Study 9

In Adam

Let's begin to answer the question, 'Are you righteous?' by going back to the beginning and looking first at the man whose unrighteousness we inherited.

We read that 'Adam … was a pattern of the one to come' (Rom. 5:14b). He was a 'type of Christ'. We see many other 'types of Christ' in the Scriptures.

Joseph, the favourite son, became ruler in the land of Egypt and rescued his family from death. Moses was a great shepherd who led his people out of slavery. Even Noah's ark typifies Christ. All who were in it were saved.

These examples, and many others, tell us about Christ. We might be surprised that Adam is included in the list since he is known, more than anything else, for his sin. But he typifies Christ in that what he and Christ did affects the whole human race.

Concerning Adam, we read, '… sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned' (Rom. 5:12).

When Adam sinned, I sinned. I do not remember sinning in Adam but God put his sin to my account and judged me guilty. I was born sinful and had a strong inbuilt tendency to sin.

When you are locked into Adam, you can never justify yourself – but you might try to do so.

One day, you might decide, 'I'm going to turn over a new leaf and be nice to people.'

So you help some little children across the road and go shopping for your neighbour. You send a card to someone who's going through a difficult time and invite a friend to stay for a weekend. You even start going to church and praying.

Needless to say, you look over your accomplishments and think, 'I'm doing quite well.'

Your good deeds have undoubtedly helped others but there's only one problem – you're still in Adam.

When we are in Adam, 'all (not some of) our righteous acts are like filthy rags' (Isa. 64:6). It doesn't matter how religious we are, we will never justify ourselves before God.

It's nothing to do with touching up our lives here and there. It's about a radical new start.

We must get out of Adam. Jesus said that we must be 'born again' (John 3:3).

To Meditate On

Jesus wants us to understand that we are saved not by works but through faith in Him.

'A man is justified by faith apart from observing the law' (Rom. 3:28).

'God … has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace' (2 Tim. 1:9).

To Consider

WRITE DOWN three good deeds that unbelievers do to try to get right with God.

If you were talking to an unbeliever, how would you describe what it means to be 'born again'?

To Answer

We are not saved by good deeds but for good deeds.

According to Titus 2:14, what should be our attitude to good deeds?

According to James 2:22, how do deeds affect faith?

What is James keen to teach us in his letter (2:18)?

Food For Thought

Jesus said, 'The time has come … the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!' (Mark 1:15).

READ LUKE 15:11-24. What is the difference between regret and repentance?

NAME someone in the Bible who did not repent of his/her sin.
What were the consequences of his/her actions?

NAME someone in the Bible who repented of his/her sin.
What were the results of his/her actions?

WHAT are the stages that a person may go through before they admit and repent of their sin?

Be Inspired

'Being born again involves a radical change of being. It is not simply a change in citizenship papers; it is a change in me! I was "by nature a child of wrath". No more. By nature I am now someone else: a child of God.'

David Needham