So let's try to check out the context for more of it and see what we could get. So here's the question they opened up, quoting a scripture -
Who came in first, Adam or Christ?
So, they quoted 1 Corinthians 15:47-49 which says this -47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
But what was the context all about? Does this suggest that Christ was only human in nature, or is it something about the reason why he came to earth for the atonement?
You see, reading the whole context will help you identify the very reason why Christ came to earth, and the purpose was all about having a body to accomplish his work. By reading on some prior verse to it, you will understand how Paul's letter to the people of Corinth helps them understand that about Christ's divinity and how he came to be a human to understand the suffering of humanity, and this nature is simply called the Hypostatic Union.
It is necessary for Christ to be born in this world so that men who were subjected to the fall of Adam, which is sin and death, will be redeemed and become subject to him to have an everlasting life, as the scripture states. Take note that these people from Corinth don't understand the doctrine of resurrection. Some don't believe the resurrection of Christ happened, so Paul in his letter tries to help them understand the Fall of Adam as the First Man and why Christ must come to atone humans from the Fall. Let us read then the verses clearly to understand them (1 Corinthians 15:12-23) -
12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
(I highlighted some words for easy reference.) So, what was this all about? Paul's statement made it clear that it is necessary for Christ to be born in the meridian of time, and at the end, he will bear the sins and death, and all may resurrect in the coming days like him and be subjected to him at the last days to be judged for their works. Remember that the Apostles were the special witnesses of Christ's Resurrection and divinity; it won't make any sense to declare his words without further announcing his divine nature before and after his ascension.
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
If we do not understand the message of the scriptures, this may lead to a totally wrong interpretation of the message of the Plan of Salvation, and that is to give up his Son to redeem us from sins and death.
Aside from this, if we are just to limit Christ's divinity as just a created being, we could have just limited our understanding of the scriptures about his existence. Like, for example, in these given scriptures -
- How was Christ the Alpha and the Omega? - Revelation 1:8
- How did Christ claim to have a glory from the Father before the world was created? - John 17:5
- How did Christ see what the Father did while no man had ever seen the Father at ANY TIME? - John 5:19
- How was Christ able to organize a church with the KEY of the Kingdom that not even the prophets of all time have and did? How did he get that authority? - Matthew 16:19
- How was Christ able to sit beside the Father's Throne, thinking that Christ is just as dead as a human? - Revelation 3:21
- How was Christ the firstborn of all creatures, while scripturally he was just sent in the meridian of time, or the time of his ministry? - Colossians 1:15
These questions and many more just don't make any sense if we were just to think of Christ, who has a beginning and will simply end in death. This basically questions his divinity and his ability to bring forth his life back, and that he has the same ability to perform the same resurrection for everyone in this world. Why would God, as the Father of all souls, just love Christ, who simply entered this world just like us, and why wouldn't all of us be treated the same as he is? Does it make sense to you?
Some Scriptural References that you might like about this topic -
- John 1:1-14
- Philippians 2:5-11
- Colossians 2:9
- 1 Timothy 3:16
- Hebrews 1:3
- Romans 1:3-4
