Foundations of the Faith

In Adam, God reveals the origin and uniqueness of mankind

Man was created by a different process than the rest of creation - Genesis 2:4-7

Genesis 2:4–7 NIV

This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the Lord God made the earth and the heavens. Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground. Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

Man was designed by God - Genesis 1:26-27

Genesis 1:26–27 NIV

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Man was made using elements from the earth

Man received a spirit from God, bringing him to life.

Human life is distinct from every other form of life on earth.

The creation of the first woman also distinguishes her from the rest of creation - Genesis 2:20-23

Genesis 2:20–23 NIV

So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.”

Eve was also designed by God

Eve was made of the same elements as Adam

Eve was also a living soul

In Adam, God reveals the origin of sin and its consequences

Adam and Eve sinned when they disobeyed God - Genesis 3:1-6

Genesis 3:1–6 NIV

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ” “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

God had to have voluntary worship and so He gave man the option to disobey

Adam and Eve failed to trust that God wanted what was best for them

Adam and Eve rationalized their sin

Adam and Eve realized the consequences of their sin - Genesis 3:16-19

Genesis 3:16–19 (NIV)

Genesis 3:16–19 NIV

To the woman he said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

In Adam, God first reveals the hope of the Messiah

In God’s curse of Satan, He predicts the coming of the Messiah - Genesis 3:14-15

Genesis 3:14–15 NIV

So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Paul gives a deeper understanding of Adam’s role - Romans 5:12

Romans 5:12 NIV

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—

In light of Adam’s sin, our hope is in the one man, Jesus Christ - Romans 5:18-19

Romans 5:18–19 NIV

Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.