The First and Last Adam – an Easter meditation
Romans 5 compares Adam and Christ and their impact on the human race. 1 Corinthians 15:42-49 explains this too and introduces a term for Christ, “the last Adam.”
Recently we heard an excellent message about this comparison. We’re passing along a few thoughts we gleaned from Dr. Michael Reeves. We hope this Bible meditation helps prepare your heart for your Easter celebration. To begin, please take a minute to read Romans 5:12-21.
The Image of God
In Genesis 1:26, God created man (male and female) in His image. We aren’t an exact likeness of God, but we have intellect, personality and creativity. These are seen in God. We also have an eternal soul and eternal spirit. But sin has disfigured our “image of God” so we are poor reflections of Who God is. In the New Testament, the Son is called the perfect “image of God” (Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3). Jesus told his followers, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.” Jesus best represents a true image- bearer of the Godhead.
The First Adam and the Last Adam
In the Romans 5 passage, we’re reminded sin and death entered the world through the first Adam. Through reaching out to the fruit on the tree in the garden, man sinned. As a result, both we, and our world, bear the scars of this terrible legacy.
Jesus, the last Adam (stretched out on a tree), bore the sins of Adam and all his descendants. For all who are in Christ, God replaces our sin and shame with Christ’s righteousness. 1 Peter 2:24 tells us: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.” In eternity, God will also restore the true “image of God” He intended for us.
Jesus is the only complete cure for humanity. He is the image of God and conforms us to His likeness (Romans 8: 28 – 30).
In Genesis 1:28-31, God gave the first Adam (and Eve) dominion over all the earth. When they sinned and disobeyed God, Creation fell into death and decay. The Last Adam, Christ, conquered death and ascended into Heaven. He has authority and rules over all creation (Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-8). During these troubling times, we must trust in Him.
NOTES:
- We recommend the complete message of Dr. Michael Reeves (an Oxford professor). See bit.ly/ImageOfGod.
- Popular Easter posts on this blog:
- More posts about Easter on this site and by this author on The Sovereign
- The photos are by a friend who visited Jerusalem recently.
Mike and Sus Schmitt 