The Second Adam

Recently, people have written with vehemence and conviction about the notion that Jesus’ flesh was like Adam’s flesh before the fall. This question does not have much significance for indifferent people, but it is a matter of life or death for those who profess godly fear.

Heb. 2:14. “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil . . . .”

Why did Jesus partake of flesh and blood? So that He through death might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.

We can ask, did the devil have power over Adam before the fall? Was Adam acquainted with death before the fall?

“Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest . . . .” Heb. 2:17.

If He had been made like Adam before the fall, then it would have been written, “like His brother,” since there was only one Adam. Yet it is written, “like His brethren.”

He came to release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. That is why He came in the flesh.

But was Adam before the fall in bondage to the fear of death?

“Yet now He has reconciled [you] in the body of His flesh through death . . . .” Col. 1:21-22.

Can any kind of reconciliation take place in a flesh that is already reconciled? Or can death take place in Adam before the fall when death did not yet exist?

“Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances . . . .” Eph. 2:15.

Notice that it says, “in His flesh.”

Did Adam before the fall have laws and commandments contained in ordinances which could have been abolished in his flesh? Was Adam before the fall commanded to “honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you”? Ex. 20:12.

Or was he commanded, “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s”? Verse 17.

“When the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law . . . .” Gal. 4:4.

So, was Adam before the fall born under the law? Could a redemption take place in his flesh for those who were under the law?

Jesus consecrated a new and living way through the veil, that is, His flesh.

Christ’s flesh was a veil, which had to be torn in order to open the new and living way.

Does anyone believe that Adam before the fall had a flesh through which a new and living way had to be opened?

Is this difficult to understand?

Yes, it is extremely difficult for all flesh to comprehend Christ manifest in the flesh. Actually, it is not extremely difficult, it is quite simply impossible.

This is why the Scriptures also say, “Great is the mystery of godliness: Christ was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit . . . .” 1 Tim. 3:16 [Norw.].

Christ manifested in the flesh is a mystery that is only revealed to those who are God-fearing. However, Adam manifested in the flesh is no mystery at all; we have seen and heard more than enough of him. His understanding of Christ manifested in the flesh is utterly abhorrent.

A large and vital portion of the Bible is hidden from these teachers of the people who preach that Christ’s flesh was like Adam’s flesh before the fall. It’s only their own flesh that is blinding their eyes. If they were a little more God-fearing, they would understand the mystery and rejoice over it.

“No prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation . . . but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” Therefore, accept the interpretation of these Scriptures as well, because whatever has been spoken and written through the Holy Spirit must be searched out and interpreted in and through that same Spirit.