ADAM AND JESUS

"And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit . . . The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven." (1 Cor 15:45,47)

HUMANITY IS SUMMARIZED IN TWO INDIVIDUALS; one from earth, and One from heaven. The first man, ADAM, was "made a living soul." The Second Man, JESUS, was "made a quickening spirit." That is, Adam was caused to live, but Jesus causes to live. Life was brought TO Adam, but life is brought BY Jesus. Life was conferred upon Adam, but Jesus confers life. Now that Jesus has been exalted and enthroned, the only life that God recognizes is the life that has been conferred, or given, by Jesus Christ.

MAN IS A TRIPARTITE BEING (composed of three parts). In order of their priority, these parts are identified as "spirit," "soul," and "body." Two thirds of these parts are unseen – the "spirit" and the "soul." Only the quickening and powerful word of God is able to distinguish experientially between these two parts (Heb 4:12). By "experientially," I mean the awareness of the distinction becomes known to the individual.

THE SOULISH PART OF OUR PERSONS is more related to Adam. Our spirit is related more to Jesus, who comes to quicken and restore it "after the image of Him that created him" (Col 3:10). So also it is written, "The first man, Adam, became a living soul. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit" (1 Cor 15:45, NKJV).

A UNIQUE DISTINCTION IS SEEN HERE. Adam's life was derived; i.e., he "became a living soul." Jesus, on the other hand, is Himself the Giver of life. He came to restore the "image" that was marred by Adam – to bring humanity into affiliation with "the Father of spirits." Rather than receiving life, the Lord Jesus gives life – a most unique distinction. Further, the restored image is more precise than the original that was found in Adam. The "new man" is a more perfect image, "after God created in righteousness and true holiness." (Eph 4:24).

FEDERAL HEADS. Adam and Jesus are federal heads of a race; i.e., they are the first of the order over which they preside. Their progenies, or descendants, also bear their likeness. This is the point of Paul's discourse in Romans 5:12- 21. The "natural" part of us is traceable to Adam. The "spiritual" aspect and nature of those who are born again, is traced back to Jesus.

THE IMPACT OF ADAM'S DISOBEDIENCE. Adam's sin brought death to our spirits, i.e., it thrust humanity into a state of alienation from God. The effect of the "first man's" transgression is described in arresting words. "Death" entered the world, and was "passed upon all men" (Rom 5:12). "Through the offense of one," we are told, "many" are "dead" (Rom 5:15). "Judgment to condemnation" resulted from Adam's sin (Rom 5:16,18). "Death reigns" because of that single offense (Rom 5:17). "By one man's disobedience, many were made sinners" (Rom 5:19). Those vivid portrayals are descriptive of spiritual death – a violent interruption of communion with the Living God. Whatever a person may think about perverted views of "original sin" and so-called "total depravity," we do have to contend with these statements of the Holy Spirit. They are meticulously precise, leaving no room for question or doubt.

THE IMPACT OF JESUS' OBEDIENCE. As the "Quickening Spirit," Jesus came to rectify the dilemma brought on by Adam's sin. How marvelously His ministry is portrayed by the Holy Spirit. " . . . much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many" (Rom 5:15). " . . . but the free gift is of many offenses unto justification" (Rom 5:16). Here, the expression "many offenses" refers to God laying the iniquities of us all upon the Lord Jesus – He "bore our sins in His body on the tree" (Isa 53:6; 1 Pet 2:24). Justification was the result! " . . . they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ" (Rom 5:17). " . . . by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life" (Rom 5:18). " . . . by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous" (Rom 5:19).

WE WERE "QUICKENED," or made alive by Jesus, when we were yet "dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph 2:1). That quickening, or spiritual resurrection, took place in the inmost part of our person – our spirit.

SALVATION BEGINS WITH THE RECLAMATION OF YOUR SPIRIT – the essential part of your being. The new birth enables the individual to possess and govern his own soul. Thus Jesus said, "In your patience possess ye your souls" (Luke 21:19). Moreover, the body, or the most external part of our being, is controlled from within. Paul called this "keeping under his body" (1 Cor 9:27).WHAT A MARVELOUS SALVATION is found in Jesus. It is realized by all of His descendants. They are all made alive and righteous.

– Given O. Blakely