Copyright Wes Fahlenkamp |
Orthobox Christianity (OC) has a tiny god box. But that's OK, for them, because OC's tiny god and tiny Jesus fit comfortably into their flimsy, wet box. Did I mention it was tiny? Good.
OC will tell you that Jesus is obviously greater than Adam (who would dare say anything different?). But their words are proven to be as flimsy as their box. When pushed on the issue (and you should push them—hard), they will admit that Adam's sin condemns all, but Jesus' sacrifice saves only a small fraction of that same all. The rest of the all? Well, according to OC, they are either tormented forever, or annihilated by the "Savior" and "God" that failed to overcome Adam and Satan.
Romans 5 reveals to us the power of Adam's disobedience, the results of which we see every day. But it also reveals to us the overpowering power of Jesus' obedience, the full results of which we can't currently see. We must believe in the surpassing work of Christ by faith, while it takes no faith to observe the condemnation that resulted from Adam.
Thus, OC proves itself to be faithless, as it looks at the scoreboard, with eons remaining on God's clock, and prematurely declares Adam the winner. And, in turn, they unwittingly give Satan a great everlasting victory over their tiny Jesus.
But, the contest is not over, and God and Christ (the real Ones, the full-sized Ones) are still working. And just as the condemnation brought by Adam is now visible everywhere, the full victory of Christ will be visible everywhere, in God's time.
Oh, in that little Trump vs. Biden contest, you got to vote. In the Adam vs. Jesus contest, you get no vote. You were condemned in Adam without your permission, and, in Jesus, you will be saved from that condemnation without your permission.
Please read, and understand, the full scope of Adam's and Jesus' work. Romans 5:12–21,
Therefore, even as through one man sin entered into the world, and through sin death, and thus death passed through into all mankind, on which all sinned --And, believe by faith now the future full manifestation of Christ's victory. 1 Corinthians 15:20–28,
13 for until law sin was in the world, yet sin is not being taken into account when there is no law;
14 nevertheless death reigns from Adam unto Moses, over those also who do not sin in the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him Who is about to be.
15 But not as the offense, thus also the grace. For if, by the offense of the one, the many died, much rather the grace of God and the gratuity in grace, which is of the One Man, Jesus Christ, to the many superabounds.
16 And not as through one act of sinning is the gratuity. For, indeed, the judgment is out of one into condemnation, yet the grace is out of many offenses into a just award.
17 For if, by the offense of the one, death reigns through the one, much rather, those obtaining the superabundance of grace and the gratuity of righteousness shall be reigning in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
18 Consequently, then, as it was through one offense for all mankind for condemnation, thus also it is through one just award for all mankind for life's justifying.
19 For even as, through the disobedience of the one man, the many were constituted sinners, thus also, through the obedience of the One, the many shall be constituted just.
20 Yet law came in by the way, that the offense should be increasing. Yet where sin increases, grace superexceeds,
21 that, even as Sin reigns in death, thus Grace also should be reigning through righteousness, for life eonian, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Yet now Christ has been roused from among the dead, the Firstfruit of those who are reposing.
21 For since, in fact, through a man came death, through a Man, also, comes the resurrection of the dead.
22 For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall all be vivified.
23 Yet each in his own class: the Firstfruit, Christ; thereupon those who are Christ's in His presence;
24 thereafter the consummation, whenever He may be giving up the kingdom to His God and Father, whenever He should be nullifying all sovereignty and all authority and power.
25 For He must be reigning until He should be placing all His enemies under His feet.
26 The last enemy is being abolished: death.
27 For He subjects all under His feet. Now whenever He may be saying that all is subject, it is evident that it is outside of Him Who subjects all to Him.
28 Now, whenever all may be subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also shall be subjected to Him Who subjects all to Him, that God may be All in all.
I recommend the following for a deeper dive into Christ's victory for all over Adam.
Substitution or Inclusion by A. E. Knoch
Great post. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you Manna for your encouraging comment.
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