Chapter 7: The Promise of the Messiah

The Protoevangelium Restoring our broken relationship

with God has been likened to restoring a broken marriage – it’s a difficult process.

The Protoevangelium or the “first gospel” narrates how there is “enmity” between the “woman” and the “serpent”(Gen. 3:15)

It can be interpreted in two ways: the literal sense and the spiritual sense.

Genesis 3:15 (see page 74)

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Interpreting the passage In this passage, the literal sense

explains why serpents don’t get along with people; in the spiritual sense, it reveals to us God’s plan to send us a savior (See chart on page 75)

From the very beginning, God was already making a promise to rescue humanity from the damage caused by Satan’s deception.

Covenants Unlike other ancient covenants,

Israel’s covenants is with God, who is ever-faithful, and not to a stronger king who will protect them.

The covenants with Israel points us to God’s plan for humanity as revealed in the Paschal Mystery.

The Covenant with Noah Will never again send

flood to kill life (Genesis 9:8-17).

It’s universal in nature

The Abrahamic Covenant God calls a Chosen People

(Hebrews/Israelites/Jews) to be in a unique relationship with Him. They will have a special role in His plan.

God promises three things to Abraham:1. The promise of descendants2. Provide a land of their own3. Abraham and his descendants will be a

blessing to the nations.

Abrahamic Covenant con’t God asks Abraham

and his descendant to commit to three things: 1. To walk with God2. To be blameless3. To practice

circumcision as a mark of the covenant

The Mosaic Covenant God reveals Himself (theophany) and

summons Moses to the top of Mt. Sinai to renew the covenant He made with Abraham.

God gave Abraham a set of laws that the Israelites must follow as their part of the covenant (Ten Commandments). This is further spelled out in the rest of Exodus and Leviticus.

Covenant and Law became closely linked that breaking the law is equal to breaking the covenant. Eventually the first five books of the Bible became known as the Torah (the Law)

The Davidic Covenant King David wanted to build a Temple and a

permanent dwelling for the Ark of the Covenant. His heir, Solomon will build it.

God promised to David that “your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever.” (Sam. 7:16)• “house” – bloodline or direct line of descendants• David’s kingdom will be divided and eventually destroyed. • The prophecy was fulfilled, not in a worldly sense but

through Jesus who is a descendant of David. Through Christ, God’s kingdom will endure forever.

The Prophecies of a Messiah These covenants, although they point

us to the right direction, does not in and of themselves fulfill God’s plan of salvation.

After the Fall of Jerusalem in 587 BC, people longed for a Messiah. And God revealed through the prophets how this is going to be fulfilled.

Jesus would come to fulfill the all the ancient prophecies.

Messianic Prophecies from the Old Testament

See page 82