Greetings Friends!

Just as there are two faiths humanity live by (see http://bulamanriver.net/30348), correspondingly, mankind is created from two human species which will determine his eternal destiny.  

Many don’t realize this basic truth about human existence as shown in Scripture. As Creator, God only made two forms of humans that has ever existed and walked upon this earth. We are all God’s human creation, but what many don’t understand is you can be born into one of two human forms, two species of humanity God created. By ‘species’ I speak of the inner spiritual person, not the outer physical material human. It is the inner man that rules and controls the outer physical man.

They are both distinct by their respective natures. Let me explain. First, Adam was created from the dust of the earth. (Gen.1:26-27; 3:19) He was perfect and sinless until his fall in Eden by disobeying God. Instead, he obeyed Satan, the devil, by eating the forbidden fruit. (Gen.2:15-17; 3:1-24) As a result, Adam and Eve were stripped off the Love-nature of God in whose likeness they were first created. (see Gen.3:7; 1:26-27) Thus, mankind was consigned to a life of spiritual imprisonment under the now rebellious sin-nature of Adam who inherited the same from Satan. The second Adam was created by God to atone for the sin of the first Adam. (1 Cor.15:45-47; 1 John 2:2; 3:5)

As a consequence of the first Adam’s fall (sin), mankind was cut-off from access to God, as symbolized by his banishment from Eden, while at the same instant barred from access to the Tree of Life. (Gen.3:24) On account of Adam’s fall, we have inherited his sin-nature as his human descendants. We are fallen beings just as he was. We are “infected by sin,” as the prophet Isaiah affirms, just as he was. (Isa.6:4). The prophet said further, “When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind” (Isa.64:6, NLB).

Do we find that life at times hands us bad breaks, so to speak? Or perhaps we have an inherent unease that things may not turn out favorably despite our best intentions? It is highly likely our activity is the by product of a life that’s propped up by our fallen sin-nature from Adam. Recall what the Bible says about the nature or spirit of the “first Adam,” “When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags, and our sins sweep us away like the wind” (Isa.64:6). Is it possible to abort our own good intentions before we commit to them without realizing?

We are mindful of Eve’s example in Eden. Satan tempted her and she “saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom” (Gen.3:1-4). But her desires set in motion by Satan’s lies concerning the forbidden fruit did not materialize. Instead it led to failure…to sin. (Gen.3:6; John 8:44) Can we expect genuine success when even the good we imagine carries with it the seeds of failure by way of the sin-nature? Are the gains we think we have achieved in this life that’s molded in the spirit of the fallen “first Adam” be actually genuine success? How do we measure authentic success?

The Bible states, “God’s blessing (Love) makes life a success; nothing we do can improve on God (Love)” (Prov.10:22, MSG; 1 John 4:8). In other words, success or failure is a conditional response, it is not based upon effort alone; but strickly speaking upon one’s belief and moral values. Albert Eisntein said, “No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.” That’s to say, God’s Love creates a conditional response which brings an outcome to life where “all things do work together for good” (Rom.8:28), while sin is the conditional response for rebellion and failure. Isaiah says, “We have “become like something unclean..our iniquities carry us away like the wind” (Isa.64:6). So, we’ll call the “first Adam,” the fallen “Adamic humanity.”

Can we be saved? The answer comes through the second new humanity, the new human species, which God created through Jesus Christ, His Son. He was born to atone for Adam’s sin, and the sin-nature every human being inherited from him at birth. (John 3:16; Psa.51:5; 58:3; Job 15:14) God used the prophet Isaiah to announce this beautiful truth about the magnanimous heart of God to redeem mankind, “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isa.7:14; Matt.1:22-23, KJV). Further, “She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins” (Matt.1:21). So, here we see the “second Adam,” Jesus Christ the Immanuel, who emerges forth from God’s Triune Being as the Second Person of the Godhead. (Matt.28:18-20)

He was given a unique name, Immanuel. It means “God is with us” (Matt.1:23). The name reflects God’s Love and plan to be with and among humans and fulfill His redeeming plan for us. Therefore, we will call the “second Adam” (human), Jesus, by His prophetic name, “Immanuel humanity.” Or the “God With Us” humanity. Everything done by the “second Adam” produces good for it is done out of the Love-nature of the Spirit. Paul said, “God’s Love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (Rom.5:5; 8:28; 1 John 4:16) Recall, we had identified the fallen and corrupt “first Adam” (human) the name “Adamic humanity.” He acts out of the sin-nature.

