The death of the seed results in life for the woman

In these passages we find the first mention of the gospel (Genesis 3:15). We are told that ‘the seed of the woman will crush the serpent’s head’. This is a reference to Jesus’ death on the cross which made Satan a defeated enemy. It is also a reference to Mary the one to whom the baby Jesus was born.

The gospel message contained in all of this is that of a substitute for our wrongdoing who would provide us with a ‘righteousness’, received by faith alone, from his perfect life. The outworking of this is a life which is dependent on what he has done and not what we do. There is no place for self-righteousness in the lives of his people.