Adam was the first man God created. However, Adam sinned before God’s eyes and received death as his punishment and all human beings. Jesus came on earth and died for human beings to be redeemed and forgiven. So, how is Jesus the last Adam?
According to 1 Corinthians 15:22, the Bible implies that, for as in Adam, human beings die, but through Christ, human beings shall be made alive. The Bible teaches through the sin that Adam committed, God punished human beings to die, but through Jesus, they got salvation to have eternal life. Therefore, Jesus is the last Adam.
Why is Jesus called the last Adam? What does it mean that Jesus is the last Adam? Where in the Bible is Jesus called the last Adam? Comparing Jesus and Adam Is the title of Last Adam appropriate for Jesus? Keep reading to find the answers to these questions and more.
Why is Jesus called the last Adam?
Jesus is the last Adam because, through him, we receive life as we received through Adam. 1 Corinthians 15:45 reads, “Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being” the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.” According to Genesis 1:27-28, the Bible implies that God created man in his image and blessed him with a woman so that they can be fruitful and multiply the earth. The Bible teaches that Adam received life directly from the breath of God. However, through Adam’s disobedience to God, death befell all human beings. 1 Corinthians 15:22 says, “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.” However, Jesus came and saved human beings to have life after death.
According to John 3:16, the Bible implies that God sacrificed his only son, Jesus Christ, for the salvation of human beings; hence whoever believes in him shall have eternal life. Through Jesus Christ, we received eternal life in the Kingdom of God. Therefore, Jesus is the last Adam, the life-giving spirit, because Him, we shall receive everlasting life.
What does it mean that Jesus is the last Adam?
Jesus being the last Adam means that he is a life-giving Spirit. Jesus was resurrected from death and became a spirit. Through Jesus Christ, Christians shall receive everlasting life in the Kingdom of God. The last Adam rose from the dead; hence like him, we will also rise and live spiritually in Heaven.
1 Corinthians 15:46 says, “But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual.” The Bible implies that just like there was the first Adam first, then followed by the last Adam, there is also natural them followed by the spiritual. The first Adam was a natural body that did not resurrect after death. The last Adam was resurrected from death and is now spiritual in Heaven. Therefore, Jesus is the last Adam since he rose from death, and 1 Peter 3:22 implies that he is sitting on the right hand of God the Father.
The last Adam means that Jesus is the spiritual being that came to save human beings so they may not perish after death. Jesus died on the cross so that human beings could receive salvation. It was all according to the will of God because he wanted to save us due to his great love for us. Jesus has given us another life with no suffering that we will live forever in the kingdom of God.
Where in the Bible is Jesus called the last Adam?
Jesus is called the last Adam by Apostle Paul in the book of first Corinthians Chapter 15, Verse 45. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul gives the message about the resurrection of the Body. Paul teaches that just like how death came from man, the resurrection also comes from man. He teaches that as humans die because of Adam, man also lives because of Jesus Christ. Adam committed a sin that brought death to human beings; however, the son of God came to take away death and bring everlasting life to those who believe him.
In Verse 45, Paul teaches that the first Adam became a living being, but the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. God created Adam to fill the earth, but because of his disobedience, death befell all humans. Jesus came on earth to redeem humans to live after death in their Father’s kingdom. Therefore, Paul was implying that there could never be any other person who could bring life to human beings because Jesus is the last Adam.
Comparing Jesus and Adam
There are many differences between the first Adam and the last Adam. One, Adam was natural, but Jesus was spiritual. 1 Corinthians 15:46 reads, “But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual.” God created Adam into a natural body through the dust. He did not have any spiritual powers. Jesus is a spirit that lives in Heaven and has power as the son of God. Jesus died and conquered death by being resurrected on the third day. He ascended into Heaven as a spirit and is seated on the right hand of God.
Through Adam, death was brought upon human beings, but through Jesus, human beings will have everlasting life. Adam committed the first sin that made God curse him and all his generation. God brought death upon Adam and his generation as a punishment for their disobedience. However, Jesus came to earth and was able to conquer death. 1 Corinthians 15:25-26 says, “For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” When Jesus resurrected on the third day, he destroyed death that had been brought to human beings as a punishment. Jesus saved human beings; hence through him, they received life after death in the Kingdom of God.
Second, Jesus conceived of the Holy Spirit while God created Adam. Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in his image, in the image of God, he created him.” God created Adam and made him head of all his creation. He blessed him with a woman so that they could multiply the earth. According to Luke 1:26-38, the Bile implies that Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a Virgin Mary. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:47 47, “The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven.” Therefore, Jesus was not created from dust because he came from Heaven.
Is the title of Last Adam appropriate for Jesus?
The title Last Adam is appropriate for Jesus because it shows that Jesus is the giver of eternal life. Paul called Jesus the last Adam to suggest that through him, mankind shall live after death. He explained that Jesus destroyed death that had been brought as a punishment to human beings when he was resurrected. Also, John 3:16 implies that whoever believes in Jesus Christ shall not perish but have eternal life. Therefore, Jesus is the last Adam because it is only through him that we will have everlasting life.
Also, Paul explained that the last Adam is spiritual. Jesus is spiritual because he ascended to Heaven as a spirit after he was resurrected. He also has spiritual powers because he was conceived by the Holy Spirit and was able to perform a lot of miracles. Therefore, Jesus is the only person that can be said to be the last Adam because there is no one else who conquered death and rose to Heaven as a spirit.
He also says that the last Adam is from Heaven. Jesus was from Heaven, and after his resurrection, he ascended to Heaven. He is the only son of the living God in Heaven. The Bible implies that after Jesus rose from death, He stayed with his disciples, and on the 40th day, he ascended to Heaven. It also implies that he is seated on the right hand of God the Father. Therefore, the name last Adam is appropriate for Jesus because he is the only person from Heaven to come to earth and later ascend to Heaven.
References
What does it mean that Jesus is the second Adam?
Jesus Was Conceived by the Holy Spirit and Born of the Virgin Mary
As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.