The sin-nature and Love-nature of the two human species reveals the determinative consciousness which precede and follow their actions. Paul identified them both this way, saying, ““Adam, the first man, was made from the dust of the earth, while Christ, the second man, came from heaven” (1 Cor.15:47). Before the fall, Adam and Eve existed in God’s perfect likeness. (Gen.1:26-27) However, after they disobeyed by eating the forbidden fruit, God declared to Adam, “For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return” (Gen.3:19). What happened? Adam and Eve had sinned and brought about their own demise – for Scripture says, “the wages of sin is death” (Rom.6:23). Paul said further, “The first man Adam became a living being. But the last Adam, that is Christ – is a life-giving Spirit” (1 Cor.15:45, NLT).

Both human species originate from the Creator God, and given to mankind to identify two pathways, two realities of life. One leads to extinction, while the other leads to God’s everlasting Kingdom. The “first Adam” became “infected with sin” through Satan as the prophet proclaimed, and Paul tell us where this pathway leads, “For the wages of sin is death” (Rom.6:23; Isa.64:6). Yes, the pathway and destiny of the “first Adam” (human) leads to death. Now, John informs us about the pathway the “second Adam,” “For God so Loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Yes, the pathway and destiny of the “second Adam” (human) whom we will identify as the “Immanuel humanity” is Love and immortality.

Let’s face the most important question. How does this new humanity, called the “Immanuel Human,” is given birth and come into human existence? Jesus Himself answers, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again” (John3:5). The ‘Kingdom of God’ is reference to immortality we are promised to inherit in Christ. (John 3:16). It is vital to bear in mind that this new birth would not be possible if God had not first chosen to be assimilated with humanity through His Son, and born as “Immanuel human.” (John 3:16; Matt.1:23; Isa.7:14; 1 Cor.15:50-56)

Let us see how God joined Himself to humanity in order to save us. God declares, “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”) (Matt.1:23; Isa.7:14). Through Jesus’ mother, Mary, God assimilated Himself with and into mankind through His Son in order to redeem us. In doing so, He took our sinful humanity (“first Adam”) and nailed him to His Son’s cross together with his sinful life once for all. Scripture tell us that Jesus as our eternal High Priest by “one offering He forever made perfect those who are being made holy” (Heb10:12-14). Consequently, God initiated the human rebirth, commonly called “born again,” whereby mankind as many as believe in Jesus can be reborn into the new “Immanuel humanity” reflecting Jesus’own resurrection (rebirth) from the dead.

This divine miracle is God’s awesome mystery which any human being can enter and experience through faith by receiving Jesus as personal Savior. (John 3:16-17; Col.1:27) The “first Adam” with his sin-nature faces his demise upon the cross of Jesus through faith in Jesus as Messiah, and the “second Adam” is born to substitute and supersede the now deceased and lifeless fallen “first Adam” upon Jesus’ cross. Paul said, “Know this, that our old man (“first Adam”) is crucified with Him (Jesus), that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin” (Rom.6:6).

Writing to the Galatians, he said, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal.3:27). What Paul says is the ritual of baptism we partook in as believers demontrates our commitment to change from one species of humanity and “put on” another. Essentially, we are burying the first fallen “Adamic humanity” in the watery grave of baptism. Then just as Jesus was resurrected from the dead by the Spirit’s power, we rise from the baptismal waters by the same Spirit which God our heavenly Father confers upon us as His abiding gift. (Rom.8:14-16)

Recall, mankind was denied access to the Holy Spirit as symbolized by the Tree of Life after Adam’s fall in Eden. (Gen.3:24) Now, Jesus clears the way by inaugurating the gift of the Spirit through His own baptism in the Jordan and likewise opens the path for the Spirit to embrace humans through the meaning of baptism. (Matt.3:16-17; Rom.8:11) Later, the Spirit was poured out upon the the disciples, believers, and mankind on Pentecost. From that momentous occasion, the new “Immanuel humanity” was born universally in humans. (Act.2:1-4)

Paul continues to elaborate on this new life in Christ through the Spirit’s power, “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness” (Rom.5, 14-16).

