Page 125 - Foundations

Divine Patterns

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The pattern continues as we look at Adam’s firstborn son. In the 4 chapter of Genesis we are told
that Cain became jealous of his brother Abel for God had regard for Abel’s offering, but not for
Cain’s. In his anger, Cain slew his brother Abel, becoming the first murderer.

When the last Adam came, the firstborn of the Father, He demonstrated an entirely different mind and
behavior. The last Adam did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them (Luke 9:56). The son
of the first Adam, when asked by God where his brother Abel was, responded by saying, “Am I my
brother’s keeper?” The last Adam demonstrated that humanity was called to be their brother’s keeper.
It was Christ who uttered the golden rule “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” He
also declared that the two greatest commandments were “to love the Lord your God with all your
heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself.”

The Son of God laid down His life on the cross that others might live, whereas Cain murdered his
brother. There can be no more extreme opposites than are bound up in the words “murderer” and
“Savior.”

To fit the pattern, however, we must not compare Christ to Cain, for the last Adam is a
parallel/opposite of the first Adam. We must compare the firstborn sons of the last Adam (Christ) to
the firstborn son of the first Adam. The firstborn sons of Christ are the overcomers who will attain
to the first resurrection. These will be the first to enter into resurrection life in Christ.

Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has
no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

What will be the character of the firstborn sons of the last Adam? There character will be the same
as their Father, from whose seed they issued forth.

Romans 8:29
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son...