The Second Man

 •  7 min. read  •  grade level: 8
 
In the Old Testament we have the revelation from God, that in the beginning He created the heaven and the earth; and in the New Testament, where we have the full revelation also of the three Persons of the Godhead, we are taught that God created the worlds by His Son (John 1:33All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:3); Heb. 1:22Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (Hebrews 1:2); etc.). Man, the last of His creatures formed on the earth, was placed at the head of the terrestrial creation. But, through his disobedience to God in Eden, all went to ruin under his hand Tried in various ways during four thousand years, the awful condition of the human race finally expressed itself in the cross of Christ. Man crucified Him, filled his cup of iniquity to the brim, and brought himself under the sure judgment of God. His moral history, in a sense, ended at the cross. He had been fully tried, proved utterly worthless, incorrigibly wicked, and justly deserving of eternal judgment.
Thus the introduction of Christ into the scene fully manifested man's condition, and his utter incapacity to rule for God. And the failure of the first man served as a platform to bring out the purpose and intention of God to fulfill all His plans in the hand of the second Man. Rejected for the moment, and hidden in heaven, God will introduce His Son a second time, in power. "All things were created by Him, and for Him." Col. 1:1616For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (Colossians 1:16). In the future God will make everything good in His hand, when every created intelligence in earth and in heaven will be subject to the Man whom God delights to honor.
But there is more than this. In verse 18 we read, "And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence." This wonderful verse brings before us further glories of Christ, into which He has entered as Man raised up from among the dead. Refused on earth, but now glorified on high, God has given Him a new position altogether, as "head of the body, the church: who is the beginning," etc. The Apostle presses this truth upon the consciences of the saints at Colosse because they were in danger of not holding the Head. In Ephesians he states the wonderful fact, according to the counsels of God, that Christ is Head over all things to the Church, which is His body. But here, on account of the danger to which the saints were exposed, he uses different language, pressing upon them the fact that Christ is the Head of the body, the Church. And hence the folly and sin of worshiping angels who, great as they may be, are only creatures. Christ is all, and in all.
Christ then is the Head of the body, the Church, as the glorified Man at God's right hand. The Church, or assembly of God, is composed of sinners saved by grace. Sealed with the Holy Spirit of God, they are thereby united to Christ in glory, and to one another. This is the "great mystery" (Eph. 5:3232This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. (Ephesians 5:32)), hidden in God during the past ages, and now revealed-set forth more particularly in the epistle to the Ephesians. But here in Colossians this mystery is also further treated of as manifested to His saints, to whom God would make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles (Col. 1:2727To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: (Colossians 1:27)); that is to say, Christ in us, the hope of glory. Dear reader, what do you know of this precious truth?
All the children of God, having the Holy Ghost, possess the spiritual capacity to enter into these things, for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God (1 Cor. 2:1010But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10)). It is the privilege of the babes and young men in the knowledge of Christ, as well as the fathers, to search into them. Paul passed through the deepest exercises of soul, and intense physical sufferings, in order that the saints might arrive at the full knowledge of this glorious truth, knowing that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found therein (Col. 2:1-31For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; 3In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2:1‑3)). Search then the Scriptures which treat of this wonderful secret. God will lead you on. and your soul will be deeply blessed and enriched; the effect of these eternal realities will be to separate you morally from the world and all its vanities.
Following the presentation of Christ in Col. 1:1818And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18) as "head of the body, the church," we read, "Who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence" (or, the first place). Christ raised up is the beginning. The history of the race of the first man was judicially ended at the cross. All was sin, ruin, and death. There was (and is) absolutely nothing in the natural man for God. Man was (and is) past all improvement for Him. You may patch him up for the world. The moral restraints of education, Christian teaching, and philanthropic efforts, may make something of him down here, as a better citizen of earth. But if it is a question of God and heaven, and that is the all-important one, there is nothing but sin, which He hates.
Christ risen is a new beginning altogether. He is presented here as the beginning, the first-born from among the dead.
He is "the beginning of the creation of God" (Rev. 3:1414And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; (Revelation 3:14)). This is His glorious position, established eternally as the risen Man. God has begun a new creation, of which Christ is Head and Chief, the firstborn from among the dead ones. All who are in Him are a new creation-"Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Cor. 5:1717Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17). Christians are created anew in Christ unto good works-created in righteousness and true holiness (Eph. 2:10; 4:2410For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)
24And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (Ephesians 4:24)). Satan has never planted his foot, and never can, upon the virgin soil of the new creation of God. He did his utmost at the cross, and man helped him as his willing instrument to destroy the sent One of God. But the superior power came in-the mighty power of God. The resurrection is an open triumph. Satan has never, so to speak, crossed the empty grave of the risen Christ.
Reader, are you a believer in Christ-a Christian? If so, you are in Christ, risen, a new creation in Him, the other side of death, judgment, hell, and all Satan's power! But the flesh is still in you, and if allowed for a moment, Satan can cause you sorrow and, if you do not judge yourself, drag you into the mire of sin. But "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him: rooted and built up in Him." Col. 2:6, 76As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. (Colossians 2:6‑7). Then Satan will be utterly powerless against you.
If you are not in Christ, you still form part of the world which lies in the wicked one; you are still identified with the race of the first man, where all is wreck and ruin, and under the judgment of God. But His eye is on the second Man, the last Adam, Christ risen, the beginning; and He sees all believers in Him. Glorious position! Blessed privilege! And all is the fruit of His perfect grace.
God has given Christ this new position as Man, first-born from among the dead, that "in all things He might have the preeminence" (or the first place). He is worthy! And this being so, what utter folly would be the adoration of angels, the reasonings and speculations of the human brain, the shadows of a bygone age, or anything of man beneath the sun! "Christ is all, and in all." Col. 3:1111Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. (Colossians 3:11). Having Him, we have all things; and to allow anything to come in between us and Him, is to dishonor Him, and to put ourselves at a distance. May God in His grace give to each believer who reads these lines to be occupied with Him alone, and the things where He sits at God's right hand, as identified with Him who is the triumphant Savior over all the power of the enemy, the beginning of the creation of God.