“And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven.” I Cor. 15:45, 47
By Michael Adekoya – Dear Reader, glory be to God for this Lent season, as we were encouraged last week to fast and also to add good works to our fasting, hope you’re doing your best to participate? If not, please do your best to participate as fasting can not kill you but rather help you both spiritually and physically. But for those of us who are fasting, are you fasting religiously to please God? To pay penance for your sins? To obtain spiritual and eternal salvation? Well, if your answers to any of those questions is yes, then the above question is applicable to you, “Are you still in the first Adam or in the last Adam?
My friend, everybody in the world today can be classified under these two “Representatives or Patriarchs”. That is, “in Adam” or “ in Christ”, “in the first Adam or in the last Adam”, “in the first man or in the second Man”, put differently, “sinner or saint”. My friend, the Bible says, “Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”” Gen. 3:9. So my own question to you at this moment is, “where are you, still in the first Adam or now in the last Adam?
The truth is, everyone born into this world is an offspring of the first Adam. Regardless of your colour, race, gender or background. The Bible says, “And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,” Acts 17:26. Can you hear that, we are all from one blood, from the same parents. The first Adam sinned and through him, humanity was cursed, there was need for the second Man or the Last Adam to redeem the first Adam and all his offsprings – humanity. First Adam is the man created by God in Genesis. “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Gen. 2:7. The Last Adam is Jesus Christ “… the second man is the Lord from heaven. 1Cor. 15:47.
My friend, permit me to mention some differences between the fist Adam and the Last Adam so that you can decide under which one you want to be or you already belong.
First Adam was created of the earth while the Last Adam (Jesus) came from heaven 1 Cor 15:47. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second Man is the Lord from heaven. First Adam sinned, Last Adam, Jesus committed no sin. Through Adam sin entered the world, through Jesus, righteousness entered the world. Adam’s sin separated us from God, Jesus’ righteousness brought us back to God. Death came through Adam, Jesus became life giver, life and resurrection, … Jesus become a life giving spirit (1 Cor 15:45). John 11:25: “Jesus said unto her, ‘I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live”. Adam and his offsprings after the fall were to toil, sweat and eat from the ground for their entire life (Gen 2:17), Jesus became manna and bread of life for those who believe in Him. John 6:57 says, “As the living Father has sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eats me, even he shall live by me.
Furthermore, Adam and his offsprings were given laws and works, Jesus came to fulfill the laws and redeem first Adam from the laws and works. “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil” Matt. 5:17. Though God gave humanity (Adam) laws, He knew humans could not fulfill them thus He had to bring the Last Adam, Jesus from heaven to fulfill them for (earthly) Adam’s sake. Adam and his offsprings can not fulfil the laws of God except the Last Adam who came to fulfil them on our behalf. First Adam and his offsprings have to sacrifice bulls, goats and offered offerings and sacrifices, the Last Adam, Jesus became the sacrifice and offering offered once and for all for the sake of those who believe in Him. First Adam and his offsprings offered blood of bulls and goats as sin offering, second Adam, my Lord Jesus offered His blood as sin offering once and for all. As you can see, there are many clear cut differences between the first Adam and the Last Adam. Between those in the first Adam and those in the Last Adam.
Again, my friend, where are you? Are you still in the first Adam or now in the Last Adam? We all by default found ourselves in the first Adam as we have no choice to be born with the Adamic sinful nature, but there must be conscious decision to be born again, to be born of the Spirit such as the Last Adam. To seize to be earthly (physical beings only) beings but to become heavenly (spiritual) beings like our Representative. Jesus Himself said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” John 3:6. Those who are born and still remain in the first Adam are of dust, those who accept the Last Adam, become of heaven (heavenly). Those who are born and still remain in the first Adam are sinners, those who accept the Last Adam become righteous as He is. Those who are born and still remain in the first Adam are all to die (separate from the life of God), those who accept Jesus will not die and those who have slept in Him shall resurrect into eternal life one day. Those who are born and still remain in the first Adam shall continue to toil, sweat to eat, but those who accept Jesus do not toil to eat. They just obey Him like the children of Israel and He becomes their manna and bread of life in the wilderness (world). You just need to accept and obey Him and He will provide all your needs. Those who are born and still remain in the first Adam have to work to fulfil the laws (the legalists), but those who accept Jesus do not have to because He did all the works and fulfilled all laws for us. Those who are born and still remain in the first Adam are to offer sacrifices but those who accept the Last Adam do not need to do these things because He became sacrifice for our sake once and for all. Lastly, those who are born and still remain in the first Adam are to sacrifice blood for their sins, but those who accept Jesus do not offer sin offerings or pay penance for their sins any longer because His blood became the sin offering once and for all for us.
In conclusion, my friend, I’ve presented to you this week the two Men chosen by God to be our Representatives or Patriarchs, Adam and Jesus. You have seen both the spiritual and the physical implications of being under either of them. Well, the choice is now yours to decide under which one you want to be as this choice does not have implications on this side of eternity alone but also have ultimate implication of where one will spend his/her eternity after death. Either in heaven on in hell. Those who are born physically, who remain and die in the first Adam can not see the Kingdom of God, “Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” John 3:5. If you choose to enter the Kingdom of God, you have to believe and put your trust in the Last Adam just as the most popular verse in the entire Bible says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. Those of us who are already in Christ, let’s do all things to glorify Him, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matt. 5:16. As we fast, as we live holy lives and continue to do good works, let our motives be to “glorify our Heavenly Father” and not for the purpose to “earn” eternal salvation. Undeniable testimonies shall accompany obedience to God during this Lent period in Jesus’ Name. Amen. Remain blessed!
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