The Two Adams

"NEVERTHELESS death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them

that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the

figure of him that was to come." (Rom. 5:14.)

Here we are told specifically that the first Adam was a figure of the second

Adam. "And so it is written. The first man Adam was made a living soul: the

last Adam was made a quickening spirit." (1 Cor. 15:45.)

God placed both of these Adams here miraculously. No other man ever

came into this world the way Adam did. "And the Lord God formed man of

the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and

man became a living soul." (Gen. 2:7.) This is the only satisfactory explanation

of the origin of the species.

Jesus was born of a virgin. This never happened before nor since. "And the

angel answered and said unto her. The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and

the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing

which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:35.)

God named both Adams. "Male and female created he them: and blessed

them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created." (Gen.

5:2.) "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS for

he shall save his people from their sins.'' (Matt. 1:21.) "Wherefore God also

hath highly exalted him. and given him a name which is above every name."

(Phil. 2:9.)

Both Adams married. Eve became the wife of the first Adam, and the

church is the wife of the second Adam. "And the Lord God said, It is not good

that the man should he alone; I will make him an help meet for him." (Gen.

2:18.) "And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he

slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;and the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and

brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and

flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of

Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave

unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." (Gen. 2:21-24.)

All Christians are married to Christ. "Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are

become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to

another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth

fruit unto God." (Rom. 7:4.) The beloved John said: "Come hither, I will shew

thee the bride, the Lamb's wife." (Rev. 21:9.) Perhaps it would be more

accurate to say that an angel said this to John.

The wives took the names of the husbands. ''Male and female created he

them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they

were created." (Gen. 5:2) A faithful bride always takes the name of her

husband.

The church wears the name of Christ. In speaking of the different

congregations of the church, the inspired Paul used this language in Rom.

16:16: ''The churches of Christ salute thee." There is something in a name.

Peter said: "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other

name under heaven given among men, whereby we can be saved." (Acts 4:12.)

If you expect to be saved, you must get into the name of Christ. Do not come

up in the judgment wearing some other name and expect eternal life.

The first Adam became the head and ruler of the wife. "Unto the woman

he said. I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception, in sorrow thou

shalt bring forth children: and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall

rule over thee." (Gen. 3:16.) Just as the man is the head and ruler of the wife.

so is Christ the head and ruler of the church. "And hath put all things under

his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his

body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." (Eph. 1:22, 23.) "For the

husband is the headof the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of

the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be

to their own husbands in every thing.'' (Eph. 5:23, 24.) "And he is the head of

the body, the church." (Col. 1:18.)

In bringing forth the woman into this world, the side of Adam was

opened. To make the church possible, it was necessary for the side of Christ

to be opened. "But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and

forthwith came there out blood and water." (John 19:34.) "For ye are bought

with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are

God's." (1 Cor. 6:20.)

Both families grew. ''And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived,

and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. And she again

bare his brother Abel." (Gen. 4:1, 2.)

The church grew rapidly. "Then they that gladly received his word were

baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand

souls." (Acts 2:41.) That was on the birthday of the church. "And the Lord

added to the church daily such as should be saved." (Acts 2:47.) In a little

while we have this very significant statement: "And the multitude of them that

believed were of one heart and of one soul." (Acts 4:32.) And in the very next

chapter we have this: "And believers were the more added to the Lord,

multitudes both of men and women.'" (Acts 5:14.) "And the word of God

increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and

a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith." (Acts 6:7.)

Disobedience of the first Adam lost the earthly Eden. "And when the

woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the

eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof,

and did eat. and gave also unto her husband with her: and he did eat." (Gen.

3:6.) And what direful results followed! "Therefore the Lord God sent him

forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground fromwhence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of

the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way,

to keep the way of the tree of life." (Gen. 3:23, 24.) "Wherefore, as by one

man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon

all men, for that all have sinned.'' (Rom. 5:12.)

The obedience of the second Adam gained the heavenly Eden. "Though

he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered: and

being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all themthat obey him." (Heb. 5:8, 9.) Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!