The Life of Christ
The Genealogy of Christ (Part 1 of 6)
by
Rev. Mark Perkins, Pastor
Denver Bible Church
326 E. Colorado Ave.
Denver, Colorado 80210
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Introduction.
Matthew and Luke have taken the time to record the genealogies
of our Lord. Since they wrote under the inspiration of God the
Holy Spirit, we can assume that this information is important.
Thanks to the Pharisees' fascination with genealogies, at the
time that these men wrote there was a great archive of information
on the subject, and so they were able to accurately trace the
line of Christ.
Luke traces the line of Christ through his mother, Mary. That
is why 3:23 reads (or should read if it does not) "Jesus...
being the son (as was supposed of Joseph) of Eli..."
Women were seldom included in Jewish genealogies, and so Luke
only had the information about the patrilinear progenitors of
Mary. He does start with her, however, even though he does not
mention her name.
Luke did take the time to write the complete story of Mary and
the immaculate conception, so he also took the time to write
up her lineage.
Matthew traces of the line of Christ through Joseph, and thus
back to Abraham. Luke takes Mary's line back to Adam.
Though Joseph was not Christ's biological Father, our Lord traced
his legal heritage through him. That is why Matthew's line stops
at Abraham. His line had to do with Israel, and Israel began
with Abraham.
Since the line of Mary is Christ's biological line, the line
is traced clear back to Adam.
Both of the genealogies skip generations.
This was a common practice in the Jewish handling of these things.
The reasons varied. It could be that the information was no longer
available, or that the genealogist considered a certain generation
unimportant. The reason does not matter. Just keep this fact
in mind.
Luke's Genealogy
Luke's genealogy is unique in that it traces its line in the
opposite direction from the norm. However, we will start with
Adam and go forward, in spite of Luke's deviant behavior.
Adam
It is fitting that we start with Adam, because Adam was the first
head of the human race. By looking at Adam's life we can discover
the beginnings of our problems... and solutions. Adam is perhaps
the one man in these genealogies with the greatest connection
to Christ.
Rom 5:12-21, "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered
into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to
all men because all sinned"
When God created Adam, He gave him the legitimate authority to
rule planet earth When God created Adam, He created him body,
mind, and spirit.
Adam's human spirit formed the basis for his relationship with
God in the Garden.
Adam's body gave him the basis for logistical provision in time
and space.
Adam's mind gave him the basis for volitional decision and true
worship of God.
When Adam sinned, the following things happened.
He surrendered his authority to rule planet earth to Satan.
His human spirit was removed from his body, causing spiritual
death. He could not pass on this human spirit to future generations.
His body received an old sin nature, which would be genetically
transmitted to all future generations.
His mind became corrupted by the old sin nature, but still remained
functional. He still had a conscience, which contained a frame
of reference for right and wrong.
Therefore, all of Adam's progeny would suffer the following consequences:
They would be born spiritually dead, sharing the condemnation
for Adam's sin.
They would be born with the indwelling presence of the old sin
nature in the cell structure of their bodies (and yes, genetics
confirms this).
They would be born with a soul, and thus would be able to choose
for themselves the courses of their lives (and so genetics means
very little).
They would be born with a human conscience, and thus be able
to discern right from wrong,
Romans 2:14-15, "For when Gentiles who do not have the Law
do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the
law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the
Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness,
and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them..."
Romans 5:13,14, "for until the Law sin was in the world;
but sin is not imputed though [concessive use of the present
participle] there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from
Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness
of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come."
The first part of this statement communicates the utter degeneracy
of the post-sin, pre-flood era, and their great hope in the last
Adam.
The Law of Moses provided very much in the way of Divine Establishment
restraint on the old sin nature.
Without that restraint, the human race became extremely involved
in the cosmic system, even to the point of sexual relations with
angels.
And yet even at that time, their personal sins were not imputed
to them. They were instead reserved for imputation to Jesus Christ
The second part of the statement has to do with the continued
effects of spiritual death.
Although their personal sins were not imputed to them, spiritual
death still continued unrestrained.
This shows the heart of the matter. Real spiritual death has
to do with the imputation of Adam's sin. Salvation has to do
with the imputation of our personal sin into Adam.
We did not commit Adam's sin - Adam did. We do receive the imputation
of that sin at the moment of human birth.
Romans 5:15,16 contrasts the two Adams:
"But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if
by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did
the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus
Christ, abound to the many. And the gift is not like that which
came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment
arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on
the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting
in justification."
Adam's original sin resulted in the spiritual death of the entire
human race, except for the second Adam, Jesus Christ.
The work of Christ on the cross in receiving the imputation of
the personal sins of the human race resulted in the opportunity
for the human race to regain spiritual life in God.
Salvation is a free gift, but it must be taken - accepted. It
is offered to the entire human race without exception.
Salvation arose from the sins of all being imputed to the one.
Spiritual death arose from the sins of one being imputed to the
all.
Romans 5:17 tells us about realms of power and authority related
to sin.
"For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through
the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and
of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One,
Jesus Christ."
Adam's sin put Satan into authority in the world and in the human
body. As a result the entire world was enslaved to Satan through
the world branch of the cosmic system.
