What kind of traits have you inherited from your ancestors? Many types of physical characteristics are passed down from generation to generation, such as hair and eye color, type of build, etc. My son got his height, slender build and blue-gray eyes from his maternal grandfather. My daughter got her rather short stature from her paternal grandmother. There also is something very unwelcome that we all have inherited from our common ancestor, Adam, and that is sin and death. Our Scripture passage today talks of this, and also gives the welcome news of how Jesus destroyed this for all those who trust in Him.
Jesus died on the cross for our sins, and on the third day after, He rose again. Jesus was the first fruit, the first resurrection who did not have to die again a second time, like Lazarus and others that Jesus had raised to life (vs. 20). The first fruits were the first and best part of the harvest given as an offering to God. Jesus’s resurrection was a first fruit. Jesus’s resurrection is a guarantee that all believers who have died will also be resurrected.
Death and sin had spread to all humans from Adam on down through the ages because of Adam’s first sin. Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead has brought the reality of the resurrection to new life with Him for all believers (vs. 21 - 22).
The word “all” is mentioned twice in verse 22. The first “all” is all-encompassing, referring to everyone who has ever lived, all descendants of Adam. The second “all” in this verse applies only to all believers. It does not imply the salvation of everyone without faith. It does not teach Universalism. Throughout the Bible it is taught that there is eternal punishment of unbelievers.
Death is something that most people fear and dread. It is a great unknown, as it is an experience people have only once. After that, they don’t come back and tell others what it is like. Death takes our loved ones away. We fear it, as it is part of the curse brought to earth by Satan. Christians can praise the Lord, though, as Jesus has destroyed death and defeated Satan, the author of death!
God the Father and God the Son are equal, but they each have a specific work to do. Jesus is not inferior to the Father. One of His roles is to defeat evil (vs. 24 - 28). Jesus defeated sin and death on the cross. At the end of the Millennial reign on earth Jesus will finally and completely defeat Satan, as any power Satan has will be destroyed. Jesus will then present a new and perfect world to the Father.
Verse 25 illustrates an ancient custom. When there was a battle between two warring kingdoms, the victorious monarch would put his foot on the necks of his conquered enemies to humiliate them. This would show that defeated enemy, the conquered people of the enemy's kingdom, and his own victorious people that these people were defeated and he was conqueror. This is what Jesus will do in the end to His enemies. Jesus is the victorious king who has defeated Satan! The devil, and those who refuse to submit to Jesus will be put under His feet.
Believers in Jesus have a bright and glorious future to look forward to! No more sin! No more death! A glorious resurrection!
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