WE’RE HEAVENLY BEINGS
The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven (1 Corinthians 15:47)
Part of what we observed from our previous study is that if you have Christ, you have eternal life, and if you don’t have Christ, you don’t have eternal life. It’s as simple as that. Without Him, you’re still living in the state of the first Adam, 100% human, earthly, and of this world. The Bible paints a clear picture of this reality in 1 Corinthians 15:47: “The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.”
The first Adam represents humanity’s earthly nature, the fallen state that began with him. This nature is limited, bound by the world, and destined for destruction. That’s a painful truth to acknowledge, but it’s what the Bible says. Those who aren’t born again are doomed to judgement and destruction. They may be your family members, friends, or leaders in society, but without Christ, they are earthy, and reserved for judgement; hence we must preach the Gospel to them as the only means of salvation.
Read 1 Corinthians 15:48 (AMPC) and see the powerful contrast between the earthy and the heavenly: “Now those who are made of the dust are like him who was first made of the dust (earthly-minded); and as is [the Man] from heaven, so also [are those] who are of heaven (heavenly-minded).” Those who are not born again (the earthy) are earthly-minded, but those who are born again in Christ are heavenly-minded. This doesn’t mean we are simply thinking about going to heaven; it means that we operate with the mindset and principles of heaven here on earth.
Heavenly-mindedness means living and thinking in alignment with how things are done in heaven, following God’s will, operating by His principles and thinking His thoughts. That’s the transformation that takes place when you’re born again. Verse 49 (AMPC) continues: “And just as we have borne the image [of the man] of dust, so shall we and so let us also bear the image [of the Man] of heaven.” We once bore the image of the man of dust, earthly, fallen and bound to the limitations of this world. But now, as new creations, we bear the image of the Man from heaven: Jesus Christ!
We are no longer earthy but heavenly. We live in this world, but we are not of this world (John 17:16). You’re a heavenly man or woman, a heavenly being, living by the thoughts, principles and ways of God’s Kingdom. Hallelujah!
PRAYER
Dear Father, I refuse to be limited by the earthly system, for I bear the image of Christ, the Man from heaven, and I’m aligned with your will and your ways as it is in the Word. Thank you for my life in Christ. I walk in victory, being heavenly-minded and empowered by your Spirit, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
Colossians 3:1-2, 1 Corinthians 15:47-49 AMPC, Romans 12:2
1-Year Bible Reading Plan: Matthew 5:21-48 & Genesis 15-17
2-Year Bible Reading Plan: Matthew 3:10-17 & Genesis 6
