Seed Plot (Part 2) The Royal Offer to Wed

“Part 1” of this blog called “Seed Plot, The Preeminent in Our Place” started with questions about whether one man could save world. If you didn’t review it, you may want to check it out. Now we head into “Part 2” which explains how God’s intervention (His introduction of a new kind of human) was the provision of reconciliation to the Godhead based on faith alone that yields the life God originally intended for us.   

Scripture teaches us that every believer and non-believer is accountable for what they accept or reject. Scripture is also referred to as “seed”. Grab your Bible (or use an online version) and let’s resume the study in the latter part of Romans 5!

“But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.” (Romans 5:15).

Since the gift is not like the offense, consider how Scripture contrasts the two. It is written:

• “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23).
• “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,” (Ephesians 2:8).

So, we see that God’s grace overcomes sin and death. We see that God’s grace provides eternal life in Jesus. For those who are listening to the audio version of this blog, I recommend reading it to review the contrast chart of what Scripture states is part of the headship of Adam versus the headship of Christ.   

Romans 5:14 introduced the concept of “types” and that Adam and Christ were prototypes or “heads” of two distinctly different categories within the human species. There are those who have not been reborn under Christ, and those who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit under Christ’s headship. 

By way of contrast, we realize that headship determines what influences life.  Romans 5:15 contrasts human nature as hereditary whereas Christ’s headship is called a free gift. A gift is not only given freely, it must be accepted to complete the transaction.  

I decided to look up Romans 5:15 in Greek and found a beautiful truth.  The phrase “free gift” is actually one word called “charisma” (Strong’s G5486) which means divinely empowered.  Thayers Greek Lexicon states the use of charisma in Romans 5:15 to 16 carries the following meaning:  

• Charisma is “the economy of divine grace by which the pardon of sin and eternal salvation is appointed to sinners in consideration of the merits of Christ which is laid hold of by faith”

Now, that certainly should change the way we consider using the word that the world so loosely uses as a human magnetism, appeal, or charm. As historically defined, this magnetism is Divine. If you are interested, you can see how a secular dictionary provides the historical use of the word.

Friends, words are very important and so are their definitions. How frequently do we surrender something of Divine origination to a more common and humanly defined concept? You see, we think in words and pictures. If words and pictures no longer have their original meaning and society can change the meaning of words or icons at any time to suit their purposes, then we allow human beings to hijack or usurp that which is Divinely stated. 

I suspect the first recorded instance of this was when the serpent “said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” “… the serpent said …, “You will not surely die.” (Genesis 3:1 and 4). Then entered disobedience and death that we have all inherited.

So, although every human being inherits that sin nature from Adam (there’s no choice), the Divine gift must be received through faith in Jesus’ Divinity and the accomplishment of the work the Father gave Him to do to redeem us.  

And although the Son of God was given for payment of all sin, only those who receive the gift (that is the Divine empowerment to fully rely on Jesus Christ’s atonement as the sufficient payment from God) are pardoned by the Father who set the terms.  

Please notice the phrase “much more”. This term is used 7 times in Romans; and, 5 of those times are in Romans 5 (refer to verses 9, 10, 15, 17, and 20).  This repetition within one chapter emphasizes that God’s grace deposited by the Holy Spirit as the everlasting witness of Jesus Christ (the Seed, the Gift, the Divine empowerment) is much more influential and effectual than the corruption of Adam’s seed.  

The power of sin is overcome by the power of the Holy Spirit.

When we look at Romans 5:16, we are contrasting the result of the seeds. Adam’s seed reaps mortal and spiritual death whereas Christ’s seed bestows abundant life that cannot be corrupted even though believers do sin in this life. 

Now let’s look at Romans 5:16 using the New American Standard Bible (95):

• “The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift (Strong’s G5486, chárisma) arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. 

Not only does the difference in headship have opposite results, but the capacity is also different. Think of it this way:

• Adam’s initial sin (one sin) damned all humans. 
• The enormity of sin from all of those who have been (and will be) redeemed is so much greater than that initial act of Adam’s sin; yet, God’s capacity for grace is greater than the amount of sin we could ever commit.  

