1 Corinthians 15 details many ways in which Adam was a type (or foreshadow) of Christ, and he is very clearly one in the way Eve came to life. Let’s read it together:
“Then the LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him." 19 So out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. 21 So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." Genesis 2:18-23
Question 3. Examining Genesis 2:18-23 above, how can we see that Adam was a "type" of Jesus Christ here?
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Do you see the beautiful foreshadowing of the work Jesus Christ, the last Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45), would do on our behalf to give us life? Notice the parallels: Adam was placed into a deep sleep, then his side was opened, and out of his opened side, God brought to life Eve. Similarly, Jesus Christ was placed into a deep sleep, the sleep of death, and He had His side opened by the spear of a Roman soldier, that He, too, might have a bride. We note that when the Roman soldier pierced Jesus’ side, both blood and water came out (John 19:34), and blood and water speak of forgiveness and cleansing. These are the two things necessary for us believers to have eternal life and to be the bride of Christ.
For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. (Ephesians 5:30)
Ephesians 5:30 is a direct reference to the words of Adam when he said, "she is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh." And then Paul quotes from Genesis and says:
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:31,32).
Now all is clear. Adam is a picture of the Lord Jesus, who left His Father's house to gain His bride at the price of His own life. Jesus, the last Adam, like the first, was put to sleep to purchase His bride, the church, and Jesus died on the cross and slept in the tomb for three days and three nights. His side too was opened after He had fallen asleep, and from that wounded side, redemption flowed - a Bride was given life.
"The Church, which is His body, was also purchased by the Lord Jesus Christ. It meant His death, asleep for three days and three nights. His side too was opened, and the cleansing water and His justifying blood flowed forth. The Church, like Eve, was a new creation, not by a natural birth, but by a supernatural operation of God, and this "rib" was built into a woman who was to become the helpmeet and bride of the husband."-Mark DeHaan in "The Gospel Guardian."
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
Question 4. According to 1 John 1:9, what two things happen when we confess our sins? How are these two things related and illustrated by the piercing of Jesus’ side, and the blood and water that flowed out of the hole in His side?
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God could have made Eve out of the same dust with which He created Adam, but He chose to place Adam into a deep sleep, open his side, and fashion Eve out of his rib. I rejoice that God provided us with this beautiful picture of Jesus Christ, His death on the cross, and the life we receive from it. Meditating on this story in Genesis 2, and comparing it with the event of the cross in John 19, will yield many spiritual blessings.
Question 5. My friend, do you grasp the amazing reality of the cross of Jesus Christ, not merely in an intellectual manner, but as a prize and treasure for your heart? Is your heart stirred with worship? Please share.
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