Who Is Adam? Part 1
April 23, 2008
From our early days in Sunday School, we have heard the name, Adam. The first man created by God and placed in the Garden of Eden.
But who is Adam, really? Like so many things in life, we take Adam for granted. He was created by God, he is the head of humanity, he lived in the Garden of Eden and he took the fruit from his wife Eve, but to take in just these facts will leave us will a short sight of his depth and his special connection to Jesus.
The apostle Paul spent more time than any other New Testament writer talking about Adam. He mentioned Adam in Romans, 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy. In my opinion, Paul’s most poignant work on Adam came in 1 Corinthians 15 as he made a most interesting connection between Adam and Jesus. Paul connected these two men by saying, “The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.”
In the end, Paul was connecting these two men together because what one destroyed, the other one made new; what caused to die, the other one made alive again; what one tarnished, the other one made shine brightly again; what one defiled, the other one made holy and pure.
Jesus stands as the second Adam not because He is simply another man, but because He is God incarnate, the redeemer of humanity. In this way, He stands as the head of the redeemed race. God made a covenant with Abram over 4,000 years ago to see this redemption take place through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Following are some basic thoughts and doctrines from scripture that help us see Adam more completely.
Let’s start by looking at who Adam is…
ʾāḏām: means both mankind in the general sense as well as the proper name for the first name created by God.
1) First created being:
“And God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Genesis 1:27
Contrary to popular biological evolutionary teaching, the first man, Adam, did not evolve over time, but was created by God. In Matthew 19:4, Jesus tells us that Adam and Eve were created complete as a man and a woman, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE…”
2) Created in the image of God:
“And God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Genesis 1:27
Adam was created in the likeness of God, in that he was able to think, to know, to love, to express thoughts, to be creative, to enjoy beauty, but Adam was not God nor was he like a god. There is one God and Adam was not He.
3) Adam was created on the sixth day of creation:
“God created man… And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.” Genesis 1:27, 31
4) Adam was formed out of the dust of the ground and became a living soul:
“And Jehovah God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Genesis 2:7Don’t miss the beauty of this picture. The Creator of the universe stooping down, scooping up a handful of dirt, shaping it into the form of man and breathing the breathe of life into his lungs. God loves His creation.
5) Adam was set apart for a special work:
“And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.” Genesis 2:15
Even though the Garden of Eden was perfect at this time, work was still required by God. He set man’s feet upon the path of work right from the start, in doing so, God was creating man to not be static, but to be active and alive.
6) Adam was created for a special relationship with God:
“And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day…” Genesis 3:8
There are times in life when we may wonder why we are here, but I believe the answer is so simple. We were created to be in fellowship with God. The end of the book of Revelation echoes this, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them…” Revelation 21:3
7) Adam was created to be the head of his wife:
“And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him.” Genesis 2:18
Men, we have not been created to dominate our wives. Our mandate of dominion lies with the “fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth,” not over our wives or women in general. They have been given to us as our helpmeet, we should love them, protect them, cover them and lead them.
8) Adam was of type of Christ:
“…in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.” Romans 5:14
Adam is a “type” (a person or thing
9) Adam was the head of the human race:
“So also it is written, The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL.” 1 Corinthians 15:45
The seed of all humanity, except Jesus, starts with Adam. He stands as the head of the fountain for every man, woman and child who has ever lived.
10) First of a chosen bloodline ended by Jesus:
“So also it is written, The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven.” 1 Corinthians 15:45-47
11) Adam was given dominion over the creation:
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” Genesis 1:26
Adam and ultimately man, was given the privilege to “rule over” the earth with all of the attributes given, by God to Adam. The care and welfare of the animals and the land was placed squarely upon Adam and all mankind. When poor choices are made, God allows mankind to reap the bitterness of those poor choices.
12) Adam willfully sinned:
“And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” 1 Timothy 2:14Adam received first hand direction from God that the fruit of tree of the knowledge of good and evil was not to be eaten. There was no question in Adam’s mind what the right choice was, so why did he willfully eat the fruit when he knew the consequences? Many thoughts to consider here: First, did Adam have the foresight to know that the only way to save Eve was to eat the fruit also, trusting that God would send a redeemer for them both? Second, was Adam influenced by his wife. Women have a huge influence upon men, the way they think and the decisions they make. Men, if you don’t believe me ask your wives. Third, since Eve had already eaten the fruit, was he tempted with the notion that he could become god too? I can almost here Adam saying, “My wife has sinned and she will now die, I must now attempt to take control of life and become judge.”
Adam was blinded by the deception that his life was under his control and not under God’s authority. A mistake we all make.
I hope that this is a good starting point for you to begin to see Adam in a new light. Next article, we will look deeper in the Adam-Jesus relationship.
God Bless You, Tommy