Thursday, April 1
Jesus Is the Second Adam
By Devin McDougal
Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 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. Romans 5:18,19
A type (typology) is an example, model, pattern, foreshadowing, or a prefiguring of something or someone to come in the future. Types are used in the Bible by comparing and contrasting two similar things in order to see or understand them better. According to Romans 5:14, Adam was a type of Christ. In other words, when we compare and contrast Adam (type) to Christ, the second Adam (antitype), we understand and see both more clearly.
This is what Paul is doing in Romans 5:12-21. He is using typology to better explain the doctrine of justification by grace through faith. In short, the first Adam explains why every single human being needs justification, while the second Adam explains how humans can have justification. Clearly seeing the differences and similarities between these two Adams will enable one to understand this doctrine better.
First, let me define the doctrine Paul is teaching here in Romans. Justification by grace through faith means that a sinner is justified (pardoned from the punishment and condemnation of sin) and brought into relationship with God by faith in God’s grace alone. This means that sinners (all people) deserve God’s holy wrath for their sins, but through God’s grace (the undeserving generous love of God) one can be forgiven of his sin and punishment. This doctrine begs two questions, however. One: how is it that all humans are sinful and deserve God’s wrath; and two: how does God’s grace save people?
All humans are sinful and deserve God’s awful wrath because the father of the human race, Adam, sinned by disobeying God. Actually, when Paul says, “all sinned—” (Rom. 5:12), I think he means that we all sinned in Adam. This is to say that Adam, as the representative of the human race, did not sin alone; we all sinned with him. Consequently, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). Adam rejected God, we rejected God with Adam, and we reject God today; therefore, we all deserve God’s rejection of us, namely His wrath.
Now to answer the second question, God’s grace saves people through the work of Jesus. In other words, Jesus is God’s grace (the undeserving generous love of God). The doctrine mentioned above says we can be saved by faith in God’s grace alone. So, we can be saved only by faith in Jesus. Jesus can save people because God sent Him into the world as a second Adam to reverse the effects of the first Adam’s disobedience.
Jesus reverses the effects (sin, death, judgment, eternal separation from God in hell) of the original Adam by being “the propitiation for our sins” (1 Jn. 4:10), which is an offering that turns away God’s wrath and gains His favor. Jesus, as God, became human and gave His perfect, holy, divine life up to an innocent death on the cross as a sacrifice for every person that believes and trusts that this is true.
Another significant type in the Bible is located in Gen. 3:21. This text reads, “And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.” Adam and Eve sinned and they realized they were naked, so God killed an animal for its skin to cover up their nakedness. That first animal sacrifice is a type, looking forward to Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice on the cross. When God killed that first animal to cover up Adam and Eve’s nakedness, He was thinking of His Son, Jesus, who would one day lay down His own life to cover up the sins of all types of people from God’s sight. This is how God’s grace saves people.
Jesus did all the work of salvation. I am undeserving of salvation; yet, all I have to do is trust and believe Him, and even that faith is given to me. I was dead in my sins, following Satan, and God saved me (Eph. 2). How glorious, how wonderful, how awesome are You, O Lord!
So, in the end, what does the second Adam mean to me? Pure, beautiful, sovereign grace.
Take some time on this Maundy Thursday to reflect on the magnitude of what Jesus did on your behalf.
Jesus, I am undeserving of Your love. I am overwhelmed by Your grace. Thank You for laying down Your life for me. May I never forget the price You paid to reverse the effects of my sin.
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