Do you know what is wonderful about this? It means that God can pardon the vilest of sinners (as I once was)! No human being is too bad for God to redeem! That’s good news!

It also means that He is committed to cleansing me from my sin when I repent. He doesn’t write off those who have accepted His grace and come into His covenant. His covenant is a binding agreement that He holds Himself to. Since God cannot lie or change, that’s greater than all sin!  (Refer to Hebrews 6:17 to 18 and 2nd Timothy 2:12 to 13).  

But know this too: His grace is the Divine influence to change into the likeness of Christ and leave the works of darkness behind. If we are in covenant with Him, the evidence is an increasingly obedient life under Christ’s headship.  

So, the Father and Son presented the grace, His Divine influence, and empowerment to believe and obey, but only those who receive it through the Holy Spirit are pardoned. Those who do not lay hold of the gift presented remain condemned. Jesus said it this way:

• “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. … “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:16,18 and 19).

 Marriage Type Order: (1) Triune God, (2) Adam, (3) Eve.

• “And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:21 to 24). 

The Original Relationship Model: the following applies pre-fall.

• The Godhead created the first human son of God, Adam. They are Adam’s head.
• God then took out of His original human prototype (Adam) to create another (Eve) of the same kind or species but different. Adam and Eve were equal but God had purposed the order of creation. 
• In this order, there was a dynamic relationship of three persons in a single perfect fellowship: The Godhead was the Head of His human son Adam; Adam was the head of Eve who was both different and equal to Adam; and, both Adam and Eve were created in the image of God. 
• This marriage then became a picture of the Divine relationship between the Godhead: God the Father, God the Son, and The Holy Spirit, the comforter. They are three distinct persons of the same substance but different yet completely united. They are One. 

The Sin-Corrupted Relationship Model: the following represents the impact of sin in varying degrees.

• After the fall, Adam becomes the head of sinful humanity who is no longer in the right relationship with God.
• Communication with God and others can be sometimes difficult and suspicious.
• Self takes priority and becomes a motivation for relationships and duties (give to get).
• Spousal blame and shame entered the human relationship. Individuals sometimes hide from God or deflect responsibility for errors.
• Mankind must now willingly offer sacrifices to repent and to appease God for sin. Those who do not repent remain out of fellowship. 

Having looked at the Marriage Type (in both original and fallen states), let’s examine the impact of Christ’s Headship.

 Marriage Antitype Order: (1) God, (2) Christ, (3) Spirit-indwelt Church

• “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, … “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” (Ephesians 5:25, 26 and 31 to 32)

The New Creation Relationship:

• The power of the Highest and the Holy Spirit created a human being within Mary’s womb with the Holy Seed incarnated who was named Jesus at His birth which means Jehovah is Salvation. (Genesis 3:15; Luke 1:35; Philippians 2:5 to 9; and Matthew 1:21 to 23). He was fully Human and fully God (Isaiah 9:6, John 1:1, 2 and 14).
• As Jesus Christ lived a perfect sinless life and was the Son of God, He became the prototype for the “new creation” (human beingswith “the Divine” indwelling).
• Having redeemed the human race and having resurrected from the dead, He became the Head of the Church (the Bride of Christ who is of the same kind): human and born of the incorruptible Seed (the Holy Spirit, the Comforter). 1st Peter 1:23, 1st John 3:9, 2nd Corinthians 5:17; John 14:20 and 17:23; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 2:10 and 15, and 4:23 to 24.
• In this order, there is a dynamic relationship of three persons in a single perfect fellowship: God the Father is the Head of His only begotten Son; Jesus is the head of the Spirit-filled Church; and, the resurrected Christ and the “to-be-glorified” Bride will be the same kind with Christ remaining preeminent.  Colossians 1:18; 1st Corinthians 11:3; Revelation 22:13; 1st John 3:2and Romans 8:29.
• The picture is of God the Father, God the Son, and the Bride of Christ who are joined together by the Holy Spirit. 
• Since the beginning of the Church, the Trinity continued to extend Their glory by perfecting all who commit to the betrothal to Christ by grace through faith unto obedience and repentance. Marital relationships in Christ that follow God’s order enjoy freedom from blame and shame; and, they are directed through fellowship with His Spirit. 

