Christ in the Old Testament

The significance of Adam as a type doesn't become apparent to us until we see him contrasted with the Last Adam.

Jesus is never called second, third or fourth Adam. In the Bible, He is always the Last Adam because there could never be another one like Him. He is the only one of a unique kind.

"God after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high . . ." (Hebrews 1:1–3).

Even though he was the head of God's creation Adam failed. With his disobedience, he brought depravity on his whole family and to every descendent down through the ages. We inherited sin and death from old Adam. "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 . . . " (Romans 5:12).

In old Adam we all die, however, in the Last Adam, we have eternal life so that we will never die. Jesus said to Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25–26).

The Apostle Paul brings out the contrast vividly when he wrote, "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive." (I Corinthians 15:20). "But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many" (Romans 5:15). "For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:17).

Then he adds, "through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men" (5:18).

The first Adam was tempted and failed the test, and in him, we all continue to sin and die. The Last Adam was tempted as was the first, but remained sinless, and lived a perfect life of righteousness. Jesus Christ is the only " . . . One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15b).

The first Adam began with everything provided for him in the Garden of Eden and he lost everything. The Last Adam began with nothing in a stable and ended with everything. "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich" (II Corinthians 8:9).

The first Adam was commissioned to "be fruitful" replenish the earth. The Last Adam came to "bring many sons to glory" and to fill heaven with redeemed people known as His Bride.

The first Adam lived a long fruitful life to accomplish his destiny. The Last Adam was born to die to accomplish God's eternal purpose.

The first Adam was given a bride as a helpmate. The Last Adam had to purchase His Bride, at the cost of His very life. The bride of the first Adam was painless since he was placed in a deep sleep. However, the Bride of the Last Adam was purchased through the deep sleep of His death on the cross of Calvary.

The first Adam lost his bride through age, disease and death. The Last Adam will never be separated from His Bride.

Through the first Adam's disobedience all mankind were all made to be sinners, however, through the Last Adam "many were made righteous" (Romans 5:19). That righteousness that we have received as believers is His gift to us. It is not because we merited it, or earned it. It is ours because He has adopted us and placed us into His family. He is now the head of our family, not old Adam.

Before the Fall Adam and Eve enjoyed the Garden of Eden, a perfect paradise, however as God's redeemed children we have been made to sit with Christ in heavenly places.

Claim your inheritance today by faith in Jesus Christ. Adam is no longer the head of your family; now Jesus is the head of your family, therefore live like you are a member of the family. Don't forget to whose family you belong!

Wil Pounds is the Field Director for the Honduras Baptist Dental Mission in Tegucigalpa and central Honduras. Previous to God directing them to Honduras, Wil and Ann served as missionaries in Panama, Ecuador and pastored churches in the U. S. They made numerous trips to Honduras with medical and evangelism teams before assuming their new field responsibilities.

A special thanks goes out to Abide in Christ for permission to reprint this article on our site.