"And so it is written, 'The first man Adam became a living being.' The last Adam became a life-giving spirit" (I Cor. 15:45).
The context of I Corinthians 15 deals with the resurrection. Because Jesus Christ is risen, faithful followers have the patient, confident expectation that they too will be raised from the dead never more to die. If Jesus is still dead, however, then there is no hope.
Through Adam, the first man to ever exist, sin--and death, consequently--entered the world. Through Jesus, who is "the last Adam" so to speak, forgiveness of sins--and everlasting life, consequently--entered the world. Adam was made a living being by God's power. However, Jesus made true life possible for the world.
The basic concepts set forth in I Corinthians 15:45 are not difficult to grasp, but one might be left wondering: Why is Jesus referred to as "the last Adam"? I believe the answer lies in the fact that there are so many parallels between Adam and the Christ. Adam is a type of Christ. In other words, Adam foreshadows Jesus in many ways. It is true, of course, that they differ greatly as to what they brought to the world (Adam brought death and Jesus brought life), but nevertheless, striking similarities exist. We will consider ten such parallels in this lesson between the first man, Adam, and the last Adam, Jesus.
1. BOTH ADAM AND JESUS ARE SONS OF GOD.
Adam is called "the son of God" in Luke 3:38. Jesus is referred to as God's "only begotten Son" (John 3:16). It is true that all humans are God's children. However, Adam and Jesus were sons of God in a unique way.
2. BOTH ADAM AND JESUS WERE MIRACULOUSLY BROUGHT FORTH.
3. BOTH ADAM AND JESUS WERE NAMED BY GOD.
4. BOTH ADAM AND JESUS WERE CAUSED TO SLEEP AN UNNATURAL SLEEP.
5. BOTH ADAM AND JESUS HAD THEIR SIDES OPENED IN THEIR SLEEP.
6. BOTH ADAM AND JESUS PAID THE PRICE FOR THEIR BRIDES VIA THEIR SIDES.
7. BOTH ADAM AND JESUS LOVED THEIR BRIDES.
8. BOTH ADAM AND JESUS WERE THE HEADS OVER THEIR BRIDES.
9. BOTH ADAM'S AND JESUS' WIVES WORE THE NAME OF THEIR HUSBAND.
10. BOTH ADAM'S AND JESUS' WIVES WERE EXPECTED TO BE PRODUCTIVE.
Dear listeners, it is clear to see that Adam and Christ were very different regarding the overall effect they had on the world. Adam, although he was the physical father of the human race, invited sin and death into this world through his irresponsible actions. Jesus, on the other hand, made the possibility of forgiveness of sins and everlasting life a reality. Adam and our Lord differ in that significant way. But, as we have shown, they also have much in common. There are many intriguing parallels that the two men share, and that is why I believe Paul referred to Christ as "the last Adam" in I Corinthians 15:45.
Thank you for listening, and may the Lord bless you as you strive to do His will.
Genesis 5:2 states - God "created them male and female, and blessed them and called them Mankind [or Adam, KJV] in the day they were created." God gave this name or description. Approximately four thousand years later, Joseph was instructed by an angel in Matthew 1:20,21 - "Do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." The heavenly Father selected the name Jesus for His Son.
Moses recorded in Genesis 2:21 - "And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept." The reason for this deep, unnatural sleep is explained later. Jesus also experienced an unnatural sleep--physical death. The prophets revealed that it was God's intention to not let Jesus' body decay (cf. Acts 2:27). He would restore Jesus' life on the third day. Thus, the death Jesus experienced was essentially a three day slumber. It was unnatural in the sense that He, being sinless, did not deserve to die.
While Adam was in the deep sleep, God "took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place" (Gen. 2:21). Jesus' side was opened immediately after He experienced the sleep of death. "One of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out" (John 19:34).
"Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man" (Gen. 2:22). The woman God created from Adam's rib became his bride! The case with Jesus is similar although the focus is on blood and not upon a bone. According to Acts 20:28, Jesus purchased or paid for the church (His bride) with His precious blood. Eve would not have been without the rib that came from Adam's side. The church would not have been without the blood Christ shed. It is interesting to observe that prior to the unnatural sleep that both Adam and Jesus experienced, neither one had a bride.
Genesis 2:23 records Adam's initial reaction to meeting his bride - "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." Adam loved his wife and was joined to her. Christ also loves His bride dearly - "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word" (Eph. 5:25,26). Jesus loved His bride so much that He was willing to die for her.
From the very beginning it was God's intent that husbands be the head of their homes. The wife is to be in submission to the husband - "The head of woman is man" (I Cor. 11:3). Ephesians 1:22 declares that the Father "put all things under His [Jesus'] feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church." Although many disregard His authority, it is nevertheless true that Christ is head over the church (His bride) and all creation.
As we noted in Genesis 5:2 (according to the KJV), the first man and woman were known as Adam or Mankind. Eve, as she was later named by her husband (Gen. 3:20), did not try to wear another name besides that which she received from her husband. In the New Testament in Acts 4:12 we learn - "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." There is no way to be saved other than through the name of Jesus Christ. The church must wear His holy name for there is no salvation apart from it (cf. Rom. 16:16).
Genesis 1:27,28 states - "Then God blessed them, and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'" God expected Eve, with Adam's help, to be productive and bear children. God expects the same of the church today, the bride of Christ. The Father expects us, with Christ's help, to be productive and bear spiritual children (i.e., make converts). We have been commanded to go into all the world and preach the gospel in an effort to make disciples (Mark 16:15,16). Jesus has promised to be with us always (Matt. 28:20). We can do all things through the strength that He provides (Phil. 4:13). We can be productive for the Lord's kingdom.