It’s hard to fathom humanity’s epochal past under the sway of Adam’s “sin-nature” which brought on all the evil, suffering and pain, in the self-inflicted corruption and self-centeredness which mankind endured, up until the coming of Jesus and the Spirit that ushered in the new human species of Jesus with the “Love-nature” on Pentecost.

Paul, undeniably and clearly, speaks of how this change in the new birth become reality in life when he wrote to the Galatians, “My old self (“Adamic humanity”) has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ (“Immanuel humanity”) lives in me” (Gal.2:20). Yes, in baptism we have “put on” this new “Immanuel humanity” in Christ empowered by the Holy Spirit. Paul expounds the birth of the new “Immanuel human” this way, “Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Gal.2:20). Paul said further, “Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom.13:14).

What was God doing? God was showing His unfailing Love for us and reconciling fallen humans back to Himself through His Son, Jesus. (John 3:16; 2 Cor.5:18-19) By giving a new birth into the new humanity of Jesus, “Immanuel humanity,” mankind has joined himself with God, just as God had first assimilated Himself with mankind through Jesus His Son. The Divine will is for humans to be “…conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers” (Rom.8:29). “Conforming to Jesus’ image” is to be clothed in His new “Immanuel humanity” and become a people who live by God’s Love in every way, shape, and form. (1 John 4:16; 1 Cor.13) This is the foundation and essence of the new redeemed humanity we have in Jesus.

Paul speaks further of this new human birth and said, “You have taken off your old self (“Adamic humanity”) with its practices and have put on the new self, (“Immanuel humanity”) which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator” (Col.3:9-10, my emphasis, also Gen.1:26-27). Taking on Jesus’ new “Immanuel humanity” is the essence of the New Covenant, listen, “I will put a new Spirit (“Immanuel human”) within you; and I will take the stony heart (“Adamic human”) out of their flesh, and I will give them a heart of flesh: that they may walk in my statutes, and keep my ordinances, and do them: and they will be my people, and I will be their God” (Ezek.36:22-29; 1 Cor.15:45-47).

From being part of mankind born into the deathly fallen sin-nature of the “Adamic humanity,” there is nothing more astounding to the human imagination yet wondrously beautiful beyond compare, than to realize we have within our grasp the divine inheritance of the new birth wherein humans can through faith choose to be clothed in the glorious garment of Jesus’ resurrected life, the new “Immanuel humanity,” as a ‘Love gift’ from the Creator God our eternal Father. Amen.

Petition: Dear Friends, as I have closed my post in the past, I customarily give our readers the opportunity to give their lives to our Maker. I thank you for investing your precious time with me in the sharing of the good news of Jesus who has enabled us to live the Triune Life*. Jesus is alive today as our High Priest in heaven seated at His Father’s side, and ceaselessly mediating for us. I hope that in your heart to heart, and faith to faith, you will receive Him as your personal Savior, receive God’s Spirit, and be part of living this glorious humanity made children of God forever.

You can privately and quietly pray the prayer below in your heart. I am asking you to pray this prayer as a human being Christ died for, regardless of your background. All are inducted into the one mankind Jesus saved, not into any religious sect or denomination, or any division one may espouse – but into the glorious humanity that Christ is preparing as the holy temple for God’s dwelling:

Prayer: “Almighty God, Father of all humanity, forgive me of all my sins for I believe and receive Your Son, Jesus, as my personal Savior. In Your incalculable grace, grant Your promised celestial life in Your Son through Your Holy Spirit, and open my eyes to the wondrous gifts you have conferred upon me and all humanity. May Your Love guide and protect me and my Loved ones always, and bring us all into Your beloved and divine Kingdom. I praise and thank You, Amen.”

Welcome to the celestial life of Love in God’s holy, eternal Family. (1 Tim.6:19) Then keep in touch with God’s Word for you by reading and studying your Bible, and visiting this blog and website and look at various subjects that may be relevant for your situation – go to: http://bulamanriver.net You can email me with your questions at the address shown below.

Personal Blessing: Until we meet again in my next post, may the blessings of the God who ceaselessly expresses Himself in His dependable Triune Love, be with you always. May the Spirit enliven your spirit and make all things concerning you possible as you live the “Triune Life”* Be strong in the Lord’s Temple where joy abounds.

Farewell for now!

