Posted by Ray Kidder on 8/22/2009, 11:53 am, in reply to "Re: Abraham's legacy"
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Searcher:
Here is the allegorical symbolism that I see with the prototype man, and how Romans 7 is largely a replaying of Adam's experience in the garden:
1. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil represented the law of Moses.
2. The serpent represented the law of sin in St. Paul's members.
3. The commandment given to Adam (Genesis 2:16-17) was a commandment that was ordained to life, but which was found to be unto death.
4. The aprons of fig leaves represented the works of the law.
5. The clothing of animal skins represented the putting on of Christ, and not making provisions to the flesh in regard to its lusts.
6. Eve represented the flesh.
7. Eve's emotional decision to eat of the forbidden fruit was based on the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life.
8. The tree of life represented the lost opportunity for immortality. God's permission to eat of this tree was one of the reasons the commandment given to Adam was one that was ordained to life.
9. The shame of being naked represented the shame of exposing the works of the flesh.
10. Adam's naming of Eve represented saving faith and hope.
11. The clothing God gave them from animal skins also represented the circumcision of the heart, and the lamb of God that was slain for the sins of the world.
12. The broken rib of Adam, from which the woman was made, represented the shorted Y chromosome of males.
13. Adam's naming of the animals in Genesis 2:18-20 represented the vanity associated with the wisdom of words, as mentioned in I Corinthians 1:17.
14. As St. Paul developed feelings of covetousness through the commandment, Eve (who was still Adam's flesh) developed feelings of desire to eat of the forbidden fruit. Whan Eve ate, Adam's flesh had already succumed to sin. Similarly, the mere covetous desires that welled up within St. Paul were sinful even though St. Paul may not have acted upon his covetousness.
I agree with you that both Adam and Jesus came into the world as Sons of God. You also wrote:
"Adam gave himself up to death so that God's plan of redemption and salvation could proceed.
Cain and Abel were types of a faithful person in comparison to a religious person. Abel's sacrifice was the first example of religion. He chose the way of natural religion rather than the way God had appointed."
I am not sure what you meant in your first sentence. I think Adam (with Eve) was trying to make himself more spiritual, much like St. Paul tried to make himself more spiritual by studying the law of Moses. Cain was the brother that disappointed God, by giving a sacracife of foods that grew from the ground. Abel's sacrifice was accepted, as it involved the death of animals. Similarly, the Jews of Jesus' day were a disappointment to God, even though they studied the OT and tried to apply the wisdom thereof to make themselves righteous before Him. This is from Matthew 27 (NKJV):
17 Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”
18 For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.
19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.”
This envy towards Jesus corresponds with this envy of Cain towards Abel, shown here in Genesis 4 (NKJV):
3 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD.
4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering,
5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.
6 So the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?
7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”
8 Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.
9 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?”
He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
10 And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.
11 So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
12 When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth.”
It is interesting how Judas Iscariot's life was after the pattern of both Cain and Abel. Remember that Judas killed Judas, and his blood spilled out on a field.
My point in this post is that the basic tenants of Christianity were found back in the first few chapter of Genesis. These people were the ancestors of all of humanity through Noah, so Christianity was intended for all of humanity even before Abraham, although I admit that a prophecy of the Jewish religion can be found in the fate of Cain.
Ray Kidder
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