The individuals of the world were enslaved to him through the
individual branch of the cosmic system; But Christ's substitutionary
spiritual death gave the human race the authority to take their
lives back.
The abundance of grace is a brief description of post salvation
spiritual assets.
The gift of righteousness is the imputation of the work of Christ
into the new believer at salvation.
Therefore even in the devil's world we can rule our own lives
through God's control.
Romans 5:18 provides a further explanation of the principle.
"So then just as through one transgression there resulted
condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness
[a judicial sentence, handed down by a judge] there resulted
justification of life to all men."
The Greek word dikaio.ma indicates a judical sentence passed
down from a judge.
In this case, it is the death sentence passed down from God the
Father to Jesus Christ. Christ died under the sentence of death
for us.
The judicial decision is permanent - and thus lasts for all eternity.
God will never rescind His judgment of our sins in Jesus Christ.
We are secure forever because of this.
This judicial sentence is also an act of righteousness for the
perfect Christ chose to die for sinful mankind.
Because of God's judicial sentence and Christ's righteous act
provide the basis for our justification.
The righteousness of Christ is then imputed to everyone who believes
in Christ.
This righteousness is used by God in order to justify our salvation.
We are qualified to live forever with Him.
Romans 5:19 begins the summary,
"For as through the one man's disobedience the many were
made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many
will be made righteous."
Adam's sin was imputed to all, and therefore all were made sinners.
Christ's work of righteousness on the cross will provide righteousness
to all who believe on Him.
The final two verses of the chapter:
Romans 5:19,20, "Now the Law came in the side door [pareiserchomai]
so that the transgression [unbelief - the unforgiveable sin]
might increase [grow in importance as an issue]; but where the
sin increased [as an issue], grace abounded all the more [salvation
provision] that, as the sin reigned through [spiritual] death,
even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord."
The purpose of the Law is not to increase personal sin. Actually
it limits it.
The unforgiveable sin, unbelieve, is in view here. The unforgiveable
sin is the rejection of Christ's work on the cross.
Because of spiritual death, the imputation of Adam's sin, the
unforgiveable sin ruled and does rule over all those who refuse
to believe in Christ.
The Law increases the unforgiveable sin as an issue, because
the Law defines both sin and the grace provision of God.
As sin increased as an issue, so also did grace, and the grace
provision of God.
Eternal life is the sum total of life after salvation for both
time and eternity.
We live eternal life if we take hold of our portfolio of post
salvation provision, and if we live eternal life, then we rule
over all aspects of the cosmic system.
Therefore, in Adam we all died. In Christ, we can all live. This
is the essence of the baptism of the Spirit.
1 Cor 15:20-28 and 35-49, tells us what Adam has to do with our
future life in God.
I Cor. 15:20-22 introduce the matter.
"But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first
fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death,
by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam
all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive."
This passage points out there is more to human life than life,
and more to physical death than death.
Physical death is only a tragedy if it occurs while one is also
spiritually dead. Human life is only meaningful insofar as it
is spiritual.
Adam's sin resulted in the spiritual and physical death of all
mankind. Christ's death resulted in the provision of salvation
for all mankind.
Christ's resurrection resulted in the provision of a resurrection
body for all believers. Christ was the first to be resurrected,
but there will be many more.
1 Cor. 15:23 and 24 set forth the order of resurrections.
"But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after
that those who are Christ's at His coming, then comes the end,
when He delivers up the kingdom to the God and Father, when he
has abolished all rule and all authroity and power.
The word for order in this passage has to do with human organizations
of various kinds. Primarily, it is a word used of military formations.
In a military formation, things always happen in a certain order,
and that is what is in view here.
First, Christ is resurrected.
Second, all believers from the church age receive their resurrection
bodies.
Third, all believers from all other periods of history are resurrected.
It is at the end of history that all rule is abolished.
arche. is the word for rule, and it serves as the general category.
exousia and dunamis define the two types of rulership; exousia
for legitimate authority, and dunamis for illegitimate.
It is all abolished because the kingdom of heaven is put into
place, where Christ rules all.
The kingdom which Christ delivers is His millennial kingdom.
I Cor. 15:25 and 26 explain the reason for the extension of Christ's
millennial rule,
"For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under
His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death."
Christ will reign in His kingdom until the job is completely
finished. He reigns from the right hand of the Father even now.
He will reign on planet Earth in the millennium.
In this case, reigning or ruling means more than just sitting
on a throne. It means an active and benevolent rule towards all
who are His rightful subjects. All who believe in Him remain
just that - His rightful subjects.
There are many enemies of Jesus Christ: humans and angels - and
even death.
Death will be the last of these enemies to fall to the power
and authority of Jesus Christ.
Death was brought into the world by Adam, though Satan was Christ's
first real enemy.
1 Cor. 15:27 and 28 comment on the victory that has already been
won.
"For he has put all things in subjection under His feet.
But when he says, 'All things are put in subjection,' it is evident
that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him.
And when all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself
also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to
Him, that God may be all in all."
