Adam is an example of a believer that lost his salvation?

Adam is an example of a believer that lost his salvation. DEFEND  or REFUTE that statement with the appropriate use of scripture.

Let’s Get Started

An adequate Scriptural understanding of definite terms in the above statement will provide clarity on the Concepts of the words used in the statement .

We’d asking and answering some questions which will help us to critically and accurately Discern

WHO EXACTLY IS ADAM?

Adam Scripturally was the first man! He was created by God

Genesis 2:7 KJV
And the Lord God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became A LIVING SOUL.

The discussion enlist other things that were created

Genesis 2:9 KJV
And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is PLEASANT to the sight, and GOOD FOR FOOD; THE TREE OF LIFE also in the midst of the garden, and THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL.

God gave this first man—Adam very specific command as touching verse 9 [and Adam supposedly told his wife—Eve] 

Genesis 2:16-17 KJV
And THE LORD GOD COMMANDED THE MAN, saying, Of EVERY TREE of the garden THOU MAYEST FREELY EAT:

[17] But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, THOU SHALT NOT EAT OF IT: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

The command was that Adam could eat of EVERY tree of the garden for which every would include The tree of Life.

What not to eat is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil!

That is, It’s not God’s will

So one could assuredly establish or say “It’s God’s intent [will, plan or purpose] for Adam to EAT THE TREE OF LIFE…” 

[And not surely die:—this would mean Life and to keep Living perpetually right?]

This also means Adam was not created by God to live forever! He was not immortal like God [We’d come back to this later]

But God in His manifold sovereignty never forced Adam to eat this tree of life! No!

He gave Adam the ability to choose

This automatically means whatever happens [“Thou shalt Surely Die” And by implication “Thou shalt Not surely die“] would be determined solely by Adam’s Action right?

Also note that “the trees are pleasing to the sight and good for food” according to verse 9

Now Adam was fully aware of the choices he had to make and the consequences of each one as seen in the command

So what was Adam’s Action, Which choice did he make?

Genesis 3:1-4 KJV
Now THE SERPENT was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And HE SAID [Not “It said”] unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

[2] And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

[3] But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it [really?], lest ye die.

[4] And THE SERPENT said unto the woman, YE SHALL NOT SURELY DIE:

…You know the rest of the story I suppose if not read on to find out what happened!

A quick note:
This account in the Scriptures above was a Vision. This means some terms would be symbolic and never literal

Adam and Eve is literal, but trees of Life, Serpent are not literal!

So who’s “The Serpent”? Let’s see Scriptures!

Luke 10:17,19-20 KJV
And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even THE DEVILS ARE SUBJECT UNTO US through thy name.

[19] Behold, I give unto you power to tread on SERPENTS and scorpions, and over all the POWER OF THE ENEMY: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

[20] Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that THE SPIRITS ARE SUBJECT UNTO YOU; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Serpent here refers to the enemy—the devils, the spirits that were subject to the disciples through Jesus’ name

Let’s keep the meaning and see the next chapter

Luke 11:11-13 KJV
If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a SERPENT?

[12] Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a SCORPION?

[13] If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your HEAVENLY  FATHER  GIVE  THE HOLY SPIRIT to them that ask him?

So “serpent” was used to denote the opposite of the Holy Spirit, that would mean unholy [evil] spirit!

This is consistent with chapter 10 we saw earlier!

See More lights in the Epistles

2 Corinthians 11:3-4 KJV
But I fear, lest by any means, as THE SERPENT beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in CHRIST.

[4] For if he that cometh preacheth ANOTHER JESUS, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive ANOTHER SPIRIT, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with [him].

An ordinary snake couldn’t have been talked about in the context of Christ versus Another Jesus, Another Spirit etc.

This means it’s not just literal!

Let’s see two Scriptures more

Revelation 12:9 KJV
And THE GREAT DRAGON was cast out, THAT OLD SERPENT , CALLED THE DEVIL , and SATAN, which DECEIVETH THE WHOLE WORLD: he was cast out into the earth, and HIS ANGELS were cast out with him.

So the serpent here is Satan and his angels would be referred to as serpents

Revelation 20:2 KJV
And he laid hold on THE DRAGON, that OLD SERPENT, WHICH IS THE DEVIL, and SATAN, and bound him a thousand years,

That said, the serpent having seen a loophole in Eve’s knowledge [neither shall ye touch it…] told Eve in verse 4 “YE SHALL NOT SURELY DIE”

The above statement negates God’s command to Adam and the summary, Eve was deceived [because she’s ignorant obviously] And Adam transgressed.

