Roy A. Huebner
The First Man Adam, and the Last Adam
“Thus also it is written, The first man Adam became a living soul; the last Adam a quickening spirit. But that which is spiritual was not first, but that which is natural, then that which is spiritual: the first man out of the earth, made of dust; the second man, out of heaven” (1 Corinthians 15:45-47).
In God’s thought, there are only two men in Scripture.
- The first man Adam – ” a living soul” – “that which is natural” – “the first man out of the earth, made of dust”
- The Second Man, the last Adam (Jesus Christ) – “a quickening spirit” – that which is spiritual” – “out of heaven”
The Last Adam – The term is used in this way to make sure that we understand there is not another after Him
Each represents the head of some sphere that God has committed to him.
The Testing of the First Man
The first man Adam was tested. There was a period of time during which he was tested. The testing of the first man continued up until the cross.
“I am crucified with Christ, and no longer live, I, but Christ lives in me; but in that I now live in flesh, I live by faith, the faith of the Son of God, who has loved me and given himself for me. — For ye have died, and your life is hid with the Christ in God” (Galatians 2:20, Colossians 3:3).
As the first man (Adam) was cut off at the cross and counted dead as man “in the flesh”, so Paul says, “I am crucified with Christ!” — “For ye have died!”
It is important to have an understanding of this truth in order for it to have its effect on our practice.