Chapter 2, Forever Different

As Christians, many of us feel like the "first" Adam, camped outside the Garden of Eden with a sign around our neck that says "Failure". We know we have blown it and forfeited paradise. And like Adam, we repeat his mistakes over and over. Instead, we should see ourselves like the "last" Adam, Jesus Christ. We are not locked outside of God's presence, but are seated with Christ in the heavenly realm.

Version: NAS

Ephesians 2:6
"and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly [places],  in Christ Jesus..."

The difference between these two Adams in our history is profound. We need to make sure we are identifying with the right one. Jesus came as the "last Adam" to pay for our sins. The first Adam sinned and left the Garden to die spiritually. His "Zoe" life had been severed with God. Jesus' death on the cross made a bridge that united us with Father God once more. Our "zoe" life could be regained through Jesus Christ. The chasm that had been created relationally because of Adam's sin was bridged by Jesus.

Jesus Depended on God the Father

The first thing we notice about Jesus is that He was totally dependent upon Father God. Adam was dependent at first, but later decided to believe the lie of the enemy. Jesus spent His entire life and ministry totally trusting in and depending on His Father.

John 5:30
"I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

John 6:57
"As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats (takes communion) Me, he also shall live because of Me.


John 8:42
Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me; for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me.

John 14:10
"Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.

Even after Jesus had been in the desert for 40 days and Satan came to Him to tempt Him to turn the stones into bread, Jesus said:

Matthew 4:4
But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.'"

Basically Jesus was saying, "I may be hungry, and I have the power to do this, but I will put aside my physical desires and wants, and I will seek Father God for what He has to say in this matter. What God thinks is more important that what I might physically want or desire."

And as Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane before His arrest and crucifixion, He placed His life and ministry in God's hands.

John 17:7-8
"Now they know that everything You have given me comes from You. For I gave them the words You gave me, and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from You and they believed that You sent me."

Luke 22:42
saying, "Father, if Thou art willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Thine be done."

Jesus modeled for us what it was like to totally depend on God the Father at all times. Even at times of great distress and grief, even when Jesus was clarifying God's will for the crucifixion, He put God the Father first. He depended on God for everything.

Jesus had an Uninterrupted Spiritual Life

Jesus was born physically and spiritually alive. His "Zoe" life had been there from His conception by the Holy Spirit. Even as a child, when Jesus went to Jerusalem with His parents for Passover, He knew His purpose.
 
Luke 2:46-49
46. And it came about that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions. 47. And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. 48. And when they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You." 49. And He said to them, "Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father's [house?]"

Unlike Adam, Jesus lived a sinless life. He did not forfeit like Adam through sin. Jesus was the only human to have been born without sin, and He lived His entire life, even to the cross without sin.

Luke 23:46
And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into Thy hands I commit My spirit." And having said this, He breathed His last.


Hebrews 4:14-16

 14. Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as [we are, yet] without sin. 16. Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.

It's vitally important that we know the difference between Adam and Jesus. We strive to live a life like Jesus and conform to His image. No longer do we have to feel like an outsider or to live trapped in a life of mistakes and defeat. We need to realize that through Jesus death on the cross He has made new our ability to have "Zoe" life once more. Jesus has bridged the gap that sin had created.

Daily trusting in Jesus and seeking

that "zoe" spiritual life and awareness...,

Debra

(concepts taken from Chapter 2, "Forever Different")
 Victory Over the Darkness