One of the most beneficial studies in the whole of Scripture is surely the study of Adam and his relation to humanity. Adam was not merely the first man on earth. He was not merely the first man to have committed sin. Much more can be said about this man, and much more must be said for the Christian to fully understand who he is in Adam and who he is in Christ.
Paul has much to say about man’s relationship to Adam. It would behoove the Christian to study the topic diligently, because in it, the glories of Christ can be seen. Why don’t we take a look and see what Paul has to say in Romans 5:12-14.
Sin entering through Adam
The first three chapters of the book of Genesis tell us plainly how God created the world and the creatures of the world. The first chapter tells us of the way that God created the heavens and the earth and how He filled the heavens and the earth with creatures, stars, the sun, the moon, etc. On the sixth day of creation, God created man and woman. God looked at His entire creation and called it good.
The second chapter of the Bible tells us of the events that happened on the sixth day of creation. On this day, God created man and woman. God formed man from the dust of the earth and breathed into Adam’s nostrils the breath of life. God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden to work it and to keep it. Later that same day, God created Eve.
God looked upon His creation, and it was good in the eyes of God. Here, we see that man was created good. Man was not created bad. Man had the ability within himself to live for God and worship God, and man was, at one time, without sin.
However, there was an event that happened in the heavens prior to this point that is told to us in the book of Isaiah. God did not merely create the heavens and the earth; He also created the angels. God speaks of Satan (an angel turned bad) through the prophet Isaiah when He says, “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations” (KJV, Is. 14:12). Here, we see that Satan was once in heaven with God but was later cast down to the earth.
When we approach Genesis chapter 3, we see Satan appearing as a snake. Satan has always been a deceiver and continues to deceive today. In Genesis chapter 3, Satan deceives Eve, who later convinces her husband to eat from the fruit of the tree which they were told not to eat.
The sin of Adam was not an isolated event. Scripture says, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered the world…” (Rom. 5:12) . Thus, it was through Adam that sin entered into the world in which we now live. The response of Adam in the Garden has had devastating effects that are difficult to overstate.
Death entering through Adam
When sin entered the world, so did death. Scripture says, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Rom. 5:12) . Death was the inevitable consequence of sin.
After man sinned in the Garden, the curse of God came down upon God’s creation. Prior to Adam’s eating the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, God told Adam, “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Gen. 2:17) . After Adam ate the fruit of the tree, God declared, “… for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” (Gen. 3:19) . Here, we see that Adam’s life would come to an end. We can also see that mankind has been affected by the sinful choice of Adam because man’s days are now numbered. It is sin that brought death, and it must be seen as such.
It should be noted that death is spoken of in three different ways in the Bible. All of these ways can be directly linked to Adam. The first is physical death, which has already been discussed. Adam sinned, and the grave was inevitable as a result. Not only that, but physical death would come upon all mankind.
The second type of death is that of spiritual death and separation from God. When Adam sinned, he was banished from the Garden of Eden. God had walked through the Garden in the cool of the day, and it was in the Garden of Eden that Adam communed with God. When God banished Adam and Eve from the Garden, God set cherubim in front of the entrance to guard it. The imagery is telling. Adam and Eve were banished from God’s presence in a very serious way.
The third way in which the Bible speaks of death is eternal death. We know that the believer is said to have died with Christ; therefore, he will not taste eternal death upon his physical death. However, for those who have not died with Christ, eternal death and separation from God is sure to come.
Man’s being imputed with the sin of Adam
While death entered through Adam, more can be said concerning the effects of the fall. Scripture says, “… and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law” (Rom. 5:12) . Death passed upon God’s creation because all men became sinners. But how so when there was no law to hold them accountable?
The Bible clearly states that when there is no law, there is no transgressing of the law. What is also true is that there was a time in which there was no law. If you have ever read the first two books of the Bible, you will know that in the book of Genesis, the law was not yet given. The law came during the time of Moses. But why did death still reign prior to Moses? Why were people still subject to death?
The answer to this question can be found in the role that Adam played in humanity. Adam was declared to be the federal representative of all humanity. This means that Adam represented all of humanity before God. Thus, when Adam sinned, mankind sinned with him. When Adam fell, mankind fell with him. When Adam ate from the fruit of the tree, in essence, mankind ate the fruit of the tree with him.
Paul goes on to say, “Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression…” (Rom. 5:14) . Here, we can see that death reigned from Adam to Moses. The time period in reference is the time when there was no law. The Bible also tells us that death reigned over the people who had not sinned in the same way that Adam sinned. So what does that mean? There was no law, and they did not personally eat from the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. So why did death still reign?
Adam is the federal representative of all of humanity. When God sees man, He sees Adam. When God sees man, He sees the sin of Adam. As a result of this fact, man is held guilty before God for the sin of Adam. You may be saying that this not fair. You may be thinking that there must be an injustice on God’s part. For starters, take note of the sin that you have committed. You are guilty apart from Adam. But take note of the grace that is found in the determination by God for you to be represented by another.
Adam, a type of Christ
The grace of God can be seen in the federal headship of Adam. The reason for this is that Adam was a type of the One Who was to come. Paul speaks of Adam as “… the figure of him that was to come” (Rom. 5:14). Adam is referred to as a type of Christ. Adam represented all of humanity before God, but Christ is the last Adam, and Christ represents those who are united with Him before God.
Ultimately, salvation can be boiled down to a fine point. Are you in Adam or in Christ? Who is representing you before God? The answers to these relatively simple questions have far-reaching implications.
Scripture says, “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthly: the second man is the Lord from heaven” (1 Cor. 15:45-47) . Thus, Jesus, the Lord from heaven, came down from heaven to be the last Adam.
However, Jesus is only the last Adam to those who have experienced the new birth. People must be born again to be found in Christ. Christ came to represent man before God. Christ is the great mediator between God and man. There is no other name under haven by which man can be saved.
Have you trusted in Christ this day? Are you in Adam, or are you in Christ? Have you experienced the new birth? Trust in Christ today for salvation.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You for the work of Christ. I thank You that You have made a way for me to be represented by Someone outside of myself. Thank You, Lord, for Your grace toward me. Thank You, Lord, for Your mercy toward me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.