The Gospel Solution: From the Old Man to the New Creation

In Adam

In the beginning, God created one man—Adam. We have no record that God ever directly created another human being in the same way since. All human life has been passed on through the natural process of birth, meaning our existence is an extension of that original life in Adam. Therefore, when God created Adam, He effectively created the entire human race within him. Adam received life directly from God; we inherit life secondhand—his life, damaged by sin.

Because of this inheritance, the consequences of Adam’s sin affect us all. Romans 5:12 says, “By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Verse 19 reinforces this: “By one man’s disobedience many were made sinners.”

This doesn’t mean we are born guilty of Adam’s sin, but we inherit his nature—a sinful, corrupted disposition. As a result, we are born spiritually deformed. We don’t become sinners merely by copying Adam, but by being born into his fallen condition. This is why all people need redemption.

The New Creation

God’s solution was to send a second Adam—Jesus Christ. Just as we were all in the first Adam by birth, God made a way for us to be in Christ by a new birth. Jesus is the source of a new, sinless, righteous life. This is not about improving the old life, but exchanging it. The corrupted life of Adam must die; the life of Christ must become ours.

Romans 5:18–19 explains: “By the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life... by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”

The New Birth

Jesus taught that we must be born again (John 3:3). This spiritual rebirth is how we inherit Christ’s life. We don’t earn it by effort or behavior. It is a gift. When we are born into Christ, God sees us as righteous, not by pretense, but in truth—because we truly possess the life of His Son.

This new life, like the old, is received by inheritance. We were born into Adam’s life by natural birth; we are born into Christ’s life by faith through spiritual rebirth. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.”

No Sin in Christ’s Life

There is no sin in the life of Christ. When someone lives in habitual sin, it indicates they are still operating in the old Adamic life. However, it must also be recognized that even those born again can still fall into sin—especially when they lose sight of Christ, act in ignorance, or fail to abide in Him momentarily. These are not the fruits of a willful, unchanged heart but of spiritual weakness and lack of focus. This does not change the truth that the life of Christ is sinless—what it shows is our need to remain connected to Him daily.

Even the most sincere Christian may sin unintentionally or stumble. This doesn’t mean Christ’s life has failed them, but that they need to return their gaze to Him, rely on His Spirit, and keep walking in faith. The journey involves growth, correction, and grace (1 John 1:9).

Only One Righteous

Only one person is righteous—Jesus Christ. Salvation is found only in Him. All who are saved must be in Christ, partakers of His life. The goal is not self-reformation but union with Him. Many Christians have tried to improve their Adamic life through religion, discipline, or moral striving. But no matter how sincere, the old nature cannot be reformed—it must die.

Dying to the Old, Rising in the New

This is what it means to repent and surrender. The “old man” is crucified (Rom. 6:6), not physically, but spiritually. Jesus puts to death the carnal, self-centered mind and gives us His own Spirit—the mind of Christ (Rom. 6:11, Col. 3:4).

From then on, the Christian life is not a mixture of Adam and Christ, but a continual walk in newness of life. Still, the believer must remain watchful, abiding in Christ through faith. Whenever a Christian sins, it reveals a moment of disconnection or spiritual forgetfulness—not a complete loss of salvation, but a call to return and refocus on Christ.

Not Works, but Faith

Salvation is not earned. “By grace are ye saved through faith… not of works” (Eph. 2:8–9). We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus. The life of victory and righteousness is not human achievement—it is Christ living in us.

Many believe in justification by faith but think sanctification is achieved by effort. Paul counters this: “As ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him” (Col. 2:6). The Christian life begins and continues by faith.

Abandon Self

When we realize our own depravity, we stop trusting in ourselves. We turn wholly to Christ—not just for forgiveness but for righteousness. Repentance is not merely regret for actions; it is a total renunciation of the old life.

True righteousness appears when we live by faith in Christ’s life within us. Though we may still falter, our direction is set, our power is His, and our identity is new. We do not strive to imitate Christ—we live His life, by faith.

The difference between sinners and saints is not in behavior alone but in nature and direction. Sinners live by the flesh; saints live by the Spirit. If we fall, we rise again—not in condemnation but in grace. The life of Christ in us makes righteousness not only possible but natural.

Conclusion

This gospel is simple, profound, and liberating. The life of Christ is a gift—received by faith, lived by faith. Let us embrace it fully and reject all confidence in the flesh. As Paul says:

“The Gentiles… attained righteousness… by faith. But Israel… sought it by the works of the law… and stumbled” (Rom. 9:30–32).

Let us not stumble. Let us walk by faith and remain in the life of Christ, where victory, peace, and salvation are found.