So it is written: ‘The first man Adam became a living being’ the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.
1 Corinthians 15:45-49
My second grandson was born recently, and when I look at this little life, he appears to be formed so perfect, so innocent. It is hard to believe that within his genes is a nature that is sinful. Yet within a few months, we will begin to see the effect of this sinful nature working out within his body. A stiffening back. A defiant scream. It may seem small, yet it is the rebellion of the fall—the rebellion of Adam.
Adam was created in the image of God. He was created from the dust of the ground and was without sin. Yet in Adam’s rebellion, he passed on to each of us a nature of sin. I cannot live a day without the ugly sin of my heart glaring at me.
Sometimes I am discouraged because I feel as if I always am returning to the sins of my flesh. However, I must encourage myself by remembering that even as I am now prone to sin through the sinful nature I received from Adam, that Jesus is the second Adam, freeing me from this bondage.
Jesus was also born without sin, yet He was not from the dust but from heaven, and He was not made in the image of God; He is the “image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15).
What does this mean for you and me as we live our daily lives? It means that even though we carry with us the nature of the first Adam, I can live in the victory of the second. Sin no long is my master.
This Easter as we consider the work that Jesus did on the cross, putting to death the effects of Adam’s sin on mankind and giving us victory, let us walk in a confident hope in the work of the second Adam—Jesus Christ.
This is the believer’s glorious hope.
Love, Cheryl
