The First Adam Brought Sin And Death, But The Last Adam Jesus Christ Came From Heaven To Save Every Lost Sinner Who Believes The Gospel

There is perhaps no more chilling indictment of modern Christianity than watching pastors, worship leaders, theologians and Christian entertainers spend decades preaching about Jesus Christ, singing His name and building careers upon His church, only to eventually announce that they no longer believe the Bible, no longer believe in God and no longer consider themselves Christians. Former Pentecostal pastor Timmy Gibson is merely the latest name added to a rapidly growing procession that includes Joshua Harris, Jon Steingard, George Perdikis, Bart Campolo, Audrey Assad and others who once stood before crowds as representatives of the faith they now renounce. But their departures do not diminish Jesus Christ or disprove the word of God—they expose the terrifying difference between religious profession and biblical salvation. A huge difference as you’ll soon see.

“And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.” 1 Corinthians 15:45 (KJB)

You can preach Jesus without knowing Him, sing about the cross without trusting it, build a church without being born again and spend an entire lifetime inside Christianity without ever coming to Christ as a guilty sinner in need of a Saviour. The first Adam made us sinners and brought death upon the human race, but the last Adam—the Lord from Heaven—came to save sinners through His shed blood, death, burial and resurrection. If you came to Jesus for healing, happiness, success, acceptance or religious experience, but never came as a lost sinner trusting His finished work, then you came for the wrong reason. On this Sunday Service, we clear away the clutter and present you Jesus, high and lifted up.

The Bible Believers Sunday Service: The Last Adam

The Last Adam, Or The Supremacy of Jesus Christ Over Sin, Death, Religion and the Ruin of Adam

Main Text

“And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.” 1 Corinthians 15:45–49 (KJB)

Central Truth

Every person is born naturally in Adam, under sin and sentenced to death. The sinner who believes the gospel is spiritually placed in Jesus Christ, receiving righteousness, eternal life and the promise of a glorified body. This is why you must be born again, your first birth is no good.

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3 (KJB)

The first Adam brought the human race down into death. The last Adam raises believing sinners into everlasting life. Jesus Christ is not one religious option among many—He is God’s final, complete and exclusive answer to everything Adam destroyed.

I. The First Adam Was the Beginning of the Natural Creation

“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Genesis 2:7 (KJB)

Adam was created:

• Directly by God.
• In the image of God.
• Without sin.
• With dominion over the earth.
• With the ability and responsibility to obey God.
• As the representative head of the human race.

Adam was not born into the world; he was created by God. Every other naturally conceived human being descends from him and consequently bears his fallen image.

“And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:” Genesis 5:3 (KJB)

Adam was originally created in God’s image, but after the fall he produced children in his own fallen likeness. Humanity inherited more than Adam’s physical characteristics; it inherited his sinful nature and sentence of death.

Application

Our fundamental problem is not our environment, education, economic condition or lack of self-esteem. Our problem is that we are members of Adam’s fallen race.

II. The First Adam Brought Sin and Death Into the World

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” Romans 5:12 (KJB)

Adam’s disobedience brought:

• Sin into the world.
• Death upon mankind.
• Condemnation before God.
• Separation from God.
• Corruption into creation.
• A sinful nature upon Adam’s descendants.

“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” Romans 5:19 (KJB)

We do not become sinners merely when we commit our first sinful act. We commit sinful acts because we were born with a sinful nature inherited through Adam.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23 (KJB)

Application

Education may refine Adam’s descendants. Religion may restrain them. Government may regulate them. Psychology may analyze them. But none of these things can remove a sinner from Adam and place him into Christ.

The sinner does not need renovation—he needs regeneration.

III. Jesus Christ Is the Second Man and the Last Adam

“And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.” 1 Corinthians 15:45-48 (KJB)

Jesus is called:

• The second man because He is the beginning of a new humanity.
• The last Adam because there will never be another representative head or another divine plan of salvation.

