The Bible consists of two books, namely the Old Testament (OT) and New Testament (NT). Old Testament’s story begins with the creation of the first man, Adam. NT begins with the story of the birth of Jesus, which the Apostle Paul referred to as the second Adam.
Why should there be a second Adam? Because the first Adam had failed to meet the purpose of the creation of man, which is multiplying the image of God (hereafter I refer to with the term: Divine Pattern) until the whole earth is filled with His glory.
In the first Adam, Divine Pattern has been broken, and that is why men lost the divine pattern in their life. But through Christmas, the divine pattern is given back in Jesus Christ, so it can be molded again in the life of every human being.
Whoever says that he remains in union with God
should live just as Jesus Christ did (I John 2:6).
Naturally, we are the descendants of the first Adam that inherit His nature. But spiritually, when Jesus Christ comes into our hearts, we are born again, we are the descendants of Jesus, the second Adam, and we also inherit His nature.
Some, however, did receive him and believed in him; so he gave them the right to become God’s children. They did not become God’s children by natural means, that is, by being born as the children of a human father; God himself was their Father (John 1:12-13).
So in us right now there are 2 Adams, the old and the new man. Whether we want to live base on the pattern of the first Adam or second Adam, is entirely determined by the decision we make.
Why are there many people who claimed to have been born again still live with the old way? Because they have decided to live according to the pattern of the first Adam, not the second Adam.
What is the difference between the pattern of the first Adam and the second Adam?
For the scripture says, “The first man, Adam, was created a living being”; but the last Adam is the life-giving Spirit. It is not the spiritual that comes first, but the physical, and then the spiritual. The first Adam, made of earth, came from the earth; the second Adam came from heaven (I Cor. 15:45-47).
1. The first Adam came from dust of the ground (earth), the second Adam came from Heaven (v. 47).
He who comes from above is greater than all. He who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly matters, but he who comes from heaven is above all (John 3:31).
Where we come from determine our existence, language, and purpose. If we believe that we come from dust, then we will have a tendency to always go there and be like the dust of the earth.
When we face problems, what arise in our minds is: return to the dust of the ground (dead). When we fail and feel insecure, we reason: we are just dust that doesn’t mean anything.
In contrast, if you believe that you come from Heaven. Every time you face a problem, your mind immediately looks to Heaven: there are Heaven resources, there is help from Heaven. The atmosphere of Heaven continues to fill your heart and mind.
2. The first Adam is physical, the second Adam is spiritual (v. 46).
If you live by the pattern of the first Adam, you will live naturally, but if you live by the pattern of the second Adam, you will live spiritually. What are the differences?
- People who live naturally live based on facts. People who live spiritually live based on God’s promises.
- People who live naturally live based on human potential. People who live spiritually live based on divine potential.
- People who live naturally live based on what they have or don’t have. People who live spiritually live based on what Heaven has provided.
- People who live naturally live based on what they feel and see. People who live spiritually live based on what they believe from His Word.
3. The first Adam became a living soul, the second Adam became the life-giving Spirit (v. 45).
People who live according to the pattern of the first Adam can only be a living soul. People who live by the pattern of the second Adam will be the life-giving Spirit. Their lives give life to the people around him.
Now the choice is in your hand to decide whether you want to live as the first Adam or the second Adam, based on the pattern of the first Adam or the pattern of the second Adam. I hope today you can make an accurate decision that will affect your whole life and future.
Also read: Good Heart Soil.
