Adam and Eve’s mistake ushered sin into the world, but that’s not where the story ends, does it? In Genesis 3:15, the Bible prophecies the Messiah’s birth for the first time.
From here begins a contrast of the first Adam and the last Adam.
What do I mean by that?
Well, 1 Corinthians 15:45 says, And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
Who is that last Adam? None other than Jesus Christ.
Both are called the sons of God, but only one walked without sin. Yet both can teach us something important.
Adam represents the old life – a life of sin and decay. Not only does Jesus represent new life, but He gives it to all who believe.
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. – 1 Corinthians 15:22
And I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Adam lost his son to violence. Abel, a good man, was killed over an offering. Jesus, a righteous man, was killed for an offering.
Even from the beginning, human selfishness abounded. And that selfishness resulted in death. But one person’s selflessness changed the course of the world.
That person was Jesus.
And because of His sacrifice, we can have new life. We don’t have to be burdened down by this life. Sure, we face the consequences of sin. We face heartache and pain. But Jesus offers us a new life, a hope that one day we won’t have to deal with pain anymore.
And through this story of the fall of man, we see God’s mercy in action. He had every right to wipe His hands of everything, but He didn’t. Instead He made a plan that would alter the lives of all who believe.
For more on how figures in the Old Testament relate to Jesus Christ and God’s plan for redemption, check out my post, Jesus’ Genealogy: A Story of Redemption.