There was a first Adam, but there will never be a third Adam. Jesus Christ is God’s last, complete and eternal answer.

The contrast between the two Adams

The First Man Adam	The Last Adam Jesus
Came from the earth	Is the Lord from Heaven
Became a living soul	Became a quickening Spirit
Was tested in a garden	Submitted to God in a garden
Disobeyed concerning a tree	Obeyed unto death upon a tree
Brought sin	Bore our sins
Brought condemnation	Provides justification
Brought death	Gives eternal life
Produced a fallen race	Creates one new man
Returned to the dust	Rose bodily from the dead
Bears the earthly image	Gives believers the heavenly image

Jesus Christ did not come merely to repair Adam’s old creation. He came to become the Head of an entirely new creation.

“Therefore 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 (KJB)

IV. The Supremacy of the Last Adam Is Revealed in His Obedience

Adam was given one prohibition and disobeyed. Jesus Christ faced every temptation and remained completely obedient to His Father.

“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” Romans 5:19 (KJB)

“And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:8 (KJB)

Adam’s disobedience was counted against his race. Christ’s perfect obedience and finished sacrifice are counted for those who believe. We are not saved through our obedience to God. We are saved through faith in what Jesus Christ accomplished through His obedience.

Religion says, ‘Obey so that God may accept you.’

The gospel says, ‘Believe on the One whose obedience has satisfied God completely.’

“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” Ephesians 1:5-7 (KJB)

V. The Last Adam Defeated What the First Adam Released

“For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:21–22 (KJB)

Adam brought death, but Christ conquered death through His resurrection.

“Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.” Romans 6:9 (KJB)

Jesus Christ is supreme because:

• His blood satisfies God’s judgment against sin.
• His cross defeated the power of sin.
• His burial demonstrates that He truly died.
• His resurrection conquered death.
• His righteousness justifies the believer.
• His Spirit seals the believer.
• His life guarantees our future resurrection.

Application

Christianity does not rest upon religious feelings, alleged healings, visions, tongues or supernatural experiences. It rests upon the historical death, burial and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. If every feeling disappears and every circumstance turns against us, the empty tomb remains empty.

VI. A Sinner Must Change His Position, Not Merely His Behavior

Every person occupies one of two spiritual positions:

• In Adam: condemned, spiritually dead and awaiting judgment.
• In Christ: justified, spiritually alive and possessing eternal life.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 (KJB)

A person is not placed into Christ by:

• Being raised in church.
• Attending Bible college.
• Becoming a pastor.
• Building a congregation.
• Preaching sermons.
• Baptizing converts.
• Performing supposed healings.
• Speaking in tongues.
• Feeding the poor.
• Living a respectable life.

“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:13 (KJB)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (KJB)

“Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” John 3:7 (KJB)

A minister can spend decades talking about Jesus without ever trusting Jesus Christ’s finished work as the payment for his own sins. Religious activity can give a person a reputation, an audience and a career. It cannot give him eternal life.

VII. The Only Saving Message Is the Gospel of Christ

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” 1 Corinthians 15:1–4 (KJB)

A sinner must understand:

1. I have sinned against a holy God.
2. My sin has earned death and judgment.
3. I cannot save myself through religion or good works.
4. Jesus Christ died as the payment for my sins.
5. He was buried and rose bodily from the dead.
6. God will save me when I place my faith in Jesus Christ alone.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8–9 (KJB)

Application

A person may originally enter a church because he is lonely, sick, frightened or searching for answers. But unless he eventually recognizes himself as a guilty sinner and trusts Christ’s finished work, he has not believed the saving gospel.

Jesus did not die merely to improve Adam’s children. He died to save them and place them into Himself.

VIII. When People Come to Jesus for the Wrong Reason

Many people are invited to “come to Jesus” because He supposedly will:

• Heal their bodies.
• Restore their relationships.
• Guarantee success.
• Fulfill their dreams.
• Give them an emotional experience.
• Solve all their earthly problems.
• Make them prosperous and happy.

