As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven (1 Corinthians 15:48 NIV).
I want you to notice the tenses in the opening verse. It reads, “As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth….” He should have said, “…so were those who are of the earth…,” since the preceding verb is also in the past tense—“was.” He however used present tense, showing that though Adam is no longer here, the people who are not born again are born after him, and are like him—fallen.
The second part of the verse says, “…and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven.” Again, examine the tenses closely: He used the present tense for Jesus. While on earth, Jesus boldly declared, “I’m from above” (John 8:23), even though He was born in Bethlehem. Understand that He became the second and last Adam, not when He was born in Bethlehem, but when He was raised from the dead. That’s when He was born again, and became the head of the new creation. So, Jesus “is…,” but Adam “was…!” If you’re born again, you’re born after the man from heaven, Christ Jesus.
You might have heard people say, “I don’t know that man from Adam?” They’re referring to Adam of the Garden of Eden, because that’s their origin. We never talk like that as new creations, because we’re from heaven. You’ve got to know who you are, and declare it. Moses said to God, “Who shall I say sent me?” God replied, “I AM THAT I AM” (Exodus 3:14). He didn’t say, “I don’t know who I am”; He said, “Tell them, I AM sent you.” In the same way, always be bold to declare who you are, and where you’re from. You’re a God-man from heaven. Hallelujah!
Even now, declare, “I’m from heaven; born of the Word and Spirit of the Lord!” You can’t even say that without the anointing being stirred in your spirit! Such a declaration nullifies the thoughts of weakness or impossibility. Never talk like an earthling because you’re from heaven. You’re not ordinary. “But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Saviour” (Philippians 3:20 NLT).
CONFESSION: Nothing is impossible with me because I hail from above. All the forces of life and nature are at my disposal, they work together for my good because I’m the King’s kid. I’m conscious of my heavenly heritage and walk in the light of who I am; an associate of the God-kind! Glory to God!
Further Study: John 3:31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
1 John 4:4-6 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
John 15:18-19 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before [it hated] you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
1-Year Bible Reading Plan: Luke 7:36-50, Joshua 1-2
2-Year Bible Reading Plan: Matthew 26:26-35, Exodus 37
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