REMEMBERING that Romans 8 follows the struggle defined and delineated in Roman 7 – “you can’t get to Roman 8 without going through Roman 7” – our author now brings to a close our review of Chapter 49—Reckoning in Galatians 2:20 with an excellent illustration of the principle of the two Adams.
SINCE we stopped mid-paragraph last time, we’ll pick up with that paragraph for continuity of thought. So as not to detract from your prayerful meditation in these closing comments, I’ll say no more at this point.
In the inexorable riches of Christ,
Joe
Neh. 8:10, Isa 30:15, Jas 1:2; Prov. 21:30
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Chapter 49—Reckoning in Galatians 2:20 – Part 4
The source of our Christian life is distinctly revealed in Romans 8:9: “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ [the Holy Spirit], he is none of his.” God sees us as “not in the flesh, but in the Spirit.” We are to reckon likewise. As individuals identified with the Lord Jesus, we were cut off from fallen Adam in His death, and created anew in Him in His resurrection. The source of our new life is the Last Adam, who indwells us by the Holy Spirit. This is the principle of the two Adams (sources).
Although as believers we are “not in the flesh, but in the Spirit,” the self-life will flow (and grow) as long as we fail to reckon upon the work of the cross, and to abide in Christ. Contrariwise, as we walk in dependence upon the Spirit, He will cause the indwelling life of the Lord Jesus to flow through us as “rivers of living water.”
There is the allegory of the sea captain who, in mid-ocean, is charged with a capital offense, put in chains, and replaced by another. As the ship sails on, the chained one seeks to assert his old authority over the crew. Some of them might be foolish enough to respond, but there is no need to for he has been judicially deposed. It is now simply a matter of acknowledging the new captain, and refusing the threats and orders of the condemned one. The death sentence is not yet carried out beyond his being held in the place of death, his power broken, but he will be executed when the ship reaches port. In the meantime, he causes a lot of trouble.
Is this not a picture of the Adamic source, held in the place of death, replaced by the new Source at the helm of our ship? Our attitude toward the old man is to be this: “I reckon upon the crucifixion of the cross as your undoing, and therefore refuse your reign over me. I count the Lord Jesus Christ as the Captain of my life.” When we reach the heavenly port, the conflict will be over; in the meantime, we rest in Him.