He deliberately flaunted God’s command having adequate knowledge of the consequence of the action as stated in the command and as explained above

Kindly see just one Scripture please [in addition to 2 Corinthians 11:3 above]

1 Timothy 2:13-14 KJV
For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

[14] And ADAM WAS NOT DECEIVED, but THE WOMAN BEING DECEIVED was in the transgression.

So if I don’t KNOW a fake dollar bill, I could be deceived with a fake dollar bill because I don’t know [I can’t spot the difference between the original and fake—Ignorance]

Now! The consequence of Adam’s transgression was “Thou shalt surely die”

What would have happened supposing Adam chose otherwise?

Genesis 3:22,24 KJV
And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and TAKE also OF THE TREE OF LIFE, and EAT, AND LIVE FOR EVER:

[24] So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep THE WAY OF THE TREE OF LIFE.

Adam has just being Explained from Scriptures. It should adequately answer our question “Who exactly is Adam“

Now! Let’s answer few questions which summarised the points
Was Adam automatically created to live forever? No!

Did Adam had the opportunity to Choose Life over Death “thou shalt surely die”? Yes!

Did Adam choose Life? NO!

What did he chose instead? Death!

Hope it’s clear?

 

VERY QUICKLY:The word “example” means

Strong Concordance

#Something that is representative of all such things in a group

#Something that serves to illustrate or explain a rule

#Something that serves as a pattern of behaviour to be imitated (a good example) or not to be imitated (a bad example)

#A parallel or closely similar case, especially when serving as a precedent or model

#An instance (as a problem to be solved) serving to illustrate the rule or precept or to act as an exercise in the application of the rule

 

WHO IS A BELIEVER?

Let’s settle who a Believer is

Dictionary: The term itself is a noun which means “someone who believes; especially regarding religion.

This means “Believer” was derived from the word “Believe” which means “To accept as true” “to accept that someone is telling the truth” or “to have a religious faith” See an example of usage.

Luke 1:1 KJV
Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are MOST SURELY BELIEVED AMONG US,

So who exactly is a Believer?

Mark 16:14-16 KJV
Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with THEIR UNBELIEF and hardness of HEART , because they BELIEVED NOT them which had SEEN HIM after HE WAS RISEN.

[15] And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and PREACH THE GOSPEL to EVERY CREATURE.

[16] HE THAT BELIEVETH and is baptized shall be SAVED; but he that BELIEVETH NOT shall be DAMNED.

We could contextually say [from verse 14-16] that;

#A Believer would be someone who believed a very specific message about SOMEONE who rose from the dead

#The message would be preached

#The message is called the Gospel

#It would be preached to every Creature

#The “every Creature” would have just two options to choose from

#Believe vs Believe not [Unbelief] 

#If He believes, He’s SAVED

#If He believes not, He’s DAMNED

Another one

Luke 24:46-47 KJV

And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to RISE FROM THE DEAD the third day:

[47] And that REPENTANCE and REMISSION OF SINS should BE PREACHED IN HIS NAME among ALL NATIONS, beginning at Jerusalem.

So this someone rose from the dead the third day, repentance which is  remission of sins is preached in his name

So a believer is a person who has believed a specific message preached called the Gospel

WHAT EXACTLY IS THE GOSPEL?

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you THE GOSPEL which I PREACHED UNTO YOU, which also YE HAVE RECEIVED, and WHEREIN YE STAND;

[2] By which also YE ARE SAVED, if ye keep in memory what I PREACHED unto you, unless YE HAVE BELIEVED in vain.

NOW! PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE FACTS/SPECIFICS OF THE GOSPEL

[with the definite article “the”]

[3] For I DELIVERED unto you first of all that which I ALSO RECEIVED, how THAT CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES;

[4] And THAT HE WAS BURIED, and THAT HE ROSE AGAIN the third day ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES:

Any sermon [no matter how beautifully presented with all Oratory prowess] that doesn’t contain this facts could never be referred to the Gospel!

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE GOSPEL IS BELIEVED?

Romans 1:16-17 KJV
For I am not ashamed of THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST: for IT IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION TO EVERY ONE THAT BELIEVETH; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

[17] For therein is THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD REVEALED FROM FAITH TO FAITH: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. [Hab.2:4].

