Seeing God As He Really Is #7 The Two Adams
$1.00
Discover how Jesus as the last Adam systematically repaired every consequence of the fall, and how this truth transforms your faith, your words, and your life.
Description
Two Adams Overview
In this seventh installment of the Seeing God As He Really Is series, the pastor of NTC Ministries delivers a powerful theological teaching on the two Adams — the first Adam whose disobedience plunged all of humanity into sin, corruption, and death, and the last Adam, Jesus Christ, who came to systematically undo every consequence of the fall. Drawing from foundational passages in Genesis 2, Romans 5, 1 Corinthians 15, Matthew 3, and John 20, the message unpacks how Jesus was baptized not because He sinned, but to fulfill a baptism of repentance on behalf of all mankind, repairing what the first Adam broke. Ancient Jewish writings from the Talmud reveal that water baptism of repentance began with Adam himself. The sermon emphasizes that faith works by love, that how we perceive God determines how we live, and that repentance is not merely a change of mind but a change of action and commitment. The congregation is challenged to move from being saints to being faithful — wholly devoted to Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and bearing the image of the heavenly man rather than the man of dust.
Two Adams Outline
- 00:00 – Introduction: How We See God Changes Everything: The pastor opens the series recap, explaining that our perception of God directly affects every area of life, our willingness to obey, and our capacity to step into God’s plan. John 3:16-17 and the concept of reciprocal love are established as the foundation.
- 07:30 – Faith Works by Love: Hebrews 11:6 is unpacked with emphasis on believing not just that God exists, but believing exactly how He exists — as a good, caring, calling God. Without love, faith becomes unproductive and paralyzed by excuses.
- 14:00 – Introducing the Two Adams: The central theme is introduced through John 1:29 and Matthew 3:13-15. Jesus, the Lamb of God, comes to be baptized by John in a baptism of repentance — not for His own sin, but to begin the systematic repair of everything the first Adam destroyed.
- 22:00 – Adam, the Gardener, and the Fall: Genesis 2:7 and 2:15-22 are examined. The name Adam, derived from adama meaning dust or ground, reveals that humanity would produce whatever seed was sown into it. Adam’s fall brought lack, sickness, corruption, and death to all creation.
- 31:00 – Romans 5 and the Reign of Death: The pastor walks through Romans 5 and its teaching that death spread to all men through one man. Adam is described as a type of Christ who was to come, and ancient Talmudic writings about Adam’s own water baptism of repentance are shared.
- 39:00 – 1 Corinthians 15 — The Last Adam as Life-Giving Spirit: Paul’s contrast in 1 Corinthians 15:21-22 and 15:39-49 is expounded. The first Adam became a living being; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. Christ was sown in corruption and raised in incorruption, completing the full reversal of Adam’s fall.
- 47:30 – Mary Mistakes Jesus for the Gardener: John 20:11-17 is brought as a striking confirmation: when Mary saw the risen Jesus outside the tomb, she mistook Him for the gardener — a deliberate echo of Adam’s role in Eden. Jesus the last Adam is now the gardener of a new creation.
- 52:00 – Altar Call — Committing to the Last Adam: The sermon closes with a call to repentance and commitment. Listeners are invited to move from merely being saints to being faithful, to receive the promise of the Holy Spirit, and to trust that the last Adam perfects everything that concerns them.
Scripture References
John 3:16-17, John 21:20, John 14:21, Hebrews 11:6, John 1:29, Matthew 3:13-15, Genesis 2:7, Genesis 2:15-22, Deuteronomy 30:19, Romans 5:12-14, Romans 10:9-10, 1 Corinthians 10:1-4, 1 Corinthians 15:21-22, 1 Corinthians 15:39-49, Ephesians 1:1, Acts 2:38, John 20:11-17
Key Takeaways
- Jesus was baptized not for His own sin but to fulfill a baptism of repentance on behalf of all humanity, systematically repairing every consequence of the first Adam’s fall.
- How you perceive God determines how you live — when you see Him as a good, giving, faithful Father, faith flows naturally and without fear.
- Faith without love becomes unproductive; the revelation of God’s love removes the need to earn His approval and allows genuine obedience to rise from confidence rather than fear.
- Repentance is not merely a change of mind but a decisive change of action — turning around, leaving what is wrong, and committing fully to Christ.
- The first Adam became a living being of dust; the last Adam, Jesus Christ, became a life-giving spirit who was raised in incorruption and now empowers all who commit to Him.
- Water baptism is a public declaration of repentance and commitment rooted in Scripture from Adam forward, identifying the believer with Christ the last Adam.
- There is a difference between being a saint and being faithful — God looks for those who keep His commandments, and to them He promises to manifest His presence and power.
Two Adams Notes
The Last Adam Repairs Everything
The central revelation of this message is that Jesus did not simply die on a cross as a generic sacrifice. Every action He took in His earthly ministry was a deliberate, point-by-point repair of what the first Adam had broken. His baptism undid the unrepented sin of Adam. His crucifixion on a tree echoed the tree of knowledge of good and evil. His resurrection reversed the death sentence. This comprehensive understanding of Christ as the last Adam builds enormous confidence in the believer — nothing from the fall has been left unaddressed, and nothing is beyond His ability to restore.
