Apply
this to Adam of the Garden of Eden fame and the 2nd Adam from
Galilee. Here, in the mind of God, are the only two true men in Earth’s
history. Let the following stretch your mind: what Jesus did in His ministry He
did as Man, not Immanuel [God with us]. Therefore, the 1st Adam
could have done what Jesus did! Maybe from that we can gain an insight into the
horrendous cost of the treason of Adam of Eden.
His
legacy is dark. It includes death, both physical and spiritual; the loss of the
fellowship of the Holy Spirit; the delusion of being as a god [the Serpent’s word];
the works of the Flesh [Galatians 5:17-21]; corruption of the body [1
Corinthians 15:42]; Etc.
In the
light of this you can understand Romans 3:23, we fall short of the Lord’s
‘bench mark’ because we have Adam as our Federal Head. Romans 5 uses the words:
sinners, wrath, enemies, condemnation, judgement, to further describe our
situation from Heaven’s perspective. Co-incidentally, this explains why the 2nd
Adam’s entrance into the World required the virgin birth. He was free from the 1st
Adam’s curse and legacy bequeathed to us.
How was
it possible then for God to look on and talk to Adam and Eve? Because of the
wonder of the fact that the Messiah, in the mind of Yahweh, had already been
crucified. He looked at Adam and everyone thereafter through the cross. The
Eternal Lord also clothed Adam and Eve in clothing made from skin, presumedly,
from a sheep.
Jesus as
the 2nd Adam was tested by Satan in the Wilderness after fasting for
forty days. It was as Man Jesus faced the one who beguiled Eve to bring about
her husband’s downfall. Jesus prevailed as Man by standing on the Word of God
and using it to unmask and then defeat His adversary. Scriptures informs us
that He was tested through the same means with which we are, yet without
yielding [Hebrews 4:15].
In the
light of the Christ of the cross we can begin to grasp the enormity of the 1st
Adam’s failure. There on Calvary was the greatest conflict of all time, and
beyond. Adam of
Eden’s betrayal with its consequences, Satan’s instrument, Death and Yahweh’s
righteous judgement. All this, plus the sin of everyone ever conceive sought to
overwhelm and destroy the Servant of Isaiah 53. Could His sinless, tested
humanity prevail? What was required to
put things holy, pure and immortal was one as Adam was before His fall. Another
Creation of another Man would not do. That which was required was a descendant
of Adam and Eve. Because, Adam of Eden had been made in the image of God, [Genesis1:26-27] it was
possible for God to be clothed in Humanity [Philippians 2:5-8]. Whilst Isaiah
53 deals primarily with the Nation of Israel’s cataclysmic failures, Jesus
stressed its wider embrace. There is another sheep fold He must bring under His
shepherding care. This would also require Him to lay down His life for them [John
10:15-17].
All of
this would be useless without the testimony of the empty tomb. If Christ be not
risen, He is a fraud, the scriptures are a lie, we who preach Jesus as Lord and
Saviour, risen and interceding for us are deceivers. However, Jesus the Christ,
the 2nd Adam, the fulness of Isaiah 53’s shadow has conquered all
that which sought to destroy Him.
As the 2nd Adam what has He achieved? Much more than that which follows. We share in the resurrection from the dead; He has made us alive; death is destroyed, He will rule supreme; the gift of a new, spiritual, incorruptible, glorious and immortal body [1Corinthians 15:21-54]. By His grace, through commitment to Him we are new people, justified, kings and priests, righteous, reconciled, at peace, rejoicing in hope [Romans 5 2 Corinthians 5:17 Etc.]. and, we shall see Him, worship Him and be like Him [1 John 3:2.]
When you
read Isaiah 53 with its beauty and savagery one thing ‘speaks’ loud and clear,
‘He shall see the labour of His soul and be satisfied’ [verse11]. This reminds
us of Hebrews 12:2 ‘looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,
who for the joy that was set before Hm endured the cross, despising the shame
and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.’
To reject
the Person revealed in Isaiah 53 and made known to us, from the Gospels, as
Jesus is dangerous. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life and as such He
alone can lead us to the Father. As Peter said in Acts 4:12, “There is
salvation in no other, for there is no other Name under heaven given among men
by which we must be saved.” And those words were secured by His death at
Calvary and His triumph from the tomb. There is no other Redeemer! Outside of
Jesus the Christ, is condemnation, separation, and an eternal sorrow!
Whilst
there is the opportunity do not neglect His grace or spurn His offer of
forgiveness, newness and a faith relationship which leads to beholding Him in
His Kingdom. Give Him a call, how, simply believe He is close by, unseen yet waiting for you to invite Him to be your Saviour and Lord. this is your giving Him your life in a faith response to that
which He has done for you. Get a Bible, read Genesis, Exodus, Deuteronomy, the four Gospels to give yourself a foundation on which to know and enjoy Jesus as Saviour and Lord. Find a church which believes the Bible is true and teaches it.
©Ray
Hawkins Sept.3rd 2019
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