*Triune Life”: Relationship with God has no meaning without Love. By its very nature, Love cannot endure in solitary existence. So, when God said “Let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness…” He was revealing Himself as existing in His trinitarian Being and plural existence. That is, His Tri-Personal Being as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Gen.1:26; Matt.28:19; John 14:10, 16; 16:7) The Hebrew word for ‘God’ in the creation account is “Elohim.” It describes God as a Trinity – the Tri-Personal Godhead, which other scriptures attests. (Matt.28:18-20; 1 Pet.1:2; 2 Thess.2:13; 2 Cor.13:14) So, God is Trinitarian in His Love nature. Love by its nature unveils a God who is relational and multifaceted in His Tri-Personal Being. Hence, a human being was created a relational Love-being.

Adam was solitary and incomplete until God made Eve. He said, “It is not good for the man to be alone (solitary). I will make a helper suitable for him” (Gen.2:18, italics mine). So, God gave Adam a family composed of a father, mother, and offspring, to reflect Himself in His plural Love-Being. (1 John 4:16) The Bible states that the Church’s or humanity’s destiny is to marry Christ, the second Person of the Triune Godhead, in the new age to come which will be an everlasting relationship. (2 Cor.11:2; Eph.5:23-27, 32; Rev.19:7) The Bible is abundantly clear about God’s nature and declaration of Himself in His relational Triune Being from the past, the present, and the future. God has never lived as a solitary Being, but a Tri-Personal Love-Being with His Son, Jesus, and His Spirit. (Mat..28:18-20)

It’s noteworthy to understand that Eve was not created an individual creation from the dust of the earth as was Adam. She was not created apart from Adam as an individualized separate human being, instead, she was taken out from Adam’s side to show she was biologically one and indivisibly part of Adam. Eve was not detached (solitary) from Adam, but intrinsically inseparable from Adam’s innermost being and humanity. When Adam saw Eve, he said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man” (Gen.2:21-23).

Each one of us was created as an indivisible relational human being incubated and given birth from Adam’s mold as one species, for God created humanity to reflect the eternal likeness in His triunity. We are born for relationships with the divine triune Love as our guiding principle. All this show that humans were created to be indivisibly one to reflect God’s Tri-Personal image of Oneness, not solitary separateness. When God sent Jesus His eternal Son, He became human in order to unify humanity spiritually to the Triune Being of God once for all time. Hence, when the prophet Isaiah proclaimed Jesus’ coming, He was given the prophetic name, Immanuel. (Isa.7:14) The name means “God with us” (Matt.1:23). Humanity is ‘organically’ one with the Triune God, just as all of humanity is inseparably one with Adam.

Most religions believe God as some solitary being. The true God is not solitary by any means, He is the Trinity in His Tri-Personal Being. God consist of three Persons in One divine triune Godhead. They exist in One “homoousion” meaning consisting in one substance, or “consubstantiality.” The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit exist in One hypostatic union, One substance, like Eve was biologically part of and never physically separate, but of one substance from and in Adam. Likewise, humanity is made of one spiritual substance with the triune God through Jesus Christ who took our humanity upon Himself and joined it to the divine triune existence forever. Jesus was given the prophetic name Immanuel which means “God with us”, or God with humanity. (Matt.1:23; Isa.7:14) As the prophecy foretold and fulfilled, God assimillated Himself with mankind through Mary who bore His Son, Jesus Christ. (Matt.1:20; 18-25; 2:1-2)

The three-dimensional Triune Life/Love is opposed to living the one-dimensional solitary life of the fallen humanity inherited from Satan through Adam’s rebellion. For additional information about the Triune Life: http://bulamanriver.net/?p=8036. Also at: http://bulamanriver.net/9092.   

**Bulamanriver: To read the different facets of the life of the Bulamanriver, you may obtain a copy of my book, “Bula” Man-River, from Amazon.com; xulonpress.com, barnesandnoble.com, and other online book stores. All proceeds will go towards furthering the work of Gospel of Jesus Christ around the world.

All scriptures are taken from the NIV Version 2011, unless stated otherwise.

Mission Statement: Read the Triune Love Mission, Vision, and Value statements at: http://bulamanriver.net/8664

Note: All information is copy-write material. Any information obtained from this website that is used for publication should be acknowledged by citing the website address, date of acquisition and information pertinent to original authorship. For general guidelines regarding web citations see The Guide for Citing Electronic Information. Thank you.