"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel... By which also ye are saved... unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

“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.” (Genesis 3:15)

Generally speaking, Genesis 3:15 is often thought of the protevangel, that is, the first mention of the gospel in the Old Testament. The Seed of the woman is Christ. He is the Seed of Abraham (Hebrews 2:16, Galatians 3:16) and the Seed of David (Romans 1:3-4; 2 Timothy 2:8), who was born of the virgin Mary (Matthew 1:18, 21, 23). He is the One who shall crush the head of the Serpent, that is, the Devil and his works. “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” (Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 3:8).

But there is much more in this verse than first meets the eye. First of all we are told that there would be enmity between the Serpent and the woman, that is, Eve, who is called “the mother of all living” (Genesis 3:20).

We are then told that this hatred would also manifest itself between the Serpent's “seed and her seed”. Now it is interesting that the word “seed” can be singular or plural. I can plant a seed or I can plant a bag of seed, and without the Word of God, it may not be immediately discernible if we are talking about more than a single seed.

For example, God told Abraham, “And I will make thy SEED to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy SEED all these countries; and in thy SEED shall all the nations of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 26:4). It is obvious that Abraham would have many offspring, just like the stars of heaven, so some might conclude that the blessing of the nations would come through Abraham's seed, in particular, the nation Israel, and in many aspects it has, but ultimately, "as concerning the flesh Christ came" (Romans 9:4-5).

However, we need to understand, that God also said to Abraham that he would be the father of “many nations” (Genesis 17:5), the Israelites, the Edomites, the Ishmaelites, Midianites, the Arab nations, among others. It needs to be understood, that Israel, although they are God's covenant people, they are only one of the nations that descended from Abraham, and “ALL the nations of the earth would be blessed” in Abraham's Seed, which would include the “many nations” that descended from Abraham, even the children of Israel (Acts 3:25-26).  So to clear up any confusion, the apostle Paul said it very plainly. “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.” (Galatians 3:16) 

Hence, the blessing of “all the nations” would ultimately come through Jesus Christ, who was of the seed of Abraham (Genesis 12:3), the seed of David (Psalm 132:11, Acts 2:30-31), and ultimately the Seed of the woman Mary (Luke 1:42). But understand, the “seed of the woman” could also be viewed as plural. Remember also, that we were told that the Serpent would also have seed. So now we have two types of seed in view, the seed of the Serpent and the seed of the woman.

So, let us look at a real example of how this played out in history. After the Fall of man, death now being wrought in Adam and Eve, both physically and spiritually (Genesis 2:17), that they had two children. “And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.” (Genesis 4:1-2)

We should first note here, that before the Flood, man did not eat the flesh of animals (Genesis 1:29-30; 9:3-4), so let us put away the idea that Abel was keeping sheep for food. No he was not, they were for sacrifice to atone for the sin of man, and the skins to cover the shame of their nakedness which signified their sin (Lamentations 1:8, Revelation 3:18, Isaiah 61:10). Abel was more interested in his covering before God, while Cain was more interested in his carnal appetite.

Now in the process of time, Cain brought the fruit of the ground for an offering to the Lord, and Able brought the firstlings of his flock. We had seen earlier that after Adam sinned the Lord slew an animal and covered Adam and Eve with its skin (Genesis 3:21). We have no doubt, that this is what they taught their children, that the wages of sin is death, and that the blood of an innocent substitute would be required to atone for their sin, until the fullness of time, when The Seed would come and abolish death (2 Timothy 1:10) and the Serpent (Hebrews 2:14).

Therefore, God did not accept Cain's offering. By the sweat of his brow (Genesis 3:19) Cain labored, and with pride he brought forth his offering of fruit to the Lord. When it was not accepted his countenance was fallen and he became hot with anger. Nevertheless, God reasoned with him saying if he would obey God's Word and make it right he would be accepted by God, but if not, his sin would be upon him and have the mastery over him (Genesis 4:3-6, 7).

