Road Trippin With Rachael

Genesis 1:26-30; Genesis 2-3; Romans 5:12

Who Was Adam?

Adam is the first man. His name being the Hebrew word for “man” – showing all kinds of imagination. Adam and Eve were the pinnacle of God’s creation, made on the sixth day, and were given dominion over every living thing. Humanity is made in the image of God, which means that each person has dignity – deserving of respect and has worth. 

Why Do We Know Adam?

Adam’s sin resulted in all of humanity being condemned. Through him, every person born is sinful and has a natural proclivity towards sin. This means that every person born is inherently sinful, however, God extends mercy by not allowing us to reach the zenith of our sinning ability (Romans 1).  Part of the consequences of sin is death, but also the inability to be in the presence of God the same way Adam and Eve were upon their creation. This is why we see Adam and Eve hiding away from God, where previously they were able to walk with him in companionship, being unashamed of their naked bodies. This shame first seen in Genesis chapter 3 is still being dealt with even today. 

Typology

Adam also serves as a type of Christ. Like Christ Adam served as a representative whose actions gave consequence to those who came after him. Likewise, Christ’s death on the cross was representative of the payment that all people owe God – absolutely everything.- those who accept the free gift of salvation are able to be reconciled to God. 

How Adam Is Used in Scripture

Besides the fact that Adam is the first man, he is also used as a contrasting measuring rod to Jesus. It allows for a comparison that is not only made through scripture, but also intrinsically happens while reading the whole storyline. Through Adam, man entered into sin; through Christ man may be reconciled to God. Adam was self-seeking; Jesus was God-seeking. Adam placed himself in a position of power over Eve (by naming her as he did the animals); Jesus let go of his position of authority (Philippians 2:6). In Romans 5:12, Paul speaks about how just as sin entered through Adam, life was available to all through Christ creating a compare and contrast of Adam/Jesus. 

What Can We Learn From Adam?

What I think we can really learn are two things. One: sin has far reaching consequences that we do not always know. I highly doubt that Adam thought when he chose to eat that fruit that one day his son would kill his younger brother, or that his future descendants would create atomic bombs capable of wiping out entire cities in a moment. Two: Sin essentially comes back to us making ourselves into an idol for us to worship. Sin is ultimately self-seeking. It always looks to our own interests, our own benefits, and looks to the detriment of those around us. This is why when we read through the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 there are two categories: how we interact with God and how we interact with others. At no point in the Ten Commandments do we see anything that focuses solely on a single person – it is all outward facing towards God and others in both action and how we think about them. 

In Conclusion…But Jesus

Obviously, if anyone has a bone to pick it is mankind with Adam. The mess we see the world in can be traced back to his decisions and choices. However, we are all held accountable for the choices and decisions we individually make. Sins that every person commits, separate each of us individually from God and we each must be reconciled to him, which can only be done by paying the cost for our sin – a cost that we are unable to pay. But Jesus, in his love for his creation, saw fit to come to earth in the form of a baby to live a life facing the same choices and decisions we all face, he lives a perfectly sinless life, and he becomes collateral to reconcile us to God.