Sermon Tone Analysis

Sermon Number 1:

The Lamb Promised

Series Introduction:

As we enter this Christmas season, it is a good time for us to reflect on the reason for this season.

Our society has embraced this season as a time of merchandise, parties and foolish observances.

People spend money they do not have to buy gifts for people they don’t even like, in the hope that they will receive something in return that they do not even need.

Many focus their attention on characters like The big guy , ol saint nick, flying reindeer and busy little elves; while neglecting the primary reason for the season.

Now, you can celebrate Christmas how ever you please But, I believe that a true born again Christian should have those things in their right place, way behind the true meaning so,beginning today, and for the next few Sundays I want to preach a series which revolves around the real reason for the Christmas season.

I would like to take the focus off of Santa Claus; off pretty packages under decorated trees; off fictional characters like Frosty the Snowman and the Grinch; and place it squarely where I believe it needs to be.

I want to focus our attention for the next three weeks or so on Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.

I want to preach a brief series which I am entitling Behold The Lamb.

My desire is to magnify Him, edify you and help us all to be drawn closer to God during this special time of the year.

Genesis 3:1-21

THE LAMB PROMISED

Intro:

This may seem like a strange place from which to preach a Christmas sermon.

Yet, here in the midst of man’s greatest tragedy, is the revelation of man’s greatest hope.

For it is in this tale of sin, judgment and death that we meet the message of the saving Gospel and the Person of the Lamb of God for the first time.

Ill.

The Context.

God has made man in His image.

He created man in perfect innocence and placed him in a perfect environment.

Adam has been given dominion over the Lord’s entire creation and he has been presented with a perfect companion, a woman called Eve.

They live an idyllic existence, free from pain, disease, death and sorrow.

Every need they have is met and they enjoy unbroken, unhindered fellowship with God Himself.

The only restriction they have regards one tree which is located in the Garden of Eden.

This tree is called “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”

Adam is warned to stay away from this tree, for to eat its fruit will bring death into the world, Gen. 2:15-17

Well, for an undefined period of time things go well in the Garden, until one day when Eve finds herself confronted by a serpent controlled by Satan.

This serpent tells her that God is holding out on her and Adam.

He tells Eve that God does not want them eating of the fruit because God knows that when they eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they will be like him.

Eve succumbs to the temptation of the devil and eats of the fruit.

Adam also falls for the lie and eats as well.

In an instant, everything changes!

They are no longer innocent and pure, but they have become sinners;

they have become fallen beings.

Immediately, they are aware that everything has changed.

They become ashamed because of their naked condition and seek to cover themselves with fig leaves, v. 7.

In the midst of this tragedy, God comes into the Garden to fellowship with Adam and Eve.

He calls out to them because they have hidden themselves from him, v. 8.

God knows what they have done and extracts a confession from Adam, v. 10-12.

Then the blame game begins.

Adam blames Eve and God, while Eve blames the serpent, v. 12-13.

God immediately pronounces judgment upon Adam, Eve and the serpent, and God casts them out of the Garden of Eden.

Yet, right here in the middle of this tragedy, the fall of man.

The rebellion againist God, there is a flicker of hope.

Verse 15 we can see this one verse shines out of this darkness that man had put hisself in, like a great beacon, illuminating the amazing grace of God.

This verse has been called the “Protevangelium.”

That is a Latin word that means “First Gospel.”

Here, in seed form, is the Gospel of salvation through the grace of God.

Here, for the first time, we see a glimpse of the Lamb of God Who will later give Himself on Calvary’s cross to redeem a lost and dying world.

Here we can see the first stitch in the scarlet thread of redemption that courses its way through the entire Word of God.

This precious verse gives us the very first promise in the Word of God regarding the coming Lamb.

I would like to take a few minutes to look into this passage as I try to preach on Behold The Lamb: The Lamb Promised.

This passage reveals some precious truths regarding the promised Lamb.

and if you would allow me I would like to share these truths with you today.

I. THE PERSONALITY OF THE PROMISED LAMB

A. This Lamb Is Unique In His Origin

v.15

We are told that this One Who is coming will be “the seed of the woman.”

This is a strange statement because by God’s very design the “seed” is provided by the male members of every species.

Here, we are told that the woman will produce an offspring without the aid of a man.

This verse gives us the first kernel of a great truth that will be more fully revealed down the road.

This verse is the first prophecy of the Virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Satan did not understand it, Adam and Eve did not understand it; but God indicates that He will send His Lamb into the world through a woman without the involvement of a man!

Of course, we know this is how the birth of Jesus came about.

Isaiah prophesied it, Isa.

7:14

and the angel Gabriel announced it to Mary, Luke 1:26-35,

and to Joseph, Matt.

1:18-25.

Why is this important?

The Bible clearly teaches that sin and the sin nature are handed down through the man, Rom.

5:12

Every person who has entered this world has inherited a sin nature, and is in fact a sinner at birth,

The birth of Jesus was, however, very different.

Since He came into this world without a human father, He was born without the taint of sin!

He was born pure and sinless, thus He was qualified to die for the sins of humanity, 2 Cor.

5:21

Of course, what makes the birth of Jesus particularly unique is the fact that He was no ordinary baby, but He was, and is, God in the flesh, John 1:1 14 Phil.

2:8-11.

So He was unique in His origin, there was and never will be one born like This Lamb.

B. This Lamb Is Unique In His Occupation

We are told that He was coming to “bruise” the serpent’s head.

This refers to a fatal injury.

This Lamb was coming to this world not to show men a better way to live.

He was not coming to improve their environment.

He was not coming to improve their social standing.

He was coming to save those that are lost and defeat sin once and for all.

That was His sole mission, what did John the Baptist say in John 1:29

The Bible goes on to say in:

Heb.

2:14 Luke 19:10

This promised One was coming to deliver humanity from the sin into which it had just fallen.

Many men and women would battle evil over the years; this One would give it a death blow.

He was coming to do for men that which they could never do for themselves.

He was coming to secure their liberty and salvation from sin.

How would He deliver that death blow?

II.

THE POWER OF THE PROMISED LAMB

A. He Would Come As A Warrior

The word “enmity” means “hatred or enemy.”

Of course, it brings to mind the natural hatred humans have for serpents, but there is much more in view here.

The enmity or hatred referred to here runs far deeper than that of a man hating a snake.

It refers to the hatred Satan possesses toward the Lord and all that the Lord represents.