The Second Adam

Advent reflection for 21 December 2013

Reading: Romans 5:12-19 Adam is a ‘pattern’ of Jesus (v.14) in that one affects the many. And this remains the case for all of us who are made of the same stuff as Adam was: whether we like it or not, whether we intend it that way or not, what we do does affect others. The only question is whether what we do affects others for good (like Jesus) or for ill (like Adam). We are part of Adam’s team, but Jesus offers us a transfer. It may take a life-time to un-learn the patterns of the old team and to learn to play according to the patterns of the new, but it all starts afresh each day with knowing which goal we’re aiming for. The stadium’s waiting. (Oh, and as you can see, the teams aren’t evenly matched).

1. Death (goal)	1. Life (goal)
2. Justification	2. Condemnation
3. Righteousness	3. Judgement
4. Disobedience	4. Obedience
5. Break	5. Abundance
6. Adam (capt)	6. Provision
	7. Jesus Christ (capt)
	8. Overflow
9. Gift	9. Trespass
10. God	10. Human
11. Grace	11. Sin

Prayer: Thank you Jesus that you came not just to undo the mess we make and to rescue us from its ultimate consequences, but also to invite us to be part of your solution, making all things new. Please work in us today to remind us which goal we’re aiming for, and please work through us to today by your Holy Spirit so that your abundant gift of grace might overflow to those around us.