Romans 5:12-14 "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned— 13 for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come."
Introduction:
In our last post we considered the significance of Jesus Christ as the "New Adam" or "Second Adam". We offered some basic reflections upon Paul's comparison of Adam and Jesus in Romans 5:12-21 and 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 and 15:45-48. We discovered that two major doctrines are highlighted by such "two-Adam" theology: justification by faith alone and Christ's resurrection. We also discovered that two Christian-life teachings are made clearer by comparing Adam to Jesus: believer's Baptism and one's growth in sanctification.
In today's post, we want to consider how original Adam and Jesus as the "Second-Adam" or "New Adam" aids in helping us to wrap our arms around the message of the entire Bible.
How Romans 5:12-21 hints at the "Old Adam" and "New Adam" comparison as grasping the main point of God's written revelation of the Bible
Romans 5:12-21 appears to have in view three particular time-frames that are well-represented in the Old and New Testaments.
1. Book of Genesis - Noah and Abraham are "Adam-like" representatives who are called by God, fail along the way and were called and empowered to embrace God's saving grace
First, we find reference to the time period from Adam up until the Exodus of Israel from Egypt in Romans 5:14 "Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come." This corresponds to what would be the Book of Genesis and the few opening chapters of the Book of Exodus. Sin and death had already entered into the created order due to the treachery of the original Adam. The genealogies of Genesis 5 and 11 bear out the theme of "death" reigning in the world. The corruption of the nations in Genesis 10-11 further testify to the ripple effects of the curse brought on by Adam's sin and the inheritance of such by his descendants.
Throughout Genesis at least, we find two key figures that function as "Adam-like" individuals: Noah and Abraham. Through Noah, God would once more begin the human race after the flood. However, as already mentioned, the curse of Adam's sin could not be washed away by the water. The shedding of innocent blood by a God-appointed substitute would be the only thing to take care of such matters.
The second "Adam-like" figure was Abraham. God called Abraham to create forth a people of God and ultimately the nation of Israel in Genesis 12,15,17 and 22. Whether we talk about original Adam, Noah or Abraham, all ultimately failed at certain points with respect to being faithful to God and thus needed His salvation in saving grace through faith alone. The Book of Genesis contains seeds of thought that would blossom in the latter portions of the Old Testament.
2. Exodus - Malachi: Israel is an "Adam-like" figure that was called by God, failed in its historic temptation and needed God's saving grace
The second major era referenced in Romans 5:12-21 is what follows from the days of Moses and the formation of God people in the nation of Israel. Romans 5:18 states: "For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. 20 The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more." We could summarize the entire remaining 38 books of the Old Testament has being about one nation: Israel, and one God's dealing with that nation.
Israel, much like Noah and Abraham, functions in an "Adam-like" capacity. Israel came forth biologically from the bloodline of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the book of Genesis. The Hebrew people in Exodus were officially formed into a nation at Mount Sinai in Exodus 19-23. We then find repeatedly throughout the Old Testament Israel being tempted and failing, just like Adam. Israel was to be a blessing to all the nations that could not be so apart from God's elective purpose of grace (Deuteronomy 7:7-8; Amos 3:1-7). She being God's "chosen people" broke covenant with God, thus having God announce the need for a New Covenant in Jeremiah 31:31-34 and other places.
By the end of the Old Testament, we find Israel having gone through exile, just as Adam and Eve had been exiled from the Garden of Eden. What was needed was another covenant. Just as God killed two innocent substitutes to cover the sin of Adam and Eve, there would need to be an ultimate Substitute that would take the place of Adam's fallen race.
3. Matthew - Revelation. Jesus is the New Adam that triumphs where Adam and all humanity failed
Paul's remarks in Romans 5:19-21 bear out the contrast between "Old Adam" and Jesus Christ the "Second Adam". Adam of course had failed, having broken God's original covenant with him in Genesis 3:1-7 and resulting in God issuing forth a second covenant, a covenant of grace by way of the slaying of two animals. We know Adam and Eve believed on God's promise and words in Genesis 3:15 by virtue of the fact they had placed upon them coats of skin - signs of God's covenant of grace. Noah and Abraham and Israel, as already seen, functioned as "Adam-like" figures. The entire Old Testament looks forward to the day when humanity would have a representative that would prove perfect in mediating between them and God.
Jesus of course went through the same pattern as we have already alluded to in Adam, Noah, Abraham and Israel. The Gospel of Matthew, for example, has Jesus virgin born (Adam had been formed out of the "virgin-soil" of the ground with no earthly father) (see Genesis 1:26-28; 2:7 and Matthew 1:20-23). Next, Jesus is later tempted b Satan in the wilderness, just as Adam had been tempted by Satan (Matthew 3). Jesus succeeds in his trial, proving, for the first time ever, that Satan could be completely defeated by a man. Matthew goes on by portraying Jesus' as having authority over the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8); power to defeat the demonic realm (Matthew 12:22-29); authority over the winds and water (Matthew 14:13-36) and renaming one of His disciples (Matthew 16:18). In as much as many of these episodes identify His truly Divine authority, the Gospels also serve to show us not only Jesus' true humanity, but moreso His humanity in the role of being the second Adam. Such glimpses have prompted some New Testament scholars to suggest Matthew is portraying Jesus as a fulfillment of Israel and/or is functioning as a second Adam.
This idea of Jesus coming into our world to begin a whole new redeemed humanity is expounded at length throughout the rest of the New Testament (see for instance Romans 5:12-21; 1 Corinthians 15:20-23; 45-48; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 4:4; Ephesians 4:17-24; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:16-18; 3:10; 1 Peter 1:18-19). To paraphrase New Testament scholar Dr. Daniel Wallace in a recent lecture on the New Testament text: "The most important event in all of human history was the crucifixion and resurrection of the God-man, Jesus Christ. Such an event required the writing of further scripture." The New Testament then is all about unfolding for us the triumph and identity of the New Adam, and how it is sinful humanity must united to Him by being born-again in saving faith.
Closing thoughts
Today's post aimed to take Jesus' designation as "the Second Adam" and use it as a lens for beholding the Bible's unity. We used Romans 5:12-21 as a base text and noted how it unfolds the Bible's unity by way of the Old Adam vs New Adam comparison. We saw three particular historic eras within this text and thus discovered a way in seeing the Bible's unity through the revelation of Jesus as the New Adam. We noted the following:
1. Book of Genesis - Noah and Abraham are "Adam-like" representatives who are called by God, fail along the way and were called and empowered to embrace God's saving grace
2. Exodus - Malachi: Israel is an "Adam-like" figure that was called by God, failed in its historic temptation and needed God's saving grace
3. Matthew - Revelation. Jesus is the New Adam that triumphs where Adam and all humanity failed, henceforth Jesus has provided saving grace to all who respond in faith to Him