God reproved Cain of sin, righteousness and judgment, as He does everyone brought into the world. There could only be one way where his sin could be atoned. God alone could save him, without the help of Cain, but we find that Cain chose to go his own way (Jude 1:11). As it is written, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Proverbs 14:12) 

After this incident, “Cain talked with Abel his brother” (Genesis 4:8) about this matter. Abel was a prophet, and surely he tried to convince Cain to do the right thing (Luke 11:49-51), but in horror, “Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him” (Genesis 4:8). “And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous” (1 John 3:12).

Herein is manifest the enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the Serpent. Satan had sifted Cain and Cain yielded to sin who became his master, as we are told, “Cain was of that wicked one”. We are told, “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.”  But we must ask, who has not sinned, for “the whole world lieth in wickedness.” (1 John 5:19)

Many fail to see how great was the Fall when Adam sinned. Humanity was sold out to sin. When Adam sinned he put us all into debt. One generation passes their debt on to the other and we can be sure they will be taxed for it. Some say, the only thing that is sure in life is death and taxes, but right from the very beginning, we are told that the Seed would come and pay the ultimate price to redeem us from the bondage of sin (debt) and death. Adam plunged the whole of humanity into the depths of depravity, but we were not left without hope. “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8)

And how, might we ask, did He do this? He bore our sins in His own body on the tree (1 Peter 2:24). He took our debt upon Himself, and died the death that we deserved, and then rose triumphantly over the grave conquering death (Hosea 13:14).

In the Revelation there is a wonderful illustration of this. We read of “a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him” (Revelation 6:8). We see the devastating effects of Death over the human race in that day. Understand that it is our father Adam who made a covenant with death and Hell (Isaiah 28:15), and so “death reigned” (Romans 5:14) over all his posterity. Nevertheless, in the glories of heaven, we find the saints singing the “song of Moses and of the Lord” (Revelation 15:3). We might ask, what is this song about?

When death pursued the children of Israel to drive them into the sea, God opened up the sea and brought the children of Israel through that watery grave and raised them up on dry ground and swallowed up death in victory.  Does this sound familiar?

“Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.  The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.  The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.  Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.  The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.  Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.  And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.  And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.  The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.  Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.  Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?  Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.  Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.” (Exodus 15:1-13)

“Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” (Micha 5:18-19)

“Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” (1 Corinthians 10:1-3)

Moses said that there would come a prophet like unto him, and to Him the people shall hearken (Deuteronomy 18:15). That was Jesus Christ.  These things all pointed to “our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10). Baptism is an illustration of the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Listen to the apostle Paul:

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:3-11)

This is good news, what we call the Gospel, and it reads like this, “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). And when we believe the gospel and put our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:7, 12-14), we are saved from sin and given a new life, even the very life of Christ (Colossians 3:4).

The Bible says, we are born again by God's Word when we believe the gospel (1 Peter 1:23-25; 1 Corinthians 4:15). And now, “We know that whosoever is born of God… that wicked one toucheth him not.” (1 John 5:18) The Devil has no more claim over me as I am now as much a son of God as His dear Son Jesus Christ (1 John 3:1-3, John 1:12-13). I am made spotless from sin (Isaiah 1:18) for He buried all my sins in the grave, and made me free from its penalty (Romans 6:23), because Christ paid my debt (Galatians 3:10, 13), He conquered my sin, taking it out of the way, nailing it to His cross (Colossians 2:14-15).

But you must understand this, lest we think more highly of yourself than we ought to, you must realize, that we were all children of the Devil. If you have not been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 5:9; 12:9-11), the Devil still has his claim on you.

Listen to what the apostle Paul said, “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: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” (Ephesians 2:2-3)

Never think for a minute that you are good enough, that you don't need the salvation that God freely offers to all who will come to Him by Jesus Christ (Hebrews 7:25, John 14:6). We were ALL by nature the children of wrath, just like Cain, who inherited his sin from his father Adam, who became wroth when his transgression was exposed. Understand, everyone who is not a child of God is a child of the Devil for every one of us were born in sin (Psalm 51:5), just like the unbelieving Jews whom Christ reproved, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44)

Jesus rebuked the Pharisees saying, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.” (Matthew 23:15) Judas was also a “son of perdition” (John 17:12) and the coming Antichrist will be the “son of perdition” (2 Thessalonians 2:3) who will be revealed in the Time of Jacob's Trouble.

