Risen Together

As the first of God’s forming of a man, Adam was uniquely qualified to represent all of mankind. He was perfect and unblemished, fully acceptable for fellowship in the presence of the Father. He would actually walk with the Father in the garden. When He chose to violate this relationship in disobedience, it wasn’t just a personal transgression that would keep Him from God’s presence. It was something that would legally be imposed on all who would follow him. Though made for fellowship with the Father, Adam, as a perfect man, brought a sentence upon all by making what seemed to have been just a simple personal choice. This sentence was separation from the One from whom all blessings flow.

For there to be a legitimate reversal of this curse, there was a need for someone like Adam, unblemished and perfect before our most holy Father. Not just anyone would be able to take all the punishment of sins throughout all of time. It had to have been someone that actually lived as a human without ever failing in relationship with the Father. He would have to actually experience what it’s like to be tempted as a man and be very capable of giving in to that temptation. To actually become this man would be a display of love like no other.

As the second “Adam”, Jesus bridged the gap between us and the Father by choosing holiness, and doing so as a human being. This rightly made choice is what really qualified Him to be the one. Because He became flesh and lived among us, His unjust sentence as a guilty party served to provide complete freedom from sin’s verdict. As He chose to be with us as a man, His rising victoriously over the grave can also be ours. In choosing relationship with Him, we are loosed from Adam’s curse and given eternal life in the Father’s presence.

Notes

Adam vs Christ – separation/death vs union/life

1 Corinthians 15:21-22 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

While separated – God’s love initiated contact

Romans 5:7-8,10,14,19 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.

Because Jesus became flesh and blood, could destroy and release

Hebrews 2:14-15 14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

The sacrifice on the cross fulfilled all sin’s requirement

1 John 2:2 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

Relationship triumphs over condemnation

Colossians 2:12-15 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

In union with Christ – risen with Him to newness of life.

Romans 6:4 (NKJV) 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Though risen together, there is a need for setting the mind

Colossians 3:1-4 1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.