Hello Beloved,

Let us continue our study of the names and titles for Jesus. Last month, we considered the title of Jesus as “The Propitiation.” This month we will consider Jesus as “The Last Adam.” There are primarily two passages that make this connection between Christ, “the Last Adam,” and the first man who was created, “the First Adam.” Romans 5:12-19 communicates:

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned . . . For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. 18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
Romans 5:12; 15; 19 (ESV)

In this passage, we learn that because of Adam’s disobedience and sin, we all come into this world with the disease of sin. We are sinners by nature and by choice. Elmer Towns compares our condition to that of a child who is born into this world from a mother who is a drug addict. The child comes into this world with the addiction to that drug, just as we enter this world with a bent toward sin. Nevertheless, though we have been affected by the disease of sin from the First Adam, the Bible communicates we are all guilty of sin and deserving of death. And though through Adam’s sin, death reigns; through Christ, all (that is who are in Christ) will receive life. We must remember that Paul is talking about the two representative heads. Adam represents all who are in him and experience the disease of sin and death. This includes every human being. Christ, the “Last Adam,” represents all who are in Him and receive life through His obedience. The way one is joined to the “Last Adam,” or Christ, is through repentance and faith in His death, burial, and resurrection
(Rom 10:9-10).

The theme of the First and Last Adam is taken up again in 1 Corinthians 15. In this text, the Apostle Paul clarifies how the “Last Adam” brings about life through resurrection. He writes:

45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. 1 Corinthians 15:45-49 (ESV)

Paul communicates the promise that all who are in Christ, “the Last Adam,” will be conformed to the image of the man of heaven, Jesus. He goes on to describe the change that occurs “in a moment” for those who are in Christ. He writes, “For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.” 1 Corinthians 15:53 (ESV) As Christ overcame death through the resurrection, so also, will all those “in Christ” overcome death through resurrection. May we rejoice in the victory that the “Last Adam” has gained for us who are in Christ by overcoming sin and death. I conclude my article with this story from an unknown source.

A few years ago I was going away to preach one Sunday morning, when a young man drove up in front of us. He had an aged woman with him.

"Who is that young man?" I asked.

"Do you see that beautiful meadow?" said my friend, "and that land there with the house upon it?"

"Yes."

"His father drank that all up," said he; and he went on to tell me all about him. His father had been a great drunkard, squandered his property, died and left his wife in the poor-house. "And that young man is one of the finest young men I ever knew. He has toiled hard and earned money, and bought back the land; he has taken his mother out of the poorhouse, and now he is taking her to church."

I thought, that is an illustration for me. The first Adam in Eden sold us for naught, but the Messiah, the last Adam, came and bought us back again. The first Adam brought us to the poorhouse, as it were; the last Adam makes us kings and priests unto God. That is redemption. We get in Christ all that Adam lost, and more. Men look on the blood of Christ with scorn and contempt; but the time is coming when the blood of Christ will be worth more than all the kingdoms of the world. (From: Anecdotes, Incidents and Illustrations)

Until next time, this is Pastor Daniel writing, “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your Spirit.”