Now that we have looked at the two Biblical prototypes for marriage, I’d like to make a few distinctions. 

• Fallen Adam did not point to Christ because Christ obeyed the Father unto death. Jesus becomes the Head of a cleansed bride (the church) washed by His blood and the Word who also must obey the Father. Remember, the Father and the Son are completely united in all thoughts, they are One.
• Jesus spoke the truth that cleansed the bride; He did not join her in disobedience. 
• Pre-fallen Adam was the head of the human species, the first of his kind. Jesus is the head of the new creation species, the first of this kind.
• Jesus remained perfect and became the substitution for humanity’s sin. Hence, He was raised from the dead because death could not keep Him. When Christ became sin for us, it means that He became the target of God’s wrath upon sin as the only Substitute who could pay the price. 
• Christ (the 2nd Adam or last Adam) is the Holy Spirit-deposited Seed in a Human form without Adam’s corrupted seed. 

The mystery is in how the Holy Spirit can transform a fallen human being into the likeness of Christ so that we become bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh so to speak.

Today, regenerated Christians have God’s Divine nature dwelling within us and our sanctification journey is the training process required to teach us how to obey like Christ out of love for the Trinity.

You see, the Son agreed to become Human and then willingly laid down His life while remaining 100 percent obedient out of love for His Father and humanity. The Holy Spirit agreed to come and indwell fallen but redeemed and willing Humans. How the Spirit does this is also a mystery to us. But a redeemed person knows that they have the Holy Spirit inside. The Holy Spirit is our link to the Godhead and tells us what the Son intercedes for and what the Father says. They all suffer long with us as we learn how to be like Christ with Christ as our head.

Christ truly is Preeminent and I willingly come under His Lordship, love and protection.

• “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight (if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister)” (Colossians 1:13 to 23).

Of course, God’s grace is more powerful than sin! Sin was introduced into a perfect world by the enemy. When Adam sinned, he became subject to the head of evil and thereby thrust all of humanity under the ruler of darkness… 

But, much more than that, God had already had a much more plan using much more influence He gives much more grace and gets much more glory!

Well, what should we say then? 

• “For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. Moreover, the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:17 to 21).

God’s purpose in redemption is seen in grace reigning for eternity. Christ’s atonement for our sin along with His sinless life and perfect obedience to the Father made a way for many to be justified and then made righteous through sanctification until we are perfected. 

Here’s the thing about sanctification: it’s about how we hear and respond.

Let’s hear Romans 5:19 from the New American Standard Bible first; and, then explore the meaning of obedience and disobedience as it pertains to this verse.

• “For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.”

Disobedience in this verse is parakoḗ in the Greek (Strong’s G3876) which means; inattention, an unwillingness to hear, and hearing amiss. This word is only used 3 times: Romans 5:19, 2nd Corinthians 10:6 and Hebrews 2:2. For context, let’s refer to Hebrews 2:1 to 4 which is as follows:

• “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience (G3876) received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?” (Hebrews 2:1 to 4)

Here we see this disobedience is willful neglect to hear what the Holy Spirit is ministering to our hearts whether through His whisper or through the Word.

Friend, we cannot treat God’s Word casually or carelessly and think that God’s grace will just cover it.

IF HIS SEED is in us, we will increasingly obey (perhaps at different rates) but we will participate in the sanctification process because HIS SEED will produce after His kind. If you are intentionally disregarding what Scripture and His Spirit are saying to you, this means you are not yielding and you should examine yourself to see whether you are in the faith. It is written:

• “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? (unless indeed you are disqualified)” (2nd Corinthians 13:5).

