Christ the Better Adam

Adam is a type of Christ.

The main purpose of today’s text is to point us to Jesus Christ.

Which is actually the purpose of all Scripture.

Last Wednesday, when we looked at how we all inherited our sinful actions through Adam, the purpose of the text wasn’t to just point out the truth that sin entered through the one man Adam, but instead its purpose was to point to today’s passage which is about Christ.

Paul is wanting to show us that Jesus is the true and better Adam.

One of my favorite worship songs is “Christ the true and better”

[I will explain these lyrics in how each person points us to Christ.]

Christ, the true and better Adam Son of God and Son of man Who, when tempted in the garden Never yielded, never sinned He, who makes the many righteous Brings us back to life again Dying, He reversed the curse, then Rising, crushed the serpent's head

Christ, the true and better Isaac Humble son of sacrifice Who would climb the fearful mountain There to offer up his life Laid with faith upon the altar Father's joy and only son There salvation was provided Oh, what full and boundless love

Christ, the true and better Moses Called to lead a people home Standing bold to earthly powers God's great glory to be known With his arms stretched wide to heaven See the waters part in two See the veil is torn forever Cleansed with blood we pass now through

Christ, the true and better David Lowly shepherd, mighty king He the champion in the battle Where, o death, is now thy sting? In our place He bled and conquered Crown Him Lord of majesty His shall be the throne forever We shall e'er His people be

So the question is, how is Christ the better Adam?

Romans 5:15–17 ESV

But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

Life comes through one man, Jesus Christ.

The only thing in this passage that Adam and Jesus have in common is the fact that one person’s action impacted many.

Last week, it might have been easy to walk away saying that is unfair that we are sinful because of another person’s action.

We may have difficulty understanding that we sinned with Adam, when he sinned in the garden.

However, we must accept this truth for us to have life in Christ.

Because just as Adam’s sin in the garden lead us to inherit death, Jesus’ death on the cross has brought us life.

Adam may have brought us death, but Jesus has brought us life.

Romans 5:18–19 ESV

Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

Adam's disobedience made man sinful; Jesus' obedience makes man righteous.

Paul is continuing to magnify the glory of Christ by showing us how Jesus is better than Adam.

Through Adam's disobedience we were made sinful.

When Adam was there in the garden, we were there with him.

When Adam shook his first at God by eating of the forbidden fruit, we shook our fists at God with him.

When Adam experienced death, we experienced it with him.

But, through Christ’s obedience we can be made righteous.

When Jesus kept all the law, it was as if we kept all the law

When Jesus never sinned, it was as if we never sinned.

When Jesus died on the cross, our sins died with Him.

When Jesus resurrected, we gained life with Him.

Yet Paul is not finished with showing us how Jesus is the better than Adam.

Romans 5:20–21 ESV

Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Sin reigned in us through death, but in Christ, we reign in life.

Before Christ is in our lives, sin is reigning in us.

It’s not just something present in us, but it is something controlling everything we do.

Sin is constantly pulling our eyes and hearts to lust.

Sin is constantly drawing us to gossip with our friends.

Sin is constantly telling us to take credit for all the good things we do.

Sin is constantly taking us away from God.

Sin is like an oppressive ruler in us, draining all the life we have.

But when Christ comes into us, we reign in life.

Jesus sets us free to experience life the way we were supposed to.

Jesus gives us the power to set our eyes and hearts upon Him.

Jesus gives us the power to use words to give people life.

Jesus gives us the power to give all the glory to Him.

Jesus gives us the power to draw near to Him.

See, Jesus is like a King that leads us to life.

Jesus is not just better than Adam, but He is better than anything.

He is worthy of all that we are and all that we have.

How will I respond?

Christian...

May we walk away today seeing how precious Jesus is.

Jesus has given us life.

Jesus has given us righteousness.

Jesus has given us freedom from the reign of sin.

How is He not worthy of all our worship???

May we fight sin knowing that we reign over sin with Jesus

Why would we return to what has brought us death instead of seeking that which has brought us life?

Those who don’t have a relationship with Christ...

Why are you still allowing sin to reign in your life?

Why would you follow something that leads to death?

Trust in Christ, He will give you life.

Put your faith in Him and repent of your sins.