Today we are going to begin a three week series of messages built around The Promise. What is The Promise? Before I tell you what it is, let me just say that you cannot understand the Old Testament apart from The Promise. You cannot understand the New Testament apart from The Promise. You cannot understand Christmas apart from The Promise. You can't understand your purpose in life apart from The Promise.

The Promise goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve had royally blown it. God had put them in a perfect environment. It was never too hot, never too cold - it was just right. No pollution, no traffic, no sickness, no taxes, no stress, no hassle. The Garden of Eden made Disney World look like a dump.

God did point out one tree in the Garden. It was the Tree of the Knowle…