The Second Adam
A Sermon on the Second Adam from 1 Corinthians 15:47
Originally preached Dec. 25, 1963
Scripture
47The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
Sermon Description
What does it mean that Jesus is the second Adam? Adam was the first man and head of all of humanity. But when he sinned, he brought sin upon all his descendants, and this sin meant that all were destined to die. In this sermon on 1 Corinthians 15:47 titled “The Second Adam,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains why Jesus is the only hope for the world because He is the new Adam. Just as Adam brought sin and death, Jesus will bring life and forgiveness of sins. As Adam was the head of the old humanity, Christ is the head of the new humanity and all of the new creation. The only way to be freed from sin and its consequence—death—is to believe in Jesus. All those that trust in Jesus will be perfected in the last day, freed from all sin and judgement. Jesus is the true light of the world and He alone can save sinners and make them right with God. This sermon calls all to forsake sin and come to Jesus. He alone makes all things new by His death and resurrection. He alone can reverse all the effects of the fall and Adam’s first sin. Jesus alone saves.
Sermon Breakdown
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The sermon begins by introducing 1 Corinthians 15:47 which contrasts the first man, Adam, with the second man, Jesus Christ.
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The sermon outlines how God dealt with the world through a representative man in both the old creation (Adam) and the new creation (Jesus).
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In the old creation, God made a perfect world and then made a perfect man, Adam, and put him in it. In the new creation, God started with the perfect man, Jesus, and will end by producing a perfect world.
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The first man, Adam, was created and came from the earth. The second man, Jesus, was not created and came from heaven.
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Adam was made in the image of God but Jesus is the image of God. Jesus is the Son of God, not just a man.
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Adam was put into a perfect world but Jesus came into a sinful, fallen world.
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Adam failed and disobeyed God which brought sin, judgment, misery and death. Jesus obeyed God perfectly which brought righteousness, peace, joy and life.
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Jesus undid all the work of Adam and infinitely more. He brought life where Adam brought death.
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Those who believe in Jesus, the second Adam, no longer belong to the first Adam but become children of God. They will be made perfect and dwell in the new perfect world with Jesus.
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The incarnation of Jesus in Bethlehem was the first move in God's new creation. Out of Jesus, God is producing a new humanity and will restore the whole cosmos.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on the First and Second Adam: Questions and Answers
What is the main contrast Lloyd-Jones draws between the first Adam and the second Adam?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the first man (Adam) is "of the earth earthy," while "the second men is the Lord from heaven." This fundamental contrast shapes everything about their nature and impact. The first Adam was created from earth, was merely human though in God's image, and ultimately failed through disobedience. The second Adam (Christ) is the Lord from heaven, is eternal, is not merely in God's image but "the brightness of God's glory and the express image of his person," and rendered perfect obedience to God.
What does Lloyd-Jones mean by "the new creation" in relation to Christmas?
Lloyd-Jones explains that Bethlehem marks "the beginning of the new creation." Just as the Old Testament describes the first creation, the New Testament describes the new creation. He states, "What happened when this babe was born at Bethlehem? Well, a very good way of thinking about it...is this, that this was the beginning of the new creation." Christmas is not merely about the forgiveness of sins but about God initiating an entirely new creative work through Jesus Christ as the second man.
How does God's approach differ between the first creation and the new creation?
Lloyd-Jones highlights a fascinating reversal in God's approach: "In the first creation, God first made a perfect world, then put a perfect man into it. But in the second creation, God reversed the order completely. He starts the process with the perfect man, and he's going to end by producing the perfect world." Christ came into a fallen world, unlike Adam who was placed in paradise, and through Him God will ultimately create "a new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness."
What specific differences does Lloyd-Jones identify between the first Adam and Christ?
Lloyd-Jones identifies several key differences: 1. Origin: "There was a time when the first men was not in existence at all" while the second man is eternal - "There never was a time when he was not." 2. Nature: The first man was created; Christ was not created but is "the only begotten of the Father." 3. Composition: The first man is "of the earth, earthy" while Christ "comes down from heaven." 4. Relationship to God: Adam was in God's image; Christ is "the express image of his person." 5. Environment: Adam was placed in a perfect world; Christ came into a sinful world. 6. Response to temptation: Adam disobeyed; Christ rendered perfect obedience.
What was the result of the first Adam's disobedience according to Lloyd-Jones?
Lloyd-Jones explains that the first Adam's disobedience resulted in: 1. Sin entering the world 2. All humanity becoming sinners by nature 3. Judgment and condemnation coming upon all people 4. Fear, misery, and unhappiness entering human experience 5. Death becoming the ultimate end for all humanity 6. A corrupt world of "war and rivalry, jealousy, envy, malice, spite, wickedness, hatred"
How does Christ as the second Adam reverse the consequences of the first Adam's failure?
Lloyd-Jones shows how Christ reverses each consequence: 1. "By the obedience of one shall many be made righteous" 2. He enables people to become "partakers of the divine nature" and "children of God" 3. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus" 4. He gives "peace with God, peace with men, peace within, and a joy unspeakable and full of glory" 5. "I am the resurrection and the life...death is swallowed up in victory" 6. He will create "a new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness"
What does Lloyd-Jones say about how God deals with the world?
Lloyd-Jones emphasizes, "God always deals with the world through a man." In both creations, God works through a representative man. "God dealt with the old world, the old creation, through a man. Adam was not only the first men, he was the representative men." Similarly, in the new creation, God is "producing a second men. And it is through this second men whom he makes the representative of a new humanity, that he is now dealing with the world."
What is the ultimate future for those who are "in Christ" according to Lloyd-Jones?
According to Lloyd-Jones, believers will experience complete transformation - Christ "shall change this our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body." They will dwell with Christ "in that restored, perfected, regenerated cosmos" where "sin and sorrow and sighing shall be no more." They will "reign with him, and we shall enjoy with him his everlasting glory" in a world where "there shall be no weeping, there shall be no hunger nor thirst."
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Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.