Jesus, the True and Better Adam
Day 20: 25 Reflections on the Person and Work of Christ
For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Cor. 15:21-22)
SCRIPTURE READING: Romans 5:12-21
Commentary
The overwhelming testimony of Scripture is that there are only two kinds of people in this world, and there are only two statuses people may possess before God. They are all either dead in Adam or made alive in Christ. Their status is determined by what is known as their “covenant head” or “representative,” that is, they are regarded in light of what their covenant head has done.
In the Garden of Eden, God gave Adam a command, which as long as he obeyed, he would remain in a state of blessedness and life, and which if he disobeyed, God threatened death (Gen. 2:16-17). Along the line, he transgressed this covenant when he wilfully violated this command (), incurring divine curse and death upon him and his descendants. This is what Paul speaks of when he says that “by a man came death” (1 Cor. 15:21) and “by the transgression of the one many died” (Rom. 5:15).
The only reason why the transgression of one man can “result in condemnation” (5:16)—i.e., render them guilty before God (even before they committed any actual sin)—for the others is that the one man acted in their stead and as their representative. An example would be that when the King or Federal head of sovereign state A declares war against another sovereign state B, every citizen of A is at war with B, regardless of whether or not they were actually involved in what caused the conflict. When Adam, our covenant (or federal) head declared war against God’s rule by disobeying His command, every member of the human race was “implicated” in that, regardless of actual sin (5:14).
Therefore, all people born into this world through normal conception (this therefore excludes Christ) have this original guilt imputed to their account, with their identity defined as being in Adam. Not only that, but they also receive original sin, that is, the sin nature, from which proceeds all actual transgressions and whereby they show themselves to be in bondage to sin (John 8:34; Rom. 8:7-8).
What then does Paul mean when he says Adam is “a type of Him who was to come” (i.e., Christ)? Is it not that Christ acts as covenant head for those who come to Him in faith and repentance, such that from His “one act of righteousness there [results] justification of life” to them (5:18)? Is it not that in contrast to Adam’s disobedience through which many were appointed (i.e., conferred the status of) sinners, Christ’s obedience causes these ones to be appointed righteous? In place of judgment which arose from the transgression and resulted in condemnation, the gift of grace abounds to them because of His righteousness.
Is Christ therefore not the true and better Adam, who like the songwriter says, is the “Son of God and Son of man Who, when tempted in the garden never yielded, never sinned; He who makes the many righteous, Brings us back to life again, Dying, He reversed the curse, Then rising, crushed the serpent’s head”? Rejoice, beloved, for if indeed you have been brought into union with Christ by faith, you have been justified and therefore now have peace with God, boasting in hope of the glory of God (5:1-2)! If you are still in Adam, turn from your sin and trust in Christ, for otherwise eternal death, condemnation, and the unfettered wrath of God would be your fate. Are you in Christ or in Adam?
Reflection
Do you think it unfair that Adam’s sin was imputed to you? Then you should also think it unfair that Christ’s righteousness be imputed to you. You have no right to lay claim by faith on Christ’s righteousness (in his active and passive obedience) as the basis of your being made right with or reconciled to God if you reject and deny the original guilt Adam’s sin brought. But why, you think you could have done better than Adam who was created upright (Ecc. 7:29)? Isn’t your concern to be represented properly? Do you then question God’s wisdom in appointing one who would discharge that duty well? And do you not see in Adam your human frailty in keeping the law of God? Will you not look to Christ the perfect man instead?
Hymn: I Will Sing the Wondrous Story
Prayer
Dear God, unite me by faith to your Son. I would have Him and none other for my covenant head, for it is only in and through Him that you have caused grace to abound to fallen man, so that as sin reigned in death, even so this grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life. May I trust in Christ and His righteousness alone, not in my own works, and may I find in Him reconciliation, life, peace, and all that is truly delightful to my soul. Amen.
Song Recommendation
“Christ the True and Better” by Matt Boswell and Matt Papa