The Gospel [which is meant to be preached without any iota of shame, but with all boldness] is the Power of God to save!

When this Gospel is Believed it leads to SALVATION!

Let’s do a little bit of study from Romans 10

NB: Whenever you see a word Italicised in the KJV or in parenthesis [like this] are not original! They were added by Bible translators.

You should ignore them most times because it gives it a new meaning that’s not original which basically is the translators personal interpretation

Romans 10:1-11 KJV
Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might BE SAVED.

So the writer—Paul wanted them to be Saved

This means that HE will talk concerning things of and pertaining to Salvation

[2] For I bear them record that they HAVE A ZEAL of God, but NOT ACCORDING TO KNOWLEDGE.

This means people can just be zealous [and religious] without knowledge!

This then means Knowledge is key concerning things of and pertaining to Salvation!

[3] For they BEING IGNORANT of GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS, and going about to establish THEIR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, have NOT SUBMITTED THEMSELVES UNTO THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.

They’re ignorant of God’s way of making people right [right standing] hence they were innovating their own way

In so doing, they were not submissive to God’s own way [Recall! Romans 1:16:17 huh?]

God’s way of making people right before him is revealed in the Gospel about Christ Jesus and it’s only by faith!

“From faith to faith” meant “It starts by Faith” “It continues by faith” It ends by faith“

There will never be a time when “your own way of right standing” would ever declare you “Not guilty” before God!

[4] For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to EVERY ONE THAT BELIEVETH.

That is, the purpose for which the law was given was to be declared “not guilty” before God and Now, Christ having ended [Fulfilled] that gave us that right standing before God [pronounced “not guilty”] without trying to do or keep the law [to attain it ourselves]

Are you still following? Let’s push it further

[5] For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

For the law, It’s always about things you must do and things you must not do!

Whereas that of faith is about speaking!

[6] But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, SAY NOT in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down [from above] 🙂

[7] Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

[8] But WHAT SAITH IT? THE WORD is nigh thee, even in THY MOUTH, and in THY HEART: that is, THE WORD OF FAITH, which WE PREACH;

This word of faith is preached!

And WHEN EXACTLY IS A MAN SAVED?

[9] That if thou shalt CONFESS WITH THY MOUTH THE LORD JESUS, and shalt BELIEVE IN THINE HEART THAT GOD HATH RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, THOU SHALT BE SAVED.

[10] For WITH THE HEART MAN BELIEVETH UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS; and WITH THE MOUTH CONFESSION IS MADE UNTO SALVATION

Note that the Confession unto salvation is the confession of Christ!

The professing of His Lordship [Not the confession of your sins!]

So confession of sins will never get you saved!

You’re Saved when you believed [in your heart] and confessed with your own mouth what you’ve just believed about Jesus Christ

Any other protocol or steps to Salvation is just a false conversion!

[11] For the scripture saith, WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH ON HIM SHALL NOT BE ASHAMED.

WOW! SEE ASSURANCES!

You can continue reading and also Read Isaiah 53 at the point when he quoted Prophet Isaiah

WHAT HAPPENS AT SALVATION?

To be frank, the whole of eternity wouldn’t be enough to exhaustively explain all that happened at Salvation but for the purpose of this Exegesis we would stick to few

Romans 6:22-23 KJV
But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end EVERLASTING LIFE.

[23] For the wages of sin is death; BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Since the wages [or salary] that SIN pays is DEATH, It Corroborates what happened to Adam.

He chose death instead of Life and hence died but see the complete statement!

The free GIFT of God is ETERNAL LIFE!

Death here simply put is ETERNAL SEPARATION FROM God!

So what happens when you’re Saved? You receive a free gift called ETERNAL LIFE!

You have just drank the real elixir of Life!

Hence you have Eternal Union with God!

You can NEVER be separated from God under any circumstances!

#1
John 3:13-16 KJV
And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

[14] And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

[15] That WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish, but have ETERNAL LIFE.

[16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish, but HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.
.
.
[36] He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

#2
John 5:24 KJV
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, HATH EVERLASTING LIFE, and SHALL NOT COME INTO CONDEMNATION; BUT is PASSED FROM DEATH UNTO LIFE.

#3
John 6:32-33,35-37,47-48,51,53-54,58 KJV
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

[33] For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

[35] And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

[36] But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.

