THE GOSPEL IN GENESIS 🧵
For many, the gospel starts with Matthew. But Jesus and the apostles never taught it that way. When Paul defines the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, he says it is “according to the Scriptures” and the only “Scriptures” he had at the time were the Old Testament.
Genesis is not just the story of beginnings. It is the seedbed of the gospel. In its pages we see creation, fall, promise, covenant, sacrifice, and redemption, every thread that will be woven into the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.
If you remove the gospel from Genesis, you strip the Bible of its foundation. But if you see it there, you’ll never read the first book of the Bible the same way again.
For many, the gospel starts with Matthew. But Jesus and the apostles never taught it that way. When Paul defines the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, he says it is “according to the Scriptures” and the only “Scriptures” he had at the time were the Old Testament.
Genesis is not just the story of beginnings. It is the seedbed of the gospel. In its pages we see creation, fall, promise, covenant, sacrifice, and redemption, every thread that will be woven into the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.
If you remove the gospel from Genesis, you strip the Bible of its foundation. But if you see it there, you’ll never read the first book of the Bible the same way again.
THE PROMISE IN THE GARDEN (GENESIS 3:15)
The gospel begins not in Bethlehem, but in Eden. The moment man falls, God speaks a promise, not to Adam, but to the serpent:
“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
This is called the protoevangelium, the first gospel proclamation. The “seed of the woman” points to a child born not through ordinary human lineage. It points to the virgin birth of Christ. The bruised heel speaks of His suffering and death, and the crushed head of the serpent speaks of His decisive victory over Satan at the cross.
Before God pronounces judgment on Adam and Eve, He promises a Redeemer. Grace precedes wrath.
The gospel begins not in Bethlehem, but in Eden. The moment man falls, God speaks a promise, not to Adam, but to the serpent:
“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
This is called the protoevangelium, the first gospel proclamation. The “seed of the woman” points to a child born not through ordinary human lineage. It points to the virgin birth of Christ. The bruised heel speaks of His suffering and death, and the crushed head of the serpent speaks of His decisive victory over Satan at the cross.
Before God pronounces judgment on Adam and Eve, He promises a Redeemer. Grace precedes wrath.
THE COVERING OF SKINS (GENESIS 3:21)
Adam and Eve tried to cover their shame with fig leaves, human effort to hide guilt. God replaces it with garments of skin, which required the death of an animal.
This is the first physical death in the Bible. The innocent dies so the guilty can be clothed. It is the earliest picture of substitutionary atonement, what Christ would fulfil on the cross when He clothed us in His righteousness (Isaiah 61:10).
OUR WORKS CAN NEVER COVER OUR SIN. ONLY GOD’S PROVISION CAN.
Adam and Eve tried to cover their shame with fig leaves, human effort to hide guilt. God replaces it with garments of skin, which required the death of an animal.
This is the first physical death in the Bible. The innocent dies so the guilty can be clothed. It is the earliest picture of substitutionary atonement, what Christ would fulfil on the cross when He clothed us in His righteousness (Isaiah 61:10).
OUR WORKS CAN NEVER COVER OUR SIN. ONLY GOD’S PROVISION CAN.
ABEL’S OFFERING (GENESIS 4:4)
Cain brings an offering from the fruit of the ground. Abel brings the firstborn of his flock, with their fat portions. God accepts Abel’s offering, but rejects Cain’s.
Why? Hebrews 11:4 explains, Abel offered in faith. Faith in what? In the pattern God had already shown… sin requires the shedding of blood (Hebrews 9:22). Abel’s sacrifice pointed to Christ, the Lamb of God. Cain’s offering of crops was the work of his own hands, void of the blood that alone can atone.
From the very start, God distinguishes between religion that trusts in self and faith that rests in His provision.
Cain brings an offering from the fruit of the ground. Abel brings the firstborn of his flock, with their fat portions. God accepts Abel’s offering, but rejects Cain’s.
Why? Hebrews 11:4 explains, Abel offered in faith. Faith in what? In the pattern God had already shown… sin requires the shedding of blood (Hebrews 9:22). Abel’s sacrifice pointed to Christ, the Lamb of God. Cain’s offering of crops was the work of his own hands, void of the blood that alone can atone.
From the very start, God distinguishes between religion that trusts in self and faith that rests in His provision.
NOAH’S ARK (GENESIS 6-9)
The flood is God’s judgment on a world filled with violence and corruption. But in the midst of wrath, God provides a way of salvation - an ark.
The ark was the only refuge from judgment. Those inside were saved. Those outside perished. In the same way, Christ is the only refuge from the wrath to come (John 14:6).