Paul said to Elymas the sorcerer, “O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” (Acts 10:34)

So, we can see in Genesis 3:15, we can see that the Serpent's “seed is all those born in sin, and that “her seed” includes more than the Messiah, it would include all those who are “in Christ”. In the beginning we were told that there would be “enmity between [the Serpent] and the woman” (Genesis 3:15). There would be a hatred between the Serpent and Eve, who is the “mother of all living”. Then there is a distinction between the seed of the Serpent and the seed of the woman. But from the woman would also come the Seed who would crush the head of the Serpent dealing him a fatal blow.

The seed of the Serpent are those who are of the world, called the children of wickedness, wrath and of darkness. Then there are those who are “in Christ” and there would be enmity between the two. In Christ Jesus, we “have overcome the wicked one” (1 John 2:13-14). “And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.” (Romans 16:20) Sin and death no longer have the dominion over us (Romans 6:9, 11, 14), and as Christ was raised from the dead, so shall we be raised incorruptible, in the Day of Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:1-2), by the Spirit of God that abides in us (Romans 8:9-11), so trampling Satan under our feet.

Nevertheless, as we approach the end of this age, we will see the enmity grow (2 Timothy 3:1, 12-13) between the children of Light and the children of darkness (1 Thessalonians 5:4-5), the children of the world and the children who are “not of this world” (John 15:18-19; 8:23-24), the seed of the Serpent and the seed (singular/plural) of the woman.

Remember what Jesus said, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.” (John 15:18-20; 17:14, 16)

The world would hate Christ and His followers who keep His Word, and they would suffer persecution because of it. So we need to ask, am I following Christ? Am I keeping His Word? Are we like Abraham, a “friend of God” (James 2:23) or is our friendship with the world (James 4:4)? We all need to examine ourselves (2 Corinthians 13:5) and ask, Am I a child of God, or a child of the Devil?

“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that [the Lord Jesus Christ] was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.  Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.  Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.” (1 John 3:4-13)

In times past, we all 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, and were kept in darkness by the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). But God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son to redeem us from the power of death. God shined His Light in this dark world, Jesus Christ, the Light of the world so that we might not walk in darkness but have everlasting life (Acts 26:18). We can be translated from darkness to Light when we believe the glorious gospel of Christ, and thereby “born of God”, whose “seed remaineth in” us. We “in Christ” and Christ in us (John 17:20-23), the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27), and thereby, the “seed of the woman” and “the seed of Abraham”.

“Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ… And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:16, 29) 

This was a mystery in times past “Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:26-27). Christ in us, and we in Him, who is the Seed of the woman.

Conclusion

Jesus told a parable of the wheat and the tares. “The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also… Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” (Matthew 13:24-26, 30)

And when the disciples asked Him to tell the meaning of the parable, Christ said, “He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” (Matthew 13:37-43)

So whose seed are you? This can be determined entirely by your approach to God. Right from the beginning we found out that Cain was of that wicked one. But Able was justified by faith. “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.” (Hebrews 11:4)

Able came to God His way and was justified by faith. Abel came with the offering of a lamb who died in Abel's place, a substitute whose blood was shed under the Old Covenant. Like faithful Abraham who understood that “God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering” (Genesis 22:8). These sacrifices were  “a figure for the time then present” (Hebrews 9:9), whose sacrifices could never take away sin, they could only atone or cover their sin until the time came that the promised Seed would come and take them away (John 1:29).

There was the promise of a New Covenant in Christ's blood, “that speaketh better things than that of Abel” (Hebrews 12:24), for after that Christ “offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.  Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.” (Hebrews 10:12-18)

There is no more offering, nothing more you can do, than believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:30-31). Do not try to come up some other way like Cain, for your sin will find you out (John 10:1, Numbers 32:23). Nothing that defiles can enter heaven (Revelation 21:27), and sin defiles. The root of bitterness that sprung up in Cain defiled (James 5:9, Hebrews 12:15) ALL his descendants (Genesis 6:11-13) who were destroyed in the Flood. Be not wroth like Cain who hated his brother and slew him. “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26-27). Dear sinner, do not let another day go by without the precious blood of Christ who alone is able to wash your sins away (Revelation 1:5), making you white as snow (Isaiah 1:18), and fit for heaven.