[37] All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

[47] Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

[48] I am that bread of life.

[51] I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

[53] Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.

[54] Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

[58] This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

Those words are all in the affirmative!

This life upon receipt CAN NEVER END!

#4
John 10:11,28-30 KJV
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his LIFE FOR THE SHEEP.

[28] And I GIVE unto THEM ETERNAL LIFE; and THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH, NEITHER SHALL ANY [man] PLUCK THEM OUT OF MY HAND.

[29] MY FATHER, which GAVE THEM ME, IS GREATER THAN ALL; and NO [man] IS ABLE TO PLUCK them] OUT OF MY FATHER’S HAND.

[30] I and my Father are one.

This is more than Assurances o!

#5
John 11:23-26 KJV
Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

[24] Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

[25] Jesus said unto her, I AM THE RESURRECTION, and THE LIFE: HE THAT BELIEVETH IN ME, though he were dead, YET SHALL HE LIVE:

[26] And WHOSOEVER LIVETH and BELIEVETH IN ME SHALL NEVER DIE. Believest thou this?

Oh my o my!

#6
2 Timothy 1:9-10 KJV
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to HIS OWN PURPOSE and GRACE, which was GIVEN US IN CHRIST Jesus BEFORE THE WORLD BEGAN.

This retrospectively would refer to God’s plan for Adam to choose life over death!

Tree of life is symbolic of Life which can only be found in Christ Alone! John 1:4-5; 14:6 etc

Are you still waiting for a literal tree to eat from?

Get saved!

Life is not in any literal tree or plant like Aloe Vera or Jinseng lols

Life is in Christ!

See the next verse

[10] But is now MADE MANIFEST by THE APPEARING OF OUR SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST , who HATH ABOLISHED DEATH, and HATH BROUGHT LIFE and IMMORTALITY TO LIGHT THROUGH THE GOSPEL:

I love it [verse 10] in the Amplified Bible

2 Timothy 1:10
[10][It is that purpose and grace] which He now has made known and has fully disclosed and made real [to us] through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, Who annulled death and made it of no effect and BROUGHT LIFE and IMMORTALITY (IMMUNITY FROM ETERNAL DEATH) TO LIGHT THROUGH THE GOSPEL.

Glory to God! Hallelujah!

#7
1 John 5:11-13 KJV
And this is the record, that GOD HATH GIVEN TO US ETERNAL LIFE, and THIS LIFE IS IN HIS SON.

[12] HE THAT HATH THE SON HATH LIFE; and HE THAT HATH NOT THE SON OF GOD HATH NOT LIFE.

So what and why is he telling us all these things in this Epistle?

[13] These things have I written unto YOU THAT BELIEVE on the name of the Son of God; THAT YE MAY KNOW THAT YE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

You may have believed and hence could be referred to as a Believer but you don’t know what happened at Salvation!

You may be praying to God and even begging Him in your songs and tears to write your name in the book of life whereas you already have the Life of God eternally resident in you. It’s because you don’t know!

Don’t just have zeal but not according to the Israelites in a Romans 10!

You want more? I’ve got litany of Evidences from Old Testament, Four Gospels and the Epistles!
Conclusively, having understood from Scriptures the words in the statement which we intended to defend [agree with] or refute [strongly disagree with]

#Was Adam a Believer?

No!

#Was He previously saved and “Lost his” salvation?

No!

He never had Eternal life and lost it!

He chose death instead of Life!

So he was never saved!

#Since He’s never a Believer, Could He be referred to as an example of a believer [either good or bad]?
No!

It’s not possible!

He’s never a believer in the first place!

He showed unbelief in the Gospel preached to him!

This makes him an example only to those who reject the Gospel

They’re basically saying “I don’t want the free GIFT of God” which is ETERNAL LIFE!
Lastly!
#Can Salvation be lost?

You will easily say YES if and only if you have zeal WITHOUT KNOWING ACCURATELY what Salvation means

Salvation was explained throughout Scriptures using various carefully selected words one of which meant

Eternal Life!

Ever lasting Life!

Never perish!

Immortality!

Immunity from eternal death [AMP]!

All of which completely lacks any iota of uncertainty!

It’s all full of Assurances!

Answer is No!

It’s not something you’re trying to keep!

It’s not corruptible!

The guaranty is Eternity!

I hope it’s clear?

You’re blessed because you’re in Christ!
©Victor Oluwatobi Fabuluje
14th July, 2018