Representational Head

Have you ever thought about the story of the Bible, specifically the Garden of Eden and come to the conclusion, “I don’t think I would have eaten the apple.”? Im sure many of us have had a thought similar to that, but is that true? Let’s say God created Bill instead of Adam, would Bill have sinned?

The Apostle Paul wrote, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:22). According to Paul, Adam acted as a representative for the whole human race, men and women. Though it was Eve who sinned first, Adam was ultimately held responsible. The theological term is “Representational Headship” or “Federal Headship.” Though these terms are not used much, they are extremely important for how we understand sin and the effects of sin’s curse.

We will return to the second part of Paul’s statement in a second, but first, let’s keep digging into this concept of Representational Headship. Elsewhere Paul wrote, “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned…” (Rom. 5:12) Just like in 1 Cor., Paul brings out Adam’s role as representative. Adam’s sin not only corrupted his nature and relationship with the Holy Creator God, but corrupted the entire human race, even those yet unborn (Which of course was everyone.) As far as good decisions and bad decisions go, that one was definitely on the really bad end of the scale. But we can’t be too hard on Adam. Why not? Think about today. How many times did you sin? Really think about it. Maybe it was an unkind thought, look, word, or other action. Maybe you gossiped to a friend, maligned a coworker, stole something, hated someone, or disobeyed. The possibilities are truly endless. Still think when tempted by the “Prince and Power of this World” (*cough* the Devil himself) that you would have fared better than Adam? I don’t think so. I know I certainly would have caved, probably without much fight.

This is why Paul’s original declaration to the Corinthians is filled with so much hope. “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” Though our first representative failed us, the second Adam succeeded completely. His mission, to die for our sins as a propitiation, was finished upon the cross of calvary. When Christ Jesus shouted, “It is finished!” He meant it.

So how do we live in light of Adam and Jesus as our representational heads? One to death and the other to life. We must heed the instruction from Philippians and put off the works of the “old man” and strive to live out the fruits of the spirit. A life dominated by sin is not befitting a child of the king, much like dirty and torn clothes are inappropriate to a young prince in the royal throne room.

This week, live in the reality that Jesus has written a new story for you and in it He represents you to the Father of Light Himself.

Attached is a great article on this topic by Theologian A.W. Pink. Article

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