Ancient Jewish Writings Confirm Water Baptism
The pastor references the Talmud, a foundational collection of early rabbinic writings, which records Adam entering the waters of the upper Gihon River — one of the four rivers of Eden — up to his neck and praying for God to remove his sins and accept his repentance. Adam declared that all generations would learn from this act that repentance is real. This ancient testimony places water baptism not as a New Testament invention but as a practice rooted in the very beginning of human history, giving it profound weight as a sign of genuine commitment.
Dirt Produces Whatever Seed You Sow
The name Adam comes from the Hebrew adama, meaning ground or dust. The pastor draws a vivid agricultural insight from this: dirt has no agenda of its own — it produces whatever seed is planted in it, whether life or death. This is why Deuteronomy presents the choice between blessing and cursing, life and death. Human beings, as Adams, will reproduce the seed of the words, thoughts, and commitments they allow into their lives. The call to let no corrupt communication proceed from the mouth is therefore not just a moral guideline but a seed-planting principle with real consequences.
Mary Saw the Risen Christ as Gardener
One of the most theologically rich moments in the resurrection narrative is Mary Magdalene’s initial failure to recognize Jesus. She assumed He was the gardener. The pastor highlights that this misidentification is not accidental — it is a divine echo. Adam was placed in Eden as its gardener, tasked with tending and keeping it. The risen Jesus appears outside a tomb in a garden, seen as the new gardener. He is the last Adam, the gardener of a new creation, who has tended the soil of humanity’s sin and brought forth life from death.
Saints Versus Faithful Believers
Paul’s greeting in Ephesians distinguishes between the saints and the faithful. Every born-again believer is a saint, declared righteous through Christ. But not every saint is faithful. Faithfulness implies action — keeping the commandments, honoring the commitment made at baptism, and pressing through difficulty as Timothy was called to do even when persecution threatened to scatter the church. Jesus Himself ties the manifestation of His presence and power directly to obedience: those who love Him by keeping His word are the ones to whom He and the Father reveal themselves.
Living After the First or the Last Adam
Every person alive makes a daily choice about which Adam they will follow. The first Adam said in effect, I know best, I will eat what I want and do what I please. The last Adam said, Father, forgive them, and committed Himself fully to the will of God even through death. The pastor’s closing exhortation is urgent and clear: living after the first Adam may appear successful for a season, but it will catch up with you. Living after the last Adam — through repentance, faith, and faithful obedience — leads to a life that is transformed, empowered, and increasingly reflects the image of the heavenly man.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Jesus baptized if He never sinned?
Jesus was baptized not because He personally needed to repent but to fulfill a baptism of repentance on behalf of all humanity. As the last Adam, He had to systematically repair every consequence of the first Adam’s fall, and repentance from Adam’s sin was the first step. Matthew 3:15 records Jesus saying it was necessary to fulfill all righteousness.
What is the difference between the first Adam and the last Adam in the Bible?
The first Adam was formed from the dust of the earth, became a living being, and through his disobedience brought sin, death, and corruption to all of creation. The last Adam, Jesus Christ, came from heaven, lived a sinless life, bore the sin of all humanity on the cross, and was raised as a life-giving spirit who reverses everything the first Adam set in motion. This contrast is laid out in 1 Corinthians 15:45-49.
What does water baptism mean for Christians?
Water baptism is a public act of repentance and commitment that identifies the believer with Jesus Christ the last Adam. According to Acts 2:38, it is associated with the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Ancient Jewish writings also record Adam himself entering water as a sign of repentance, giving the practice roots that extend to the very beginning of human history.
What does repentance really mean according to the Bible?
Biblical repentance is more than a change of opinion or feeling sorry. It involves a decisive turning away from sin and a change of action and direction. John the Baptist demanded fruit consistent with repentance, not just an emotional response. The pastor emphasizes that knowing you should not do something is not repentance — actually turning around and leaving is repentance.
How does Romans 5 explain the connection between Adam and death?
Romans 5:12-14 teaches that through one man sin entered the world and death spread to all people because all sinned. Even before the Mosaic Law was given, death reigned from Adam to Moses over those who had not personally transgressed in the same way Adam did. Paul then calls Adam a type of Christ, the one who was to come and reverse the damage through His obedience.
What does it mean that faith works by love?
Galatians 5:6 teaches that faith is energized by love. When a believer truly receives the revelation of God’s unconditional love — that He chose us, called us, and gives freely — faith flows naturally without striving. Without that foundation of love, faith stalls and every obstacle becomes an excuse to not step out in obedience. Love is the soil in which faith takes root and produces fruit.
What is the hypostatic union and why does it matter for salvation?
The hypostatic union, defined at the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD, declares that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man in one person. This matters enormously for salvation because in order to redeem humanity, Jesus had to take on the sinless human nature Adam had before the fall. As fully man He could represent all humanity; as fully God His sacrifice had infinite worth. Without both natures, the repair of Adam’s fall would be incomplete.
What is the significance of Jesus being seen as the gardener in John 20?
When Mary Magdalene encountered the risen Jesus at the tomb, she initially mistook Him for the gardener. This is theologically significant because God placed the first Adam in the Garden of Eden specifically to tend and keep it — Adam was the original gardener. By appearing as the gardener, the risen Christ reveals Himself as the last Adam, the one who tends the new creation, having conquered death and restored what was lost in the first garden.
