Two Adams

The story of creation from Genesis is familiar to each of us.  We have long studied the beginning of the human race from the early pages of the Bible.  Even as kids we were amazed at how God spoke things into existence.  Darkness was separated from the light, water from the earth, and we were introduced to plants, trees and animals.  Ultimately God's masterpiece was created as he "breathed into man's nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul." 

 I wish I had the vocabulary to describe the beauty and perfection of the Garden of Eden.  Words like "perfection" and "amazing"  probably would not do it justice.  I know everything was just like God ordained it to be, and that was not only true with its appearance, but also in the way it functioned. 

We don't have to read too far in Genesis to learn the perfection didn't stay perfect for long.  Sin entered the picture and by virtue of Adam's sin, the human race, being like Adam, has experienced sin as well. 

In the New Testament Paul told the Romans, "There is no one righteous, no, not one."  The scripture further sheds light on that subject when it tells us, "We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. "  

These verses, and quite a list of others, let us know we fit into the picture, just like Adam, when we sin. We who were created to be in full and complete fellowship and relationship with God, build walls of separation from him with our sins.  Is there hope for us?  Can the situation be remedied?

The good news of the gospel of Christ is our answer.  Jesus came to" give us life, and that more abundantly. "  From the New Testament scriptures we can learn of this rescue mission of Jesus to give his life and shed his blood, as the payment for the sins of mankind.  Paul even refers to Jesus as the last Adam and draws a contrast with the first Adam.   1 Corinthians 14:45, "So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit."  We can view this as the first Adam is the physical connection to us, and the last Adam, Jesus, is the source of our spiritual connection.  Only Jesus can be that "life-giving spirit" that Paul talks about.

Because we are of Adam's race, we must deal with the sin problem.  We have said Jesus is the answer and I really do believe that.  But there is another contrast between the first and last Adams that is mentioned by Paul. This one makes things easier for us to understand.  Earlier in 1 Corinthians 15, Paul begins that contrast by saying in verse 21, "For since death came through a man,(that's the first Adam,) the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.(that's the last Adam.)"

Then the very next verse opens our eyes even more, "For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."  As a part of the physical race, like Adam, you and I face death.  God is promising us through Paul's writings, when we are in Christ, we will be made alive.

Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!

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