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pdf - Protestant Reformed Churches in America

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to br<strong>in</strong>g good news with their "fig leaves" to cover up the shameof their s<strong>in</strong>s. Later their firstborn, Ca<strong>in</strong> tried with his fruits andotherproduceoftheground, but to no avail. All ourrighteousnessesare as filthy rags. God alone can br<strong>in</strong>g the good news to man, asHe alone can create that good news. The protevangel ("motherpromise")is found here:And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and betweenthy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruisehis heel."These were words ofcurse upon the devil pronounced by God <strong>in</strong>the presence ofour fallen parents. As such it was also a promiseto them that God will fight for them the fierce battle aga<strong>in</strong>st thedevil and defeat him. This victory (accord<strong>in</strong>g to this prophecy)will come through the "seed" ofthe woman, who should bruise thehead ofthe devil and destroy him. In the course ofthe battle, theheel ofthe woman's seed would be bruised. This is the prophecyconcern<strong>in</strong>g of the com<strong>in</strong>g ofJesus Christ, the Messiah.From the protevangel to the first advent ofChrist, there weremany more prophecies through the types and shadows ofthe OldTestament, giv<strong>in</strong>g greater details concern<strong>in</strong>g the com<strong>in</strong>g of theMessiah. All these were and still are good news of His work ofredemption. They are the gospel, still relevant today when carefullyand faithfully preached.Now <strong>in</strong> the New Testament era, we know that this promisedMessiah is none otherthan the Second Person ofthe Godhead, whobecame flesh and dwelt among men <strong>in</strong> order to save a people whomHis Father had given Him to represent legally and spiritually. Forthem He had paid the penalty of all their s<strong>in</strong>s on the cross ofCalvary and fulfilled all righteousness accord<strong>in</strong>g to the Law ofGod. His resurrection from the dead was because oftheirjustification.Sothe good news ofJesus Christ is that He did it all to savea people that is represented by the church today.6. Genesis 3:15.36 PRTJ

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