The first and the last Adam

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.- Romans 5:12‭-‬21 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

Our solidarity with Adam

Adam is a real historical person. He is not a metaphorical concept. He was created by God, not evolved. Why a historical Adam? First, all human beings descended from him. This means that all humans are equal; we all are family. There is no racial superiority. It also points to why we need to be saved in the first place. There is this ripple effect. From the sin of one man, there is the spread of death throughout creation. Adam is the representative head of mankind. How does this work? David fights Goliath and defeats him. But Israel won. When Trump and Kim Jong-Un, they meet not as just interesting personalities, but as the leaders of two nations who are armed to the teeth.

Consider the children of infamous people. Larry Nassar has kids. They bear the consequences of his actions. They may not have done anything wong, but they are his children. Osama bin laden has kids. Consider the way people will treat them because of their father's actions.

Not only that, but we are not innocent. We inherit the twisted nature of our fathers. So it is with Adam. His sin comes down into his descendants. It is in our genes.

But there is another representative head. Jesus also plays the same role for all of humanity. There are only two who have a headship role for all of humanity. At the final judgement, we will be represented by Jesus or by Adam.

The Superiority of the last Adam

Even though they played the same role, Jesus is much, much greater. There work of Jesus is much greater than the work of Adam. The saving work of Jesus is not tit for tat. Jesus doesn't just cover Adam's sin. It covers not just the trespass of Adam and all the sins of the saints, day after day, hour after hour, minute after minute. It takes us from enemies of God to being princess and princes of God's kingdom.

The Super Abounding grace of God

Jesus' obedience covers the sins of many and justifies the sinner as well. But what about the law? The Jews held the law to high regard. Paul says that the law came to increase sin. The law came so that we could see our sins more clearly. The law of God shows the beauty of God. But this same law shows us how ugly our hearts are. If we judge ourselves by "being a good person", we feel like we are good. But loving our neighbor as ourselves? That's goodness. Then we realize that we are not good. Our hearts are wicked.

But not only that. The law of God incites us to rebel. We push back against authority, not God in particular, but that is our nature. That is our sin nature. But God is not like that. Even though our constant offense and pushing away of God, He desires to pull us close. He is our Father and He wants us to come home. Parents want their black sheep to come home. So it is with God, even more so than any earthly parent.