Walking in His Truth: A 5-Day Journey Through God's Storyنموونە

Day 5: The Promise Fulfilled (in Our Story)

In the story of God found in the four Gospels, a great promise emerges: The pain of life today and the penalty of sin will be overcome. The kingdom of God on earth will be established and His glory will shine. And that promise finds its fulfillment in one person: the Lord Jesus Christ.

God’s gospel is a person. It was a person from the start—the Son of Eve. “He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel”(Genesis 3:15 NIV).

We see this unfold throughout the Bible. God made people to populate His kingdom and represent Him. Humans were to speak for God, rule for God, mediate between creation and God in harmony; to be His servants in His temple-palace grounds—the garden of Eden.

But then came the Fall and sin entered humanity, tainting everything. God is holy. He will not establish His kingdom and yet overlook sin. In order to usher in this everlasting kingdom, sin and its debt—death—would need to be paid.

The Son of Eve would be a perfect priest to mediate a new relationship for humanity with God that pays for sin and offers forgiveness and brings peace. But He would also need to be the perfect sacrifice that climbs onto the altar to suffer as the perfect substitute for our sin.

How can a perfect sacrifice offered by a perfect priest be born of Eve—a sinful human? This Son would be human and more. He would be born of a virgin by the power of the Holy Spirit. He would be called Immanuel: God with us.

The portrait that emerges of the coming Son of Eve who would defeat the snake Satan and deal with sin is of one person: Jesus. The story leads to Him from the start, to the only one who could fulfill the promise, rescue the captives, and grant us everlasting peace.

And He did it! Jesus defeated evil. He pacified God’s holy anger, opening the way to the kingdom of God on earth through His death, burial, and resurrection. It all comes down to that—and whether we will follow and trust Him with the story of our lives.

Reflect: Jesus fulfilled the promise that stretches back to the Garden of Eden, defeating sin and death. How does knowing that He offers you new life and everlasting peace shape the perspective you have on your life today?

Prayer: Thank you, God, that you came to us, that you came to me, to rescue me. I proclaim your goodness and receive your grace today afresh. Amen.