A Very Common Error Among Preachers, Teachers and Theologians

I see this theological error everywhere. Some of the giants of the faith have made it. Theology books have included this error when discussing the person of Christ. It appears in the ESV Study Bible on a chart on page 2495. I have made this mistake myself in the past. This is a very important distinction in the very words of Scripture.

Jesus is referred to (see 1 Corinthians 15:45) as the "LAST ADAM" (not the second) to show that he is not one of a possible series, but the ONLY alternative to the first Adam.
A few verses later (1 Corinthians 15:47) the word "second" does indeed occur in connection with Christ.

1st man was of the dust of the earth
2nd Man from Heaven

...and here "second Man" (not last) is very appropriate for two reasons:


1. Adam in his innocence was man as God created man, man as God intended him to be, true man. When sin entered the race, man ceased to be man as originally created (for sin always reduces rather than adds. Consequently, Jesus Christ in His sinless humanity was indeed the "second Man", the ONLY figure in history since the fall to stand as fully man in the world!


2. The whole point of His mission as the second Man "from Heaven" was that He might not be the LAST MAN, but rather, the beginning of a new series, the foundation of a new humanity, the "first born" among many brothers. (Romans 8:29)


However, His "success" as "the second Man" depends on His relation to us as "the Last Adam".
(It helps me to think of Noah as the "second Adam" because he was the one God gave the same charge to replenish the earth - note: the Bible never calls Noah the second Adam, it is just to help me remember that Noah fulfilled this role already.)


A full treatment of this is in chapter 14 of "The Glory of Christ" by Peter Lewis. (published by Moody)

Arminian Antics #73

Arminian Antics #48

What Do YOU Think?

Here's a question you may have thought about -

Will Christians receive Heavenly rewards for their

blogging, facebooking,twittering and anything else

that comes along? What do you think?

Heaven Will be Miraculous

Heavenly Highway

There's a Name

Everything will be back to "normal" when I return home. As for now, please accept these songs I wrote as you would a subtitute teacher or a visiting preacher at the pulpit. Thanks...and we still could use your prayers!

THERE'S A NAME

There's a Name, above all names

The same Name, that sets my soul aflame
He's the One, God's only Son

Every knee shall bow every tongue shall confess His name

The Christ of Revelation is the Rock of my salvation

and with no exaggeration I'll say

Because I was elected, I'll never be rejected

He made my will to want to one day

In His predestination is all Heaven's population

By His holy invitation to go

Whom He calls He justifies
Turns around and glorifies

He has paid for every sin-debt we owe

There's a Man, above all men

The God-Man, Who made it all begin

He's the One, God's only Son

Every knee shall bow every tongue shall confess His name

Slumdog Calvinist

My thanks to Cyst Monroe for sending me this movie poster.

Letters to Vizzini

By way of introduction, Elder Vizzini Montoya, one of six elders at Cocopuff Presbyterian Church in LaQuinta, Idaho, has asked me to post his advice column here. He hopes to be an encouragement to the saints and source of wisdom for the ignorant. Vizzini attended seminary for ten straight years at Buttermilk Bible College in Sweet Tooth, Arkansas before it was simultaneously destroyed by a fire, a flood and a tornado last April.

His first entry tackles the age old "Will my pet be in Heaven" question.

Dear Vizzini,
Last week a visiting evangelist mentioned in his sermon that all pets are idols and will burn in Hell. He said all animals are born to deep fry and singled out Mr. Ed and King Kong as examples of pure animal evil. He said many pets are tail bearers and deserve eternal fire. When I asked him about my pet parrot, Mr. Beaks, he laughed and said my parrot probably never kept his mouth shut! When he left for KFC after the service, a pack of dogs and a small lemming attacked him in the parking lot. I want to know if I will see my pet, Mr. Beaks, in Heaven.
Thank you,
Sheree Sharah


Dear Ms Sharah,
That preacher doesn't know what he is talking about! He is just being bull-headed and catty. We know that there are horses in Heaven. Jesus doesn't return in a helicopter y'know. (see Revelation 19:14) Elijah went up into Heaven with the help of some horses (2 Kings 2:11) God could very well have an entire planet of just dogs, ducks or dolphins. Just remember this - If you really want your pet when you get to Heaven, God will give it to you.
In His Service,
Elder Vizzini Montoya

Heaven

Spurgeon Quote

"When you speak of Heaven let your face light up. When you speak of Hell - well, then your everyday face will do."