ADAM AND EVE—CHRIST AND THE CHURCH
J. C. O'Hair
In God’s message and program of grace revealed to the apostle Paul, we read: “If any man be in Christ he is a new creature,” “he has put off the old man and has put on the new man, who is created in the image of Him Who created him.” The new creature has died and has been buried and resurrected with Christ (spiritually); and he is a member of that Church Which is one flesh with Christ. Christ will present that Church unto Himself as a glorious, spotless Church, holy and without blemish. (II Corinthians 5:17 - Colossians 3:10 - Romans 6:3 to 6 - Ephesians 5:31 and 32 - Ephesians 5:26 and 27).
In Genesis 1:26 and 27 and 5:1 and 2, we have a two-fold story of the creation of Adam. Adam was created, without Eve, in the image and likeness of God. Then in Genesis 5:1 and 2 we read that God created them (Adam and Eve) . . . “God called THEIR name ADAM.” We read in Genesis 2:23 that Adam and Eve were one flesh. Adam and Eve, one flesh, called “ADAM”, typified the Lord Jesus Christ and the Church, one flesh, called “Christ”, in Ephesians 5:31 and 32 and I Corinthians 12:12.
Christ was the one Perfect Man. Christ and the Church will be one Perfect Man. (Ephesians 4:13). God will complete that which He is making according to Ephesians 2:15, “One New Man”. Adam, the first man, was a figure of Christ the Second Man, the last Adam. (Romans 5:14 - I Corinthians 15:45 to 48). Then note the contrast, between Adam created in God’s image and likeness and Adam’s children born in his sinful likeness. (Genesis 5:3).
This sinful image and likeness of Adam has been passed on to every member of the human race. (Psalm 51:5 - Romans 5:12).
Jesus Christ was the express image of God’s Person, and the effulgence of God’s glory. In Christ dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (Hebrews 1:1 and 2 - Colossians 2:9 - Colossians 1:15 to 19). Christ was God in human form. The Word became flesh, the Man Jesus of Nazareth, in the form of flesh and blood; in the likeness of sinful flesh. (John 1:14 - Hebrews 2:14 - Romans 8:3). Open your Bible and read Philippians 2:5 to 10.
Before Adam sinned God foreknew and predestinated that, for the glory of His Son, He would have a race of sons conformed to the image of Christ, God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus. Whom God foreknew He predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son. (Romans 8:28 to 32 - Ephesians 2:10). In Romans 8:20 and 31 we learn that man’s glorification is included in this eternal purpose of God. (II Timothy 1:9 - Ephesians 3:11). So the believer can say “Christ liveth in me, the hope of glory.” (Galatians 2:20 - Colossians 1:27).
Yes, the believer is a new creature in Christ Jesus. Note his experience, told in II Corinthians 3:18 - II Corinthians 4:16 and in Romans 8:23.
“Even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” This means that the man, whose soul is redeemed, is longing for and groaning for a glorified body.
The Holy Spirit is the earnest of something better than the condition of the believer described in II Corinthians 4:16. Read Ephesians 1:13 and 14. In Philippians 3:20 and 21 we learn that the glorified state of believers means bodies like unto the glorious body of the glorified Christ. Then the spotless glorious Church will be presented unto Christ.
Christ, in addition to His Divine nature, took upon Himself human nature; that believing children of Adam, in addition to their human natures, might receive Divine natures. (Hebrews 2:14 - II Peter 1:3 and 4 and John 1:11 to 13).
The Lord Jesus Christ will appear in a moment in the twinkling of an eye for the redemption of the bodies of members of His Body. (I Corinthians 15:51 to 55). Then for the redemption of Israel. (Luke 21:27 to 33). Then for the redemption of the earth.
What is the Gospel?
Believing
Christ died, that’s HISTORY.
Believing
Christ died for YOUR sins and rose again, that’s SALVATION.
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto
you the gospel which the preached unto you, which also ye have received, and
wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I
preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto
you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins
according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose
again the third day according to the scriptures. 1. Corinthians 15:1-4
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Bible: King James Version
Posted By – Cecil Spivey
Cspivey1953@gmail.com
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