But those things are not the gospel. Jesus confronted people who followed Him for material benefits rather than because they believed who He was.

“Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.” John 6:26 (KJB)

When the expected healing does not come, the emotional experience fades or life becomes painful, a false convert may conclude that Christianity has failed him. In reality, he may never have trusted the gospel at all. He came for benefits from Jesus without first coming to Jesus as a sinner needing a Saviour.

Teaching Statement

If you came to Jesus only to obtain a better life, but never trusted His shed blood as the payment for your sins, you came for the wrong reason.

IX. Timmy Gibson and the Tragedy of an Empty Pulpit

Timmy Gibson reportedly spent approximately thirty years teaching and preaching, including seventeen years leading a church he founded. He now says he no longer believes the Bible or Christianity and publicly identifies as an atheist. Freedom From Religion Foundation

His story should not cause us to question the supremacy of Christ. It should cause us to question what passes for conversion and ministry inside modern Christianity.

Gibson’s background emphasized supposed healings, tongues, spiritual experiences and personal transformation. But none of those things proves that a person ever trusted Christ’s death, burial and resurrection as the payment for his sins.

“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” Titus 1:16 (KJB)

An important rightly divided distinction

We cannot infallibly see Gibson’s heart or declare from his present atheism alone that he was never saved. Biblically, there are two possible conditions:

1. A lost religious professor: He preached about Jesus but never personally trusted the gospel.
2. A saved but ruined workman: He once trusted Christ but later abandoned sound doctrine, shipwrecked his testimony and became disqualified for Christian service.

Salvation and service are not identical. A saved man can destroy his ministry, lose his reward and become a castaway without becoming spiritually unborn.

“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:27 (KJB)

Here “castaway” concerns being rejected or disapproved for service and reward—not losing eternal salvation.

“If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” 2 Timothy 2:13 (KJB)

Application

Never place your confidence in a preacher’s personality, longevity, church size, education or supernatural claims. Preachers can fall, institutions can collapse and religious experiences can be exposed as counterfeit. Jesus Christ remains exactly who the Bible declares Him to be.

“Let God be true, but every man a liar.” Romans 3:4 (KJB)

X. The Last Adam Must Have the Preeminence

“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.” Colossians 1:18 (KJB)

Jesus Christ is supreme over:

• Adam and the entire human race.
• Sin and condemnation.
• Satan and spiritual wickedness.
• Religion and human philosophy.
• Every preacher and religious institution.
• Death and the grave.
• Heaven and earth.
• The present creation and the world to come.

A fallen preacher cannot diminish Christ. An atheist cannot dethrone Him. A skeptic cannot disprove Him. A false church cannot replace Him. The last Adam has conquered death and will reign until every enemy is beneath His feet.

“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:” Philippians 2:9 (KJB)

Closing Challenge

The final question is not:

• Were you raised in church?
• Were you baptized?
• Did you have an emotional experience?
• Did you speak in tongues?
• Did you once answer an altar call?
• Did you become a preacher?
• Did people believe that God was using you?

The question is:

Have you, as a guilty and helpless sinner, placed your faith in the shed blood, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the complete payment for your sins? The first Adam cannot save you. Religion cannot save you. A pastor cannot save you. Your experiences cannot save you. Your good works cannot save you. Only the last Adam can take a condemned child of Adam and make him a redeemed, justified and eternally secure member of the body of Christ.

“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:22 (KJB)

The first Adam brought us into the grave. The last Adam came out of the grave—and everyone who trusts Him will come out as well.

Pastors, Evangelists and Christian Teachers

Person	Former Christian Platform	Public Renunciation
Timmy Gibson	Pentecostal/Evangelical preacher for approximately 30 years; founded and led a church for 17 years	Now identifies as an atheist and says he reached the point where he no longer believed anything he had been preaching from the Bible. Source
Joshua Harris	Bestselling author of I Kissed Dating Goodbye and former senior pastor of Covenant Life Church	Announced in 2019: “By all the measurements that I have for defining a Christian, I am not a Christian.” He described it biblically as “falling away.” Source
Bart Campolo	Evangelical preacher, author, founder of Mission Year and son of prominent evangelist Tony Campolo	Stopped believing in God and became a secular humanist, later serving as a humanist chaplain. Background
Dan Barker	Ordained minister, missionary, evangelist and writer of Christian songs and musicals	Publicly left Christianity in 1983 and became a leading atheist activist and co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Biography
Jerry DeWitt	Pentecostal evangelist and pastor of two Louisiana churches	Publicly acknowledged his atheism in 2011 and subsequently became an atheist speaker and author. Interview
Teresa MacBain	Southern Baptist background and United Methodist pastor	Announced from the stage of an American Atheists convention in 2012 that she was an atheist while still technically serving as a pastor. NPR profile
Ryan Bell	Seventh-day Adventist pastor and seminary instructor	Conducted a public “year without God” and concluded that he did not believe God existed. NPR interview
Paul Maxwell	Theologian with a Ph.D., author and former contributor to John Piper’s Desiring God ministry	Announced in 2021, “I’m just not a Christian anymore,” saying that leaving Christianity felt good and that he was happy. Source
Mike Aus	Lutheran pastor and church planter in Texas	Publicly declared himself an atheist, left Christianity and founded Houston Oasis as a secular alternative to church. Houston Chronicle
Charles Templeton	International evangelist, contemporary and close associate of Billy Graham	Rejected biblical authority, left evangelism and ultimately identified as an agnostic. His divergence from Billy Graham became one of the most famous apostasies of the twentieth century. Historical account
Gretta Vosper	Ordained United Church of Canada minister and author	Publicly identified as an atheist or “post-theist” while controversially continuing to lead a congregation. Profile

Christian Music Figures

Person	Former Christian Platform	Public Renunciation
Jon Steingard	Lead singer and songwriter for the Christian rock band Hawk Nelson	Announced in 2020 that he no longer believed in God after years of privately doubting the message he was publicly singing. Good Morning America
George Perdikis	Co-founder and original guitarist of the Newsboys	Said that by 2007 he had “renounced Christianity once and for all” and declared himself an atheist. Source
Audrey Assad	Dove-nominated Catholic/Christian singer whose music became prominent in contemporary worship circles	Announced that she was no longer a Christian or practicing Catholic. She continued to believe in an undefined spiritual reality influenced by Taoism and Zen Buddhism. Interview
David Bazan	Frontman of Pedro the Lion, originally known for explicitly Christian indie music	Publicly chronicled his loss of Christian faith and rejection of the beliefs that had shaped his music. Christianity Today interview
Derek Webb	Founding member of Caedmon’s Call and longtime Christian singer-songwriter	Released an album documenting his departure from Christianity and currently describes himself as agnostic, although he does not call himself an atheist and continues engaging Christian ideas. Recent profile

Entertainment and Media Figures

Person	Former Christian Platform	Public Renunciation
Rhett McLaughlin	Member of Rhett & Link; formerly a Cru missionary, worship leader and creator of evangelistic productions	Publicly announced that he was no longer a Christian and has continued producing annual accounts of his deconstruction. 2025 update
Link Neal	Rhett’s longtime partner; also formerly served with Cru as a missionary and worship leader	Announced alongside Rhett that he was no longer a Christian. He has described himself in agnostic terms while occasionally expressing openness or praying during personal difficulty. 2025 update
Seth Andrews	Fundamental Baptist and Christian-radio personality for approximately ten years	Became an atheist and founded The Thinking Atheist, using broadcasting skills developed in Christian radio to advocate against Christianity. Back

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