1217. The Two Adams

The Two Adams

Jesus Christ stands in direct contradistinction to Adam. The following outline suggests some of the contrasts between the two:

ADAM JESUS CHRIST

Creature Creator

Created Born

First Adam Last Adam

First Man Second Man

Of the Earth, Earthy The Lord from Heaven

Sinned Sinless

Heads a Race Heads a New Race

To speak briefly of some of the things suggested above, it is worthy of note that Adam and Jesus Christ stand forth separated by an impassable gulf. It is customary to speak of Jesus Christ as though He were a man in the same way that Adam was a man. That Jesus Christ had a human nature on a par with the human nature of Adam. Such teaching is far from right.

Adam was a creature, created by God; Jesus Christ was God and was the Creator, for "by Him were all things created, that are in Heaven, and that are in earth."

Adam was created, but Jesus Christ was born. We speak of the birth of Christ as unique, His birth was distinct from both Adam's creation, and from the birth of Adam's sons. Christ was born of God; He was conceived of the Holy Ghost. This cannot be said of any other who has ever lived. Christ was in His birth distinct from Adam's race.

Adam was the First Man; Jesus Christ was the Second Man; that is, each man headed a race; each began a specially marked people. Each were men, but men with distinctive marks.

Adam was the First Adam and Jesus Christ was the Last Adam. This distinction suggests more than the words, First Man and Second Man. The word Last Adam shows that there will never be another Adam, another headship to the race; there will never be a third Adam. Christ, the Second Man, is God's Last Adam.

Adam was of the earth, earthy; Jesus Christ was the Lord from Heaven. Adam was from beneath, Christ was from above. Adam was fleshly, carnal; Christ was spiritual, Heavenly.

Adam was created sinless, but he could sin and he did sin; Jesus Christ was created sinless, and He did not sin–He was impeccable.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR