And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her [Mary], desired to put her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit,” Matthew 1:19-20.
“That which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.” Isn’t this wonderful? The Lord Jesus was brought forth in holiness, and was conceived in holiness. We, on the other hand, were brought forth in iniquity, and conceived in sin, Psalm 51:5.
After maintaining His holiness for His entire life by learning obedience from the things which He suffered, Jesus was raised from the dead by the same Spirit by which He was conceived, the Holy Spirit of God.
Jesus, as the last Adam, took our bodies of sin which were brought forth in iniquity, and conceived in sin, to the cross with him, and we who believe were crucified with Him. We were then buried with Him through baptism, after which we were given new life by the same Spirit who impregnated Mary and raised Jesus from the dead, and we were raised up to be with Him in the heavenlies, where our lives are now hidden with Christ in God.
So also it is written, “The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL.” The last Adambecame a life-giving spirit, 1 Corinthians 15:45. And the life-giving spirit He now gives is the Holy Spirit to all who believe in Him.
The first Adam was created by the Spirit of God; the last Adam was conceived by the Spirit of God;
The first Adam died and returned to dust; the last Adam was raised from the dead by the Spirit of God.
And though all flesh will return to dust, we who believe will live eternally in the Holy Spirit that makes up the body of Him whom God raised from the dead, our Lord Jesus Christ.
We are so fortunate that Jesus became a life-giving spirit.
Jon David Banks, God’s most unworthy servant
jondavidbanks.com 