THE MIND OF CHRIST FEDERAL HEADS The point of the passage is that both Adam and Jesus are federal heads -- that is, they are each the head of a race of personalities. What is true of them is true of all who come from them. In both situations, a single individual determines the nature, condition, and destiny of those who bear their likeness. The progeny are effected by the progenitor--the offspring by the parent. -- Tomorrow:
"For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no man. For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE SHOULD INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ" (1 Cor 2:11-16, NASB).
Devotion 4 of 28
The passage I am considering is Romans 5:12-19. The following is the New Living Translation of that passage.
"12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the entire human race. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. 13 Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. And though there was no law to break, since it had not yet been given, 14 they all died anyway-- even though they did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. What a contrast between Adam and Christ, who was yet to come! 15 And what a difference between our sin and God's generous gift of forgiveness. For this one man, Adam, brought death to many through his sin. But this other man, Jesus Christ, brought forgiveness to many through God's bountiful gift. 16 And the result of God's gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man's sin. For Adam's sin led to condemnation, but we have the free gift of being accepted by God, even though we are guilty of many sins. 17 The sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over us, but all who receive God's wonderful, gracious gift of righteousness will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. 18 Yes, Adam's one sin brought condemnation upon everyone, but Christ's one act of righteousness makes all people right in God's sight and gives them life. 19 Because one person disobeyed God, many people became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many people will be made right in God's sight."
The extent of this situation is underscored by a most remarkable circumstance. The condition of the progeny of each federal head is determined by a SINGLE act--ONE solitary deed--performed by each. Adam's deed is called "THE offense (KJV)," "THE transgression (NASB)," or "THE trespass (NIV)." Christ's deed is called "THE righteousness of One (KJV)," "ONE ACT of righteousness (NASB, NIV)," or "one Man's righteous ACT (NKJV)." In the case of Adam, the single deed was eating the forbidden fruit--"the OFFENSE of one.' In the case of Jesus, the single act of obedience was the laying down of His life--we were "reconciled by THE DEATH of His Son'" (5:10). I understand this is highly disruptive to some theological positions, but the disruption has come from God Himself.
All of this is germane to our subject, "The Mind of Christ." My purpose is to show the absolute necessity of having a "new mind"--one that is above the course of nature. We will see that whatever we have that has not come to us through Christ, is of no value before God. In fact, it actually militates against the things of God.
Notice the gravity of this passage. It interprets the extent of Adam's sin, as well as the marvelous effects of Christ's righteousness. Sin and death entered by one man--Adam. Because of Adam's trespass, many (actually all) died. The gift of grace, which provides for full recovery, abounded to that same "many" through Jesus Christ. Adam brought judgment and condemnation. Jesus brought justification and life. Death reigns because of Adam. Life reigns because of Jesus. Because of Adam's disobedience, many were made sinners. Because of Christ's righteous act, many were made righteous.
The powerful effects of Christ's death "once for all" are compared with the devastating effects of Adam's single transgression. In order to assist us in seeing the truth of this, the Spirit saw to it that no other trespass is recorded against Adam. That does not mean Adam never sinned again. It does mean that revelation is so orchestrated as to encourage the proper evaluation of sin. Adam lived for 930 years, but we know very little of what he did or accomplished during that period. It was enough for the Holy Spirit to show how sin proliferated through a single deed committed one time.
Should we be tempted to view transgression with fleshly accommodation, the result of Adam's single offense in the Garden should dispel any delusions about the enormity of sin. Also, it is no wonder that Jesus instituted a feast of remembrance that centered on His death (1 Cor 11:23-26). The wake of the grace that followed His vicarious death reached as far as the impact of Adam's transgression!
Try as you may, you cannot get more than two men out of Romans five. Adam and Christ! Also note that everyone associated with Adam partakes of the curse. Everyone related to Christ partakes of the blessing. The mind of Adam, however astute and disciplined, will never be acceptable to God. Divine acceptance cannot be received where the mind of Christ is not possessed.
PRAYER POINT: Father, through Jesus' name, I thank Your for the grace that has brought affiliation with Your only begotten Son.