Noah did not design the ark; God gave the pattern. We do not design our salvation, God provides it. And just as the ark was covered inside and out with pitch to keep out the waters of judgment, so we are sealed and secure in Christ.
The flood is God’s judgment on a world filled with violence and corruption. But in the midst of wrath, God provides a way of salvation - an ark.
The ark was the only refuge from judgment. Those inside were saved. Those outside perished. In the same way, Christ is the only refuge from the wrath to come (John 14:6).
Noah did not design the ark; God gave the pattern. We do not design our salvation, God provides it. And just as the ark was covered inside and out with pitch to keep out the waters of judgment, so we are sealed and secure in Christ.
THE CALL AND COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM (GENESIS 12, 15, 17, 22)
In Genesis 12, God calls Abram and promises to make him a great nation and bless all nations through his seed. Galatians 3:16 reveals that seed is Christ.
In Genesis 15, God alone passes between the pieces of the covenant sacrifice, showing that salvation is His work from start to finish.
In Genesis 22, Abraham is told to offer his beloved son Isaac. At the last moment, God provides a ram caught in a thicket as a substitute. On that same mountain, centuries later, God would provide His own Son as the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).
In Genesis 12, God calls Abram and promises to make him a great nation and bless all nations through his seed. Galatians 3:16 reveals that seed is Christ.
In Genesis 15, God alone passes between the pieces of the covenant sacrifice, showing that salvation is His work from start to finish.
In Genesis 22, Abraham is told to offer his beloved son Isaac. At the last moment, God provides a ram caught in a thicket as a substitute. On that same mountain, centuries later, God would provide His own Son as the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).
JOSEPH - THE SUFFERING AND EXALTED SAVIOR (GENESIS 37-50)
Joseph’s story is one of the clearest foreshadows of Christ.
He is loved by his father and rejected by his brothers.
He is sold for silver and falsely accused.
He is humbled before he is exalted to the right hand of power.
He uses his position to save those who betrayed him.
Joseph tells his brothers, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20). The same is true of the cross… man’s greatest evil was God’s greatest good, planned for our salvation.
Joseph’s story is one of the clearest foreshadows of Christ.
He is loved by his father and rejected by his brothers.
He is sold for silver and falsely accused.
He is humbled before he is exalted to the right hand of power.
He uses his position to save those who betrayed him.
Joseph tells his brothers, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20). The same is true of the cross… man’s greatest evil was God’s greatest good, planned for our salvation.
THE GOSPEL THREAD THROUGH GENESIS
From Eden to Egypt, the pattern is the same:
Man sins.
God judges.
God provides salvation through a chosen one and a blood sacrifice.
Every major figure, Adam, Abel, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph - points beyond themselves to the coming Messiah. The Old Testament is not a different story but the opening chapters of the one gospel.
From Eden to Egypt, the pattern is the same:
Man sins.
God judges.
God provides salvation through a chosen one and a blood sacrifice.
Every major figure, Adam, Abel, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph - points beyond themselves to the coming Messiah. The Old Testament is not a different story but the opening chapters of the one gospel.
MISSING THE GOSPEL IN GENESIS
If we fail to see the gospel in Genesis, we will reduce it to moral lessons, “be like Joseph,” “have faith like Abraham,” “be righteous like Noah” and we will miss the point entirely.
Genesis shows us our ruin and God’s rescue. It lays the foundation for everything that follows. And if you remove Christ from Genesis, you remove Him from the whole Bible.
This is why so many false teachings and cults thrive, they disconnect the Old Testament from Christ, twisting the shadows into self-help, legalism, or nationalism. But Jesus Himself said, “Moses wrote of Me” (John 5:46).
The gospel didn’t start in the Gospels. It started in the garden. And it ends with the same Saviour it began with - Jesus Christ, the Alpha and the Omega.
The End. 🧵
If we fail to see the gospel in Genesis, we will reduce it to moral lessons, “be like Joseph,” “have faith like Abraham,” “be righteous like Noah” and we will miss the point entirely.
Genesis shows us our ruin and God’s rescue. It lays the foundation for everything that follows. And if you remove Christ from Genesis, you remove Him from the whole Bible.
This is why so many false teachings and cults thrive, they disconnect the Old Testament from Christ, twisting the shadows into self-help, legalism, or nationalism. But Jesus Himself said, “Moses wrote of Me” (John 5:46).
The gospel didn’t start in the Gospels. It started in the garden. And it ends with the same Saviour it began with - Jesus Christ, the Alpha and the Omega.
The End. 🧵
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
