“For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.”
1 Corinthians 15:21-23
God gave us the Bible for our learning, “that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4). These remarkable spiritual blessings will remain inaccessible to us, however, if we do not read the Scriptures with believing hearts and through the eyes of faith. God demands that we forget the opinions of man when attempting to understand and interpret the Bible. We ought rather to passively submit to the word, recognizing its authority and self-authenticating nature. God’s word just is its own best interpreter. When we come to the Bible with this attitude and heart position, the Lord is pleased to reveal amazing truths that will nourish our intellects and fill our hearts with wonder, admiration, and appreciation for God our Savior. Taking the early chapters of the Bible as straightforward historical narrative, we understand that original man, Adam, was created suddenly, supernaturally, and instantaneously by God (Genesis 2:7). His wife was made from him and for him (Genesis 2:21-24; 1 Timothy 2:13). Man was the federal head over humanity. He was its spiritual and physical progenitor and its representative. Ruling with his wife beside him, he had dominion over all the created order under heaven (Genesis 1:26-28). Sadly, the man marched headlong, willingly and deliberately, into son and rebellion (Genesis 3; Ecclesiastes 7:29; 1 Timothy 2:14). The punishment for him and all that proceeded from his body, all that he represented, is estrangement from God, which is spiritual and physical death (Romans 5:12). The once very good world placed under the man’s care suddenly fell under a curse from which we have not yet recovered (Romans 8:22). Praise God, He has sent a new Progenitor, a new Federal Head and Representative, the Lord Jesus Christ. Where the first Adam disobeyed God in the garden during the day when all was lovely, the Last Adam was obedient in the garden at night when all was awful (Mathew 26:36-39). Where the first Adam led humanity into death and despair, the Last Adam leads us to life and hope. God desired that His human male representative rule the world with His bride beside him. Where the first man failed miserably, the Last Adam succeeded stupendously. “I go to prepare a place for you” said the Lord to His beloved bride, “that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:2-3). “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless” (2 Peter 3:14). Maranatha! Even so, Come, Lord Jesus!
God bless you,
Pastor John
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