Introduction:
The Bible tells us about man in Hebrews 2:7, “Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:”
Man is insignificant in the scope of the universe, yet God cares for him immensely. It amazed David that the Lord of the universe even thinks about man. Even the Hebrew word rendered “man” expresses the frailty of man rather than any strength or power that he possesses.
A. Man was created in the image of God, Genesis 1:26-27, And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27- So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
1. Man was made upright, Ecclesiastes 7:29, “Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.”
2. God gave man dominion over the entire earth, Genesis 1:28, “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”
3. God gave man one law to regulate his activity, Genesis 2:16-17, And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17- But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”
B. Man disobeys God, Genesis 3:6, “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”
1. Man became wicked, Genesis 6:5, “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
2. Man is wicked from his youth, Genesis 8:21, “And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.”
3. How can a man be just before God? Job 9:2, “I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?”
a. Can he contend with God? Job 9:3-4, If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand. 4-He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?”
b. Can I justify myself? Job 9:20, “If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.”
c. Can I wash myself in snow? Job 9:29-31, “If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain? 30- If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean; 31- Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.”
A. Jesus Christ is the last Adam, 1 Corinthians 15:45-47, And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46- Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47- The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.”
1. The first Adam.
a. Made a living soul, Genesis 2: 7, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
b. The first Adam was a natural man, Ephesians 4:22, “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;”
c. The first Adam was of the earth, earthy, John 3:13, 31, “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 31-He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.”
2. The Last Adam.
a. He was made a quickening spirit, John 5:21, 25-26, “For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26- For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;”
b. The Last Adam is spiritual, the Lord from heaven, Isaiah 9:6, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
A. Without holiness no man shall see God, Hebrews 12:14, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:”
1. God has called us unto holiness, 1 Thessalonians 4:7, “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.”
2. Because God is holy, 1 Peter 1:15-16, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16- Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
3. No unclean person will enter into His presence, Ephesians 5:5, For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.”
B. They must receive Jesus Christ as Savior, John 1:12-13, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13- Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
CONCLUSION
Jesus says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28.