A man named Adam

Most people probably know that, according to the Bible, the first man is named Adam. Less people, however, will know that the same Bible refers to Jesus as the last (or second) Adam. It is to this second Adam – Jesus, that the Bible strives to draw our attention.

A contributor to the letters column in the Birmingham Mail (May 14) says that the Christian message of salvation makes no sense as it is based on the opening chapters of the book of Genesis which includes reference to a man named Adam. This is because he thinks that science renders such religious scripts and faith void.

My dictionary says science is, ‘a branch of knowledge or study dealing with a body of facts or truths systematically arranged and showing the operation of general laws’. I boil a kettle of water and once it gets to 100°C it refuses to go hotter and starts to evaporate. This is an observable fact that can be proved.

I know of no fact that proves life exists without intelligent design. To say, as some do, that life started by chance is bizarre, since ‘chance’ is not a thing it is a nothing.

On a number of occasions we read that various groups sought to catch Jesus out and make him look ridiculous. One such group was called the Sadducees. They gave a long-winded ‘foolproof’ argument in order to prove that resurrection from the dead made no sense. Jesus’ riposte was, ‘You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.’

Many educated people have found that it is harder to believe in a godless universe than it is to deny a divinely-designed creation. These same people (of whom I am one) would also say it is equally hard to dismiss the reality of our consciences along with our innate sense of justice. How does the atheist explain such things without reference to a good, creator God?

Anyone who wishes to dismiss the Christian message on the basis of the opening chapters of Genesis might do better to start with Jesus Christ himself. Irrespective of what one thinks about Genesis, it is Jesus with whom we must deal first and foremost. Try disproving Jesus’ existence, his claims and his resurrection if you dare. Alternatively, simply trust him!

What have I done to deserve this?

When trouble or disaster strikes, sometimes we are tempted to ask, ‘What have I done to deserve this?’ The implication being that a higher power is punishing us.

On one occasion, some Jews brought to the attention of Jesus the fact that Pilate, the Roman Governor, had slaughtered a number of Galileans whilst they were undertaking their religious duties. Jesus in turn reminded them of the misfortune that occurred when a tower in the town of Siloam had collapsed and killed eighteen people. He then asked, ‘Do you think these people were more guilty than those who remained unscathed?’  Without waiting for an answer he said, ‘I tell you no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.’

There is no denying that sometimes our troubles are the result of our own folly. Wrongdoing, however, is not necessarily balanced out by trouble in this life.

The mercy of God is great indeed, because he is not presently dealing with us as we really deserve, for that would mean utter ruin for each of us here and now.

God's mercy is such that when trouble comes, he is not necessarily meting out punishment. Rather he desires that trouble be transformed from an evil to a tool of blessing. How so? In that troubles ought to turn us towards God who longs to reveal his Father-heart to us. Trials and troubles may be viewed as stepping stones to a God with outstretched arms, not rocks designed to crush us from on high. It is the gracious and loving purpose of God not to condemn us but to free us.

For better or for worse, judgement and its consequences are the reality that will follow this life, but how marvelous is the Christian message, ‘turn and trust’ (repent and believe is the Bible’s terminology). The Good News is that when Jesus, who is God come to us as a man, died on the cross he took upon himself judgment, condemnation and punishment on the behalf of all who will trust in him.

God's delight

There are two books to which I’ll give imaginary covers and titles. The first has a black cover with the title ‘The Lawbreakers’. The second, called ‘God’s Delight’, has a white cover.

Opening the volume called The ‘Lawbreakers’ we see that it is full of people’s names; the one at the head of the first page is a man named Adam. All of the other names, of which there are very many, are Adam’s relations and yes, each one of them is a lawbreaker.

In the second volume, ‘God’s Delight’, we see that at the head of the first page is a man named Jesus Christ. He does not appear in the first volume because he’s the perfect law-keeper. Now we need to pause at this point…

Easter is the time when many remember the crucifixion of Jesus, followed by his resurrection from the dead. He was put to death by the law-breaking people because they wished to be rid of him. His perfect humanity and his unswerving commitment to do the will of God was too much of a challenge for many people, showing up as it did, their own shortcomings. They crucified him so that his light might no longer disturb their darkness.

Back to that first book with the black cover, each of our names has been written in it because we all have broken God’s laws. God deems that to be a capital offence; we are on death row. Now here’s the good News of Easter: when Jesus was executed upon the cross, he was taking to himself that death sentence on behalf of lawbreakers. Which lawbreakers in particular?

Jesus assures us that they are all the people who acknowledge that they have broken God’s good laws and had chosen to live in a way that kept God at a distance. Having U-turned, they are now looking to Jesus to forgive and bring them close in to God; they are trusting the fact that Jesus did die in order to put us right with God.  

Looking again at the second book - ‘God’s Delight’ - we see their names are now there with Jesus. The resurrected Jesus invites you to be one of them too. Why not be God’s delight?