God the Father has placed all things under the rulership of Christ
- positionally. The cross and the resurrection were the dual
strategic victories that absolutely assured the overall victory
of God in the angelic conflict, and completely reversed the adverse
effects of Adam's sin.
The cross was the strategic victory over sin; all the sins of
man were imputed to Christ on the cross, and judged in Him.
The resurrection was the strategic victory over physical and
spiritual death. Physical death because of the resurrection body;
spiritual death because of the resurrection mind.
The conflict will continue, even though the handwriting is really
on the wall at this point. Evil fights on though completely beaten.
God the Father is the exception to the rule. All is under Christ's
subjection because of the cross, resurrection and ascension.
God the Father is the exception to that. He will remain in authority
over the Son forever.
The purpose of this subjection is so that from beginning to end,
God might remain in authority - and it is fitting that He is.
He was in authority over Christ in eternity past.
He remained in authority throughout human history, and even until
now.
And therefore it is right that he remains forever.
(Verses 29-34 form a parenthetical statement that is not pertinent
to our study, so we will skip them
1 Cor. 15:35 picks up the subject of the actual resurrection.
"But someone will say, 'How are the dead raised? And with
what kind of body do they come?'"
We know how death came into the world - through Adam's original
sin came both spiritual and physical death. We should also come
to understand how life will come again.
Paul begins his explanation of the mystery with an analogy from
the world of agriculture. "That which you sow does not come
to life unless it dies; and that which you sow, you do not sow
the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or
of something else."
The seed is planted in the shell of the human body, and the human
body must die in order for the seed to grow.
An entire corn stalk is not sown in order to grow another; just
a seed, and that is it.
An entire resurrection body is not placed inside of our own;
just the kernel, the seed of one is placed.
1 Cor. 15:38,39 are an explanation of the individuality of the
resurrection bodies of all creatures.
"But God gives it a body just as He willed, and to each
of the seeds a body of its own. All flesh is not the same flesh,
but there is one flesh of men and another flesh of beasts, and
another flesh of birds, and another of fish."
God made a sovereign decision to make our resurrection bodies
in a certain way. Since it is God's decision, it is going to
be a wonderful body.
The flesh of each order of creatures is different, and so are
the resurrection bodies of all humans.
Heaven means inequality - among resurrection bodies.
It is impossible to tell from a seed what it will grow into.
So it is with the resurrection body. You cannot tell from looking
at someone how they will turn out in heaven. Only God can tell.
The resurrection body is the result of what you do on earth with
your human spirit, which is the seed.
If you cultivate it and nourish it, it will grow into something
fantastic. If you neglect it, it will be not much.
1 Cor. 15:40,41 continue the explanation.
"There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but
the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly
is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory
of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs
from star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead."
The heavenly bodies are used to analogize the difference in the
glory of the earthly categories. The sun is great and glorious
- the moon just its reflection. Stars are far off and dim. All
are different according to the will of God.
1 Cor. 15:42,43 tell us the about the soil into which the seed
of the resurrection body is sown.
"It is sown in a perishable body, it is raised in an imperishable
body; it is sown in dishonorable, it is raised in glory; it is
sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a soulish
body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body,
there is also a spiritual body."
The soil into which the seed is planted is the human body. The
body is the perishable, the dishonorable, the weak, the soulish.
The soulish is from the Greek word psuchikos. Soulish is used
elsewhere in Scripture (1 Cor 2:14; James 3:15; Jude 1:19) to
connote a person without a human spirit.
The weakness is from the Greek word astheneia, which emphasizes
the inability of the human to make the conversion.
The perishable is obvious.
The dishonorable points the the old sin nature in the cell structure
of the human flesh.
And now a comparison is made between the earthly body of Adam
and his race, and Christ and His followers.
1 Cor. 15:45,46, "So also it is written, 'The first man,
Adam, became a lving soul.' The last Adam [Christ] became a life-making
spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural;
then the spiritual.
Adam's bad decision resulted in the spiritual death of the entire
human race. This is summed up in the phrase psuche zosan - "living
soul."
A living soul is one that has human life, but not spiritual.
Human life is the sum of biological and soul life, or psuche
zosan.
The second man's, Christ's, good decision resulted in the spiritual
life of all who would believe in Him.
All who believe are given spiritual life in the form of the human
spirit. All who receive the human spirit have human life, and
eternal life.
The order of things was for Adam to come first, and then Christ.
The problem must appear before the solution.
The conclusion is in 1 Cor. 15:47-49.
"The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man
is from heaven. As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy;
and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. And
just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also
bear the image of the heavenly."
Seth
Seth was Adam's third son, and after the death of Abel and the
banishment of Cain, Seth would renew Adam's line.
Seth represents a new hope and new beginning. He was the appointed
replacement for Abel, and that is the meaning of his name (Gen
4:25-26).
Seth would father Enos at the age of one hundred and five, and
he would die when he was nine hundred and twelve years of age.
During this time in human history, people lived to ages which
seem impossible today.
The line of Christ had been cut off when Cain murdered Abel.
Seth is the renewal of that line. In a sense, he is Abel's substitute;
his designated hitter.
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