Have you come to Jesus on His terms? By God’s Divine illuminating grace alone, by faith alone, in Christ alone, based on Scripture alone, for the glory of God alone? Or, are you trying to find your own way to accomplish your will and disregarding what Scripture says? Friend, please make sure you know, love, and obey the Headship of Christ.

In contrast, let’s look at what is obedience within Romans 5:19. Obedience in this verse is hupakŏē in Greek (Strong’s G5219) which means attentive hearkening and by implication in compliance or submission.  

• “So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.” … though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,” (Hebrews 5:5, 8 and 9).
• “… To the pilgrims …, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.” (1st Peter 1:1 and 2).
• “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,” (1st Peter 1:13 to 23).

I hope you can see how Christ was our substitute; He took the wrath of God on Himself on the cross in the place of anyone who would be willing to believe. I trust you can see why the Son of God had to become like one of us in order to be the Head of the called-out ones who are a new species of regenerated human beings filled with His divine nature and learning to obey. 

Listen: No one is saved by obedience or works! Everyone who is saved becomes increasingly obedient within the time God has allotted to them.

Jesus said:

• “But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” (Mark 4:20).

The question is not whether some human beings will be eternally alive while some obliterated! The question is whether you have the Seed deposited by the Holy Spirit so that you can be united eternally to the source of love. The evidence you have accepted His grace is the attentive harkening to His voice resulting in obedience to His Word. Those who do not accept the gift, are continuing their road to eternal suffering with the antagonist who abhors the Godhead and those He made. 

• “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),” (Ephesians 2:4 to 5). 

Jesus told us there is only one way to receive redemption so I pray you will hear and live a life of obedience. Only God’s grace will transform the human unbelieving heart into one that hears Christ’s words, only His mercy gives forgiveness to the repentant heart throughout life’s journey, and only His goodness gives any future with Him. 

Jesus said:

• … “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6).
• “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20).
• “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:28).
• “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15).

While it is impossible to out-sin the grace of God, it is entirely possible to deny His grace either through legalism or by rejecting His Headship (which includes submitting to His authority).  

But when we embrace God’s grace, King Jesus reigns through grace over life starting from the moment He is accepted and then forever more. 

As the King’s reign is more understood, it is increasingly respected and humbles the heart away from selfish desires; His grace confronts sin and will not accommodate it.  

The redemptive seed plot is the greatest love story ever told. The sinful human seed is bought back from the ruler of death and darkness by the incarnate Creator’s triumphant victory over sin and death. Christ bore the wrath of God in the place of the person who willingly hears and receives His invitation to have His Spirit’s incorruptible Seed rule in their heart. Just think, He offers His nail-scarred hand in marriage and He keeps His covenant forever!

To all He has given types and shadows, historical narratives, His binding Word in written format, eyewitness testimony to miracles, evidence in nature, He shed His very own life’s blood, and sends people to share the news; and, for those who are already in a relationship with Him, He has given His Holy Spirit within. Do you see the picture in your mind? The evidence is visual, oral, conceptual and experiential. How many ways can He show His goodness and love?

Friend, from the beginning there has been a deception that humanity can do it all their way. Christ offers freedom and joy with a clear mind and without the bondage of addiction. He also shows you the right way to live without the corruption that causes rebellion. It’s not popular. If it were, our world would look very different.

Today we have so many people telling us what to do and what to think. It seems as though everyone wants to be the authority over your life. In reality, they tempt you as the serpent of old did to the first humans. They offer alternatives that catch you in a snare once you give in. If you try to get out, they shame you or cancel you for not going along with their narrative.

In your own words, you can ask God to reveal Himself and Jesus Christ, His Son, to wash your record of sin away, and to live within you to give you the power to overcome while you live out the remainder of your life. There is no time like the present to switch kingdoms. If you want more information,  https://desiringfruitfulness.ca/choices/ has more historical and Scriptural evidence that Jesus was and is who He said He was. Thank you.

All Scripture in this blog is from the New King James Version unless otherwise specified.