Preaching in Massachusetts in the 1700s, George Whitefield was foundational for the formation and development of the Evangelical church in America. He led religious services throughout his life both in England and the States. His primary contribution is in oratory prowess. By selecting specific and brief texts to read and make understandable and applicable to the average member of the congregation, he helped invent a type of sermon which appealed to the masses. His primary goal was to share the gospel or the "good news," in keeping with the evangelical movement.
"The Seed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent" is his most famous sermon. Whitefield interprets the text of Genesis 3 for its implications for the contemporary church. In his opinion, Adam and Eve eat the fruit because they are deceived by the devil. They immediately are separated from God and cut off from the blessing which he had previously granted them. This is why the title of the sermon, corresponding to the partial text of Gen. 3:15, should be received as a new covenant, which is fulfilled in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ who defeated the devil, though he was born of a woman (i.e. the new Eve). In this way Jesus becomes the new Adam and humanity's new link to God, which relationship before Adam was readily available.
Throughout his sermons, Whitefield adheres to a strict belief in the message of salvation by grace. He adamantly advocates for the profession of salvation as a gift which cannot be obtained by worked. In fact he's particularly disturbed by those who preach messages to the contrary, a subject he specifically addresses in "The Seed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent" as well as "Christ the Believer's Husband" and countless others. This concept of the free gift of salvation is the central tenet of Evangelical Christianity and thus the very essence of Whitefield's purpose in becoming a pastor. He taught his congregation to rely upon God and to desire perfection, while remaining humble enough to believe they have no other option but reliance upon God because their own power to accomplish salvation is nonexistent.
