One Small Seed Newsletter – Edition #230, April 2020
This is the time of year that is celebrated by many for the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Personally, I celebrate these things every day of the year because they affect me daily. These things had to take place because of God’s Promise of Salvation Through Christ. A promise made by God to Eve in the beginning of man’s existence, that is instrumental to the purpose of God.
God’s Promise of Salvation Through Christ Foretold in Genesis
God told the serpent (representative of evil, rebellion, and disobedience) in Genesis 3:14-15, “And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life; 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.” The passage’s final phrase proclaims a prophecy for both parties regarding the Messiah’s coming in the last days.
The seed of the serpent was the offspring of unbelief, rebellion against righteousness; death that Adam inherited, because of his disobedience; sowers of negativity, which was the new atmosphere in which both Adam and Eve found themselves outside of Eden; and the leadership and control that these powers had over the minds, hearts, and souls of the human race.
The Fulfillment of God’s Promise of Salvation Through Christ
The seed of Eve was the Messiah, destined to come at God’s appointed time. The bruising of the seed’s heel symbolizes evil’s impact, leading to Eve’s offspring being hanged.
Isaiah stated in Chapter 53 verses 5-10 in part: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities… and, the Lord hath laid upon him the iniquities of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted… for the transgressions of my people he was stricken.”
The heel is the hinder part of the foot. Since Christ’s feet symbolize God’s plan, purpose, and actions, the heel represents his final act. This final act was his death on the cross, fulfilling the Father’s will. By dying on the cross, he reconciled the souls of man to a righteous position. He also gave them the opportunity, by choice, to become children of God. If they chose to become offspring of the Word, they would receive eternal life.
God’s Promise of Salvation Through Christ and the Gift of the Holy Spirit
But the celebration didn’t end at the cross, the resurrection, or the ascension of the glorified Word. Christ himself made a promise to his disciples in John 14:16, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever,” even the Spirit of truth. Verse 20 then gives us the most joyous consolation; “at that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.”
Of course, Jesus was talking about the day of Pentecost. This was the beginning of a new day, the eighth day. This would be the fulfillment of John the baptizer’s promise in Luke 1:16 “…he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”
There is no ritual to get to this baptism; there is only submission to the gift of grace through faith. This is a personal experience—your spirit and mind and soul in communion with the Holy Spirit of God. When this happens, you can experience the promise of Christ’s eternal presence (Parousia) in you.
Embracing God’s Promise of Salvation Through Christ Today
Today is the day of salvation; now is the acceptable time (2 Corinthians 6:2). “In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (1 Chronicles 7:14). Amen.
Your friend in Christ,
Rodney Roberts