The Birth of the Last Adam
As we read I Corinthians chapter fifteen, we must carefully note that
the resurrection and glorification of all truly “born again” believers
in Jesus Christ is connected to the incarnation of the Son of God into
humanity to generate a new species of humanity that is literally out of this world.
In other words, the phrase “last Adam” is a new type of generation of
humanity that is both spiritual and eternal in existence. Any
resemblance to the old body is merely superficial. This will be
explained with another metaphor in I Corinthians 15:39-44.
It is clear in the statement of I Corinthians 15:36, that most people
thought the resurrection from the dead was merely and eternal
continuance of life as they now knew it. This notion as addressed as
foolish.
“35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? 36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: 37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: 38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body” (I Corinthians 15:35-38).
The
questions of I Corinthians 15:35 were the subject of endless theologian
debate and the positing of conjectures. The clear majority of
arguments took a naturalistic view saying the new body
would be similar to the present human body, except the resurrected
person would never die again. Other arguments of the naturalistic view said the new body would be the same except it would not possess a sin nature and therefore not be tempted with sin. All naturalistic views
of the resurrection appear to be ignorant of the New Genesis and the
transfiguration of the human body to live within that New Genesis in
perfect, eternal fellowship with God.
The point of argument of I Corinthians 15:36-38 is that the naturalistic views of the resurrection/glorification of “born again” believers are superficial in that the naturalistic views
fail to see that the Creator is supernaturally involved in a New
Creation in the resurrection/glorification. Naturally, we understand
that a grain seed is planted in the earth after it dies to bring forth
an increase of quantity of the same grain planted. You plant a corn
seed; a stalk of corn grows with numerous ears of corn upon that stalk.
No one expects to plant corn seed and have wheat grow from that corn.
That would be miraculous and the farmer would bring the world to see
that kind of miracle. However, I Corinthians 15:36-38 addresses a
supernatural occurrence exceeding this completely. The metaphor says
that the farmer can plant a dead corn seed and it produces a completely
unknown grain that is not even of this world. Taking the metaphor one
step further, the supernatural operations of God in the
resurrection/glorification of “born again” believers will be varied
according to God’s pleasure.
In
expanding upon this variety in the resurrection/glorification of
believers’ new bodies, God uses several different metaphors to explain
that the resurrected/glorified believer will not receive a physical body
like humanity has in this life. The emphasis of I Corinthians 15:39-44
uses the metaphors of variety of different kinds of “flesh” in
different kinds of animals and different amounts of radiance from
different kinds of planetary bodies. The implication of the I
Corinthians 15:39-44 appears to be there will be a wide diversity in the
appearance of the believers’ new bodies. They will not all look alike
and they will not all produce the same amount of light (glory).
“39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. 40 There are also celestial {above the sky} bodies, and bodies terrestrial {earthly}: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead” (I Corinthians 15:39-42).
Perhaps,
these variations in resurrected bodies are rewards to eternally
distinguish certain believers for the faithful quality of lives they
lived within the curse. We certainly know that rewards for faithfulness
will be given to faithful believers at the Judgment Seat of Christ for
the Kingdom Age (Matthew 25:14-30; the parable of the Talents).
The rewards for the Kingdom Age will involve the gift of positions of
rule with Christ proportionate to the faithful witness of the believer
during this life and the production of fruit through their lives. The
“light” with which a believer glorified God (i.e., revealed Him) in this
life will be proportionate to the glory that will emanate from his new
glorified body in the New Genesis.
I
Corinthians 15:42-44 lists four dramatic supernatural changes in the
“born again” believer’s resurrected/glorified new body. Again, these
dramatic supernatural changes are to emphasize the radical difference
between the natural views of the resurrection of the body.
“42 It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body” (I Corinthians 15:42-44).
The point of the differences of which this text speaks refers to the differences between the two worlds (Matthew 12:32) that were created “in the beginning.” The world in which we now live is primarily a physical or natural world. This world was cursed of God and will eventually be “dissolved with fervent heat” (II Peter 3:12) at the end of the Kingdom Age. The “world
to come” will primarily be a spiritual world that the Bible calls a
“new heaven and a new earth” (Revelation 21:1-8). The word “new” used
throughout Revelation 21:1-8 is translated from the Greek word kainos (kahee-nos'), not neos. Neos means new of the same kind. Kainos means new of a different kind,
or a new kind of genesis. This is significant in that God is not going
to make another world like the world created and given to Adam and Eve
in the “garden of Eden.” The “new heaven and a new earth” will
be radically different. Therefore, we should expect that the believers’
new glorified bodies will also be radically different from the bodies
we presently have.
“1 And I saw a new {kainos} heaven and a new {kainos} earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new {kainos} Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God
shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more
death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain:
for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new {kainos}. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6
And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning
and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the
water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers,
and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall
have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which
is the second death” (Revelation 21:1-9).
