The finished work of Christ

One thing to note about Gen 5:3 is; Gen 5:3) And Adam… begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. After the statement, “in his own image,” begins the chapter of death. “And he died,” is mentioned 8x in 31 verses. From chapter 3:6- 11:9 it is nothing but bad news, now that we are procreated in Adam’s image..

Chapter 3 is the description of the fall and the curses. Chapter 4 describes the first murder. Chapter 5 is the chapter of death, following Seth’s birth. Chapter 6-9 describes the total corruption of the human race because of the image of Adam. Resulting in a flood that kills everyone.

Chapter 11 describes the time just after the flood and already the “heart / image of Adam” is seen. There is really no good news till chapter 12 and the calling of Abraham. I would say that the Word is trying to tell us something. It is no coincidence that we see all of this after the statement, “in Adam’s image…”

How overlooked this image is in teachings related to, “It is finished”! How ingrained is this image and how ingrained is the new created image in Christ? These are the questions you need to ask in your groups. Look at these similarities and differences between Gen 1 and Genesis 5.

Gen 1:26) Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, צֶּלֶם tselem (tseh'-lem) according to Our likeness; דְּמוּתdmuwth (dem-ooth') So God created man ב ָּרָא bara' (baw-raw') in His own image; צֶּלֶם tselem (tseh'-lem) 5:3 Adam begat a son יָלַד yalad (yaw-lad') in his own likeness, דְּמוּת dmuwth (dem-ooth') after his image צֶּלֶם tselem (tseh'-lem)

This is the result of being born in “the image of Adam”. 1. It is part of your very being and death proves this. Rom 5:12) Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned– 17) by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, Rom 6:23 The wages of sin is always death!

How sure is death because of Adam? How many times does it prove true? Can you escape it? If death was sure 100% of the time, what would you conclude about humanity? Are you sure your going to die? Why? How ingrained is this Adam image in you?

2. You cannot change the image, or reform it by your actions. Eph 4:22) that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, Rom 8:10) And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

1 Cor 15:21) For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22) For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. You cannot stop the process of death by what you do. That will not give you a new nature, that will only make the old/dead/condemned man look better!

If man could do something meritorious, to change his nature, then these scriptures would have to be ignored Gal 3:21) Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22) But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

Gal 6:15) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. Hasn’t this been the great desire for all these ages in the heart of man in every single religion? We know that our image is lost and we are constantly trying to restore it by appeasement, or behavior by being perfect. Yet we never attain it.

“The gods” are really never appeased, once and for all. And it always seems that no matter how good or sacrificial we seem to be, there is always someone who is doing it better. Perfection is the only standard! This can’t work, because there is only one answer… Heb 10:11) And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.

12) But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 14) For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. Heb 10 1) For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.

2) For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3) But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4) For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

You cannot become righteous, God makes you righteous and it, can only be, this way. For if we are of the old Adam it is corrupt and grows corrupt. Eph 4:22) that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,

You cannot improve on it and make it righteous. Romans 7:21) I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22) For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23) But I see another law in my members,

warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24) O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

You cannot change your image by what you do. Death only produces death. John 3:6) “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 1 Cor 15:47) The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven.

48) As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. 49) And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. Eph 2:10) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,

Eph 2:6) and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, Only when the Spirit of God is imputed to us do we come alive. John 3:6) “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

John 3:3) Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Eph 2:1) And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, Man is unable to redeem himself nor can he make propitiation for himself nor make a dead thing alive he is powerless and in the flesh, and it is is impossible to redeem by him.

Col 3:10) and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, Next week: created in Christ Jesus