1 Cor. 15:9 "And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven"
Paul is contrasting Adam and Jesus. Adam was the first man, created from the dust. He is mortal and fallible. Jesus is the new Adam who always was and always will be. He is immortal and infallible. Jesus completes Adam and does what Adam cannot by redeeming all of mankind, which Adam represents.
There are two natures in me. On one hand I have Adam's genes. I am mortal and I sin. On the other hand, I have been recreated in the image of Christ and am daily becoming more like him. There is an ancient saying that there are two dogs fighting against each other in each of us-one good and one evil. Which one wins the fight? The one we feed more. Do I feed Adam or Jesus? Which one do I serve? Do I feed my humanity, or seek to feed my divinity? This is the tension and the battle of being human. Jesus, as the perfect man, the best Adam, won this battle. I need to look to him and follow his example.
Dear Jesus, thank you for redeeming me. Amen.