The
main difference between the natural views of the
resurrection/glorification and the supernatural view is defined by the
ways the supernatural will be a New Creation that is different from the
original creation of “this world” and “the world to come” (Matthew 12:32). The “this world” creation is merely a simplistic embryo of “the world
to come.” The four main differences given in I Corinthians 15:42-44 in
the way the human body will be recreated during the
resurrection/glorification are:
1. “It is sown in corruption {decay or ruin}; it is raised in incorruption {unending existence; never being able to be destroyed or ruined}” -
2. It is sown in dishonor {infamy, disgrace, shame, vile being totally incapable of reflecting the character and nature of God in Whose image humanity was created}; it is raised in glory {glorious or capable of reflecting the character and nature of God in Whose image humanity was created}”
3. “It is sown in weakness {morally and spiritual weak or frail thereby susceptible to deception and temptation}; it is raised in power {with miraculous power that has no susceptibility to deception and temptation}”
4. “It is sown a natural body {with all the limitations of a physical body}; it is raised a spiritual body {supernatural without all the limitations of a physical body}.”
There are still many unanswered questions regarding the
resurrected/glorified body that will be individually created for
believers by God. God does not answer these questions in the Bible
now. We probably could not comprehend the differences now anyway.
“6
Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom
of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written, Eye
hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of
man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which
is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of
God” (I Corinthians 2:6-11).
The new kind of body the believer will receive upon the
resurrection/glorification is like an unopened gift. We know God has
something wondrous and incomprehensible to us as of now, but it remains
unopened to our understanding until we can fully comprehend it by
experiencing that new existence of that new body. God could tell us
more, but words could not explain what God will then give us. In other
words, just as God’s Word says, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,
neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath
prepared for them that love him” (I Corinthians 2:9).
However,
we can certainly see that all the naturalistic positions regarding the
resurrected/glorified body are eliminated. The future
resurrected/glorified bodies of all “born again” believers will be
totally disconnected and removed from the world that now is and become
part of the world that is to come – the New Heaven/Earth. There will be
no place for “flesh and blood” in the world to come. This is the
substance of the statement in I Corinthians 15:45-50. Again, another
clear argument against the naturalistic view of the resurrected body.
“45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the
kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption” (I
Corinthians 15:45-50).
The
phrase “last Adam” is unique to I Corinthians 15:45. The phrase “last
Adam” refers to the Person of Jesus as the “firstborn” of the New
Genesis; particularly to the humanity of Jesus. The point of the text
is that God planned for Jesus as “the Lamb slain from the foundation of
the world” (Revelation 13:8) before Adam ever fell into sin bringing
God’s curse upon His creation. The birth of Jesus is the crown of
humanity. In Jesus, humanity was eternally united with the Creator
through the Theanthropic union of the eternal Son of God and the
humanity of Jesus through the virgin birth. In uniting the Creator with
the humanity of Jesus, then Jesus became the “last Adam” with the
Divine power of both redemption and regeneration.
This
is expanded upon in Romans 5:12-19 providing a juxtaposition of
generation between the first Adam and the “last Adam,” i.e. Jesus as the
firstborn of the regeneration. This is the significance of the phrase “the last Adam was made a quickening {life giving}
spirit” (I Corinthians 15:45). Again, the gift of life here is not
just a new life like the old life a sinner had before he was saved from
Hell and regenerated. This is a new kind of life like the kind of life that Jesus had on earth. Eventually this new life will be put into a new body just as Jesus was resurrected and glorified into a new body. A new place of existence will be created for this new manner of
existence “in Christ” and the Christ-life through the filling of the
Holy Spirit Who indwells the believer when the believer is “born again.”
It
is critically important to understand that a new resurrected/glorified
body will only be given to those who have been saved from Hell and
received the gift of redemption from eternal prison of death that is
offered by faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ
in the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Romans 5:6-21).
“6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement {reconciliation}. 12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14
Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had
not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the
figure of him that was to come. 15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17
For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which
receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign
in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:6-21).
The
great transcending truth here is the substance of the Kingdom of
Christ. The Kingdom of Christ is the New Genesis that exists only “in
Christ.” In the New Genesis (“the world to come;” Matthew
12:32 or “the regeneration,” Matthew 19:28), Christ Jesus is the
“firstborn” as Adam was the “firstborn” of the world that now is.
The first Adam’s sin nature was seminally transfer to all his
generations through procreation and genetics. With this sin nature
comes death, which is eternal separation from God. The “last Adam”
(Jesus) gifts holiness and righteousness to all His generations through
the indwelling Holy Spirit in the gift of salvation and being “born
again” of the Spirit of God. Glorification is the completion of the
believers’ salvation (Romans 8:29). In the resurrection and
glorification of Jesus, He became “firstborn among many brethren”
(Romans 8:29).
“12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:12-18).
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Numerous studies and series are available free of charge for local churches at: http://www.disciplemakerministries.org/
Dr. Lance Ketchum serves the Lord as a Church Planter, Evangelist/Revivalist.
He has served the Lord for over 40 years.
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