The Astonishing Value of the Last Adam should never be underestimated. Sadly, many Christians take for granted the vast value of the Lamb that was slain before the foundation of the world.

Federal Headship

The first man Adam became a living soul. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit, 1 Corinthians 15:45, through His obedience to the Father. A small statement with an astonishing and eternal meaning.

The first Adam was created in the image and likeness of God, Genesis 1:26, from the dust of the earth, Genesis 2:7. He was given dominion over creation with covenantal responsibility, Genesis 2. His position was federal headship with representational authority under God. He was commanded to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, Genesis 1:28.

The Last Adam, Jesus Christ, was eternal, but died by choice. He existed in eternity long before the first Adam was created. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God, John 1: 1. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth, John 1:14.

Relationship

Adam without sin, had a relationship with God and knew God face to face. Sin and death entered the world, Romans 5:19, through Adam’s disobedience. Adam’s communication with God was broken, for God can have no unclean thing in His presence, Isaiah 52:1.

Adam forfeited his God-given authority to Satan, by foolishly disobeying the Word of God. Adam changed his allegiance and Satan gained influence through deception and consent. He became the god of this world, 2 Corinthians 4:4, and prince of the power of the air, Ephesians 2:2. His one aim is to destroy the works of God, no matter the cost.

Christ’s Headship

The Last Adam legally reclaimed the lost federal headship through obedience to the Father, even unto His cruel death and resurrection. Through His shed blood He established a new and greater headship.

Christ made the Way for His followers to be bought back and rescued from the Kingdom of Darkness. Jesus transferred them into His glorious Kingdom of Light, Colossians 1:13, and made them a new creature, 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Through the first Adam the entire human race was aligned with death, for the wages of sin is death, Romans 6:23. The Last Adam paid the penalty of our sin and gives eternal life, John 3:15, to everyone who will believe in His conciliatory death and resurrection.

Reunited and Restored

Adam and Eve were evicted from the Garden of Eden. God’s mercy and grace were the only things that stopped them from being instantly annihilated.

In Christ we are legally restored to a full relationship with God. God’s desire is not just for salvation, but that we go on and mature into the measure of the stature that belongs to the fullness of Christ, Ephesians 4:13. This world will pass away, but God’s kingdom is eternal, Matthew 24:35. ‘In Adam’ or ‘In Christ’ is the dividing line of reality for the spiritual world is more real than the natural world.

Separate Entities

The first Adam walked with God in total perfection. However, God and Adam were separate entities and for 930 years Adam lived apart from God.

Entrance to the Garden of Eden was jealously guarded by the cherubim and the flaming sword, Genesis 3:24, Adam and Eve could not regain access to the Tree of Life and remain eternally in their fallen state. How many bitter tears of repentance did Adam weep, for it is possible the Garden still existed up to the time of the flood of Noah? If this is true, how could the people of Adam’s day become so godless?

Consider the agony of the Garden of Eden, compared to the agony of the Garden of Gethsemane. The first garden ended up in death and bitterness of soul. The second garden bought eternal life, but at a terribly high cost, which only the Last Adam could pay.

Identity

Adam began the human story, but the Last Adam fulfills the story and gives believers an eternal identity and meaning. The first Adam gave humanity existence in the natural realm of time, space and matter. The Last Adam takes believers into the unknown future with all its possibilities, for in God all things are possible, Matthew 19:26.

Adam’s disobedience gave humanity an identity with all that relates to death. The Last Adam made the Way for believers to live and be led by the Holy Spirit. As sons and daughter of God, Romans 8:14, we have the legal right to call God, Abba Father, Romans 8:15. If children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, Romans 8:17.

Personal Relationship

The first Adam and the saints of the Old Testament, did not personally know God as Father. That is the astonishing value of the Last Adam, for through Christ, believers are elevated into a union with God in a way Adam never possessed.

The Last Adam not only brings believers into God, He brings heaven to earth in the ‘Now’. If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word and My Father will love him. We will come to him and make Our abode with Him, John 14:23. When believers worship, heaven and earth join hands, because of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Success.

Success

Adam failed to fill the earth with righteous people. Where Adam failed, Christ succeeds. The Kingdom of God is peopled only by righteous people in Christ, for in Him we might become the righteousness of God, 2 Corinthians 5:21.

The first Adam was innocent, unproven and capable of sinning. The Last Adam without sin, proved His obedience to the Father, and conquered sin and death. He imparts God-authority and reveals the Divine nature of God.

Adam received life but he could not impart eternal life, for he did not possess self-existent life. The One who was total God and total Man, died and rose again, to impart eternal life to His followers through a covenantal relationship. We are already seated in heavenly places with Christ, Ephesians 2:6.

Eternal Plan

God always had an eternal plan for His children. I know the plans I have for you, declared the Lord. Plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope, Jeremiah 29:11.

God has plans, but we must first surrender everything into His hand. He has things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard. And which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him, Isaiah 64:4,1 Corinthians 2:9.

God lives beyond time, space and matter in the ‘Now’. He knows the end from the beginning, Isaiah 46:10. Your name was written from the foundation of the earth in the Book of Life, of the Lamb who has been slain, Revelation 13:8. There are names that are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the earth, Revelation 17:8.

Astonishing Value of the Last Adam

The astonishing value of the Last Adam is that He made the way for believer to be overcomers. Just as He overcame the enemy and gained the victory on our behalf, Hebrews 1:3.

God’s plan through the Last Adam, is that we become a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. A people for God’s own possession, 1 Peter 2:9. Christ is our absolute reference point and our All in All, 1 Corinthians 15:28.

The Last Adam is about to call His Bride home to the Father and enthusiastically rejoice at the marriage supper of the Lamb, Revelation 19:7,8. Are you ready to meet the Bridegroom?  The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exalt over you with joy. He will be quiet in His love. The Lord will rejoice over you with shouts of joy, Zephaniah 3:17.

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Dr. Wendy Stenberg-Tendys is a servant of the Lord who enjoys researching Biblical topics and sharing words of encouragement from the Word of God. She asks the hard questions.

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