It was a miraculous event.  A miracle is a phenomenon that cannot be explained outside the realm of supernatural intervention. It is an event that supersedes natural law.

 

1 Timothy 6:16  Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

 

1.  The immortal became mortal that the mortal may become immortal.

 

a)  Immortality or eternality is an attribute of God.  1 Timothy 6:16a “Who only hath immortality” 

 

b)  Mortal becomes Immortal in Christ.  1 Corinthians 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

 

2.  The untouchable became touchable.

 

a)  The untouchable God – 1 Timothy 6:16b  “dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see”

 

b)  Became the Touchable Saviour – Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

 

1 John 1:1  That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;.

 

G.  The Virgin Birth was necessary because:

 

1.  The Child born was the God-Man.  100% man on His mother’s side and 100% God on His Father’s side.  As the Trinity is represented by 3 distinct Persons, Jesus Christ is represented by 2 distinct persons.  Uniting full humanity with full deity. 

 

2.  The Child was born the sinless Son of God.  Sin came through Adam’s seed, but Christ came through the Woman’s Seed without Adamic sin.  Sin came through Adam’s seed, not Eve’s.

 

3.  The Child was virgin born to guarantee that salvation would come through Christ alone and not man.

 

H.  The Virgin Birth Prophesied.  Genesis 3:15  And 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.

 

Isaiah 7:14  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

 

J.  The Virgin Birth Performed.  Matthew 1:18  Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.  (“On this wise” sets the birth of Christ apart from the “begats” of the first 17 verses!)

 

K.  The Virgin Birth Purposed.  Matthew 1:21-23  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 

 

a.  The Virgin Birth of Christ was about Sin.  Disobedience to God and God’s hatred for sin.

 

b.  The Virgin Birth of Christ was about Sinners.  God’s love for the sinner despite sinfulness.

 

c.  The Virgin Birth of Christ was about Separation.  Man hiding and God seeking.

 

d.  The Virgin Birth of Christ was about Substitution.  The innocent died for the guilty that the guilty could become innocent.

 

e.  The Virgin Birth of Christ was about the Saviour.  The coming of Messiah, Christ Jesus, the Saviour of the world.

 

f.  The Virgin Birth of Christ was about Salvation.  Free to all who would repent and believe.

 

g.  The Virgin Birth of Christ was about Security.  Eternal restoration, eternal life, eternal joy.

 

L.  Dr. Herbert Lockyer said it this way, “The incarnation is the most stupendous miracle comprehending and involving all other miracles, and because it is a theme both deep and delicate, infinite and incomprehensible, how about “finding out acceptable words”.  The ground we approach is holy calling for the putting off of our shoes.”

 

M.  G. Campbell Morgan said that in the presence of such a holy miracle “there can be no fitting attitude of the human intellect save that of acceptance of the truth without any attempt to explain the mystery.”

 

N.  One writer expressed it this way, “I will seek to believe rather than to reason, to adore rather than to explain, to give thanks rather that to penetrate; to love rather than to know; to humble myself rather than to speak.”

 

                    The Ancient of Days became a babe at Bethlehem.

          He who thunders in the heavens crying in a cradle.

He who gives to all their meat in due season, nursing at his Mother’s  breast.

                    He who made all flesh now made of flesh.

He who could summon legions of angels, while wrapped in infant’s clothes.

                    The mighty God, now a helpless child

          God and man became one Person.

.

Conclusion:  The Virgin Birth was an event beyond human comprehension!  The Seed of the Woman: a conception and birth without man.  The God-Man, our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Prophecy of the Cross

 Temple Baptist Church - 12-13-2023

John 12:27-34

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  Last week, we saw the ultimate rejection of Christ by His own people and the blindness of the Nation of Israel.  Today, Israel remains spiritually blinded.

 

John 1:10-11  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.  (11)  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

 

2 Corinthians 3:13-16  And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:  (14)  But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.  (15)  But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.  (16)  Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

 

B.  The goodness and severity of God expressed in the rejection of Israel and the desire of the Greeks (Gentiles).  The Age of the Church.

 

Romans 11:17-24  And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;  (18)  Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.  (19)  Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.  (20)  Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:  (21)  For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.  (22)  Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.  (23)  And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.  (24)  For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?

 

C.  This verses that we read tonight makes for a great Christmas Message as it gives both the prophecy and purpose of the cross of our Lord Christ Jesus.

 

D.  I thank God that Christ Jesus, our Lord, came to this earth.  The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.  What a wonderful event to be celebrated!

 

E.  But the “Cradle” without the “Cross” is worthless to sinful man as it does not resolve his issues in either this life or the life to come. 

 

1.  The issues of sin, separation, and destruction.

 

2.  The issue of death and eternal punishment.

 

3.  The issue of reconciliation and eternal restoration.

 

F.  Let us just break down these verses and see what our Lord did that all men could be saved.

 

1.  Verses 27, 32 – The Right Person.  “save me” in verse 27 and “and I, if I” in verse 32  The Person of the cross had to be the right one as the Innocent could only be the Propitiation for the sinner: the Righteous for the unrighteous!

 

John 11:49-52  And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,  (50)  Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.  (51)  And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;  (52)  And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

 

John 14:1-6  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  (2)  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  (3)  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.  (4)  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.  (5)  Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?  (6)  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 

Acts 4:10-12  Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.  (11)  This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.  (12)  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

 

Romans 5:8-9  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  (9)  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

 

 

2.  Verse 31 – The Right  Perpetrator “the prince of this world”  As the child of God loves the Lord, the unsaved love the world with all its sinfulness.  The perpetrator is Satan, Lucifer, the Dragon, the Devil. 

 

2 Corinthians 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

 

Ephesians 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

 

Ephesians 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

 

3.  Verse 31 – The Right Punishment  “cast out”  Lucifer will pay the ultimate price for sin as hell was prepared for the Devil and his angels.  His punishment will be just!

 

Colossians 2:15  And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

 

Hebrews 2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

 

Revelation 12:7-9  And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,  (8)  And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.  (9)  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

 

Revelation 20:1-3  And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.  (2)  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,  (3)  And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

 

Revelation 20:10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

 

4.  Verse 32 – The Right Period “lifted up from the earth”  The Right means of death found only under Roman rule. The Jews stoned but the Romans crucified!  Christ Jesus was born at the right time, in the right place, the right way so as to die at the right time, in the right place, and in the right way!

 

Galatians 4:4  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

 

Luke 2:1  And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

 

John 18:31-32  Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:  (32)  That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.

               

Acts 10:39  And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

 

Galatians 3:13  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

 

5.  Verse 32 – The Right Product  “will draw all men unto me”  Paul said, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”  (Galatians 6:14)

 

John3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 

Romans 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

 

Galatians 3:26-28  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.  (27)  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  (28)  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

 

1 Timothy 2:4  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

 

1 John 2:2  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

 

2 Corinthians 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

 

6.  Verse 33 – The Right Price “the death he should die” From that day in the Garden of Eden where nothing died but the Lord slew an innocent animal for a sinful man, the wage of sin has been death.  Someone had to die for sin and Christ Jesus knew that He had to die “the death”.

 

Romans 5:12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

 

Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

2 Corinthians 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.