Genesis 3:15 God’s Only Solution for Man’s Greatest Problem

Man’s greatest problem is that he is a sinner separated from God and facing His judgment.

Genesis 3:1-7 describes the sin that brought about this problem plaguing all mankind. Just eight verses later, God makes a stunning announcement that sets forth the first mention of God’s great solution.

In Genesis 3:15 the Serpent receives a curse on account of his role in the tempting of Adam and Eve:

And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her seed;
He shall bruise you on the head,
And you shall bruise him on the heel.

The serpent and the woman will have enmity between them. This hostility will also exist between the serpent’s seed and the woman’s seed.

Who is the serpent’s seed? This group includes demons and anyone else who is fighting to destroy God’s kingdom and His work in the world.

Who is the woman’s seed? The seed of the woman is Cain as well as all of mankind. Jesus is the Ultimate seed of the woman envisioned in this passage.

The devil has continued to bruise humanity and ultimately even bruised Jesus on the heel while He suffered on the cross. Jesus arose from the grave victorious over sin, death and the devil. In the final judgment He will eternally crush the serpent who will be thrown into the lake of fire with the rest of the demons.

This passage tells us much about the goodness of God. He knows our greatest need. In addition, within a few verses of man’s greatest blunder, God begins to unfold His plan to provide a Savior, Jesus Christ.

You might be asking yourself what you need to do in order to receive God’s greatest solution.

There are four things that we must know in order to receive God’s greatest gift.

First, we must realize that we are all sinners. We are sinners not merely because we sin. We are sinners because we are in Adam and have all sinned. Even the baby who just comes into the world is a sinner. (Rom 3:10)

Second, the wages of sin is death. Because we have sinned, we deserve God’s eternal punishment in a place called Hell. When we work at a job, we receive a paycheck. In the same way, because we are sinners, we also receive a paycheck, death. (Rom 6:23)

Death is not merely physical death. It includes being physically separated from God forever.

Some people say they look forward to going to Hell because all of their friends will be there. While that may sound funny, it fails to recognize an important aspect of reality.

Although many people fail to worship the Lord, He is still at work in our world. The Holy Spirit indwells believers who are on earth to display the love of God and minister to others.

When people get to Hell they will find a place void of believers and the working of God as He currently operates in the world today. As the inhabitants fend for themselves in that situation, they will find a place that is far more horrible than anyone can imagine. People who are friends today may be anything but friends in Hell.

Third, Jesus died on the cross in order to pay the penalty for our sins. He died in our place so that we would not have to do so. The Bible says God demonstrated His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us (Rom 5:8).

Fourth, this gift is received by faith. Faith is simply trusting in Jesus as my Savior rather than trusting in anything else to save me. (Eph 2:8,9).

When I sit in a chair I am trusting it to hold me. In the same way, when I trust in Jesus, I am believing that He has paid the penalty for my sin by dying on the cross, that He rose again in victory, and that by simply believing in Him as my Savior I will go to heaven rather than to Hell.

A very clear statement of the gospel appears in 1 Cor 15, the great Resurrection chapter. “Christ died for our sins…and that He was raised on the third day” (1 Cor 15:3-4).

Notice that these things took place according to the Scripture. The crucifixion and resurrection are not myths concocted by men. These two events were prophesied and recorded in the Bible.

Next notice that the proof of the fact that Jesus died is given in verse 15:4 “And was buried.” We know that He died because He was buried.

Finally, the proof that He rose again appears in verse 15:5-9. He appeared to all kinds of people “most of whom remain until now” (15:6). Paul is saying “If you don’t believe me go ask the people who saw him; they’re still alive today.”
These verses are the culmination of the prophecy in Genesis 3:15 concerning the seed of the woman. He has paid the penalty for your sin and for mine.

While on earth Jesus said that He had come to give us life and life more abundantly. If you wish to have the kind of life Jesus wants us all to have, put your trust in Him today.

The solution to the greatest problem you will ever face is found in a person, Jesus Christ.

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Cor 5:20-21