Today’s selected reading continues in the New Testament epistle of the apostle Paul written unto the saints which were at Rome. More specifically today’s passage is found in the sixth chapter of this New Testament book. “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise, reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:1-14).

 

            “What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be tahnked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for was ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:15-23).

 

            BAPTIZED! BURIED! PLANTED! CRUCIFIED! FREED! DEATH! DIED! DEAD! When you come to this particular portion of Scripture you will find the words and language the apostle Paul uses in the epistle written unto the Roman saints changing drastically. If there is one thing that makes the language here in this passage so incredibly unique is when you consider the reality that there are two different types of death that are mentioned in this epistle. Upon careful study of this epistle you will find that there is a death which was and still is produced by sin as well as a death into which we must enter that we might be delivered and free from sin. Pause for a moment and consider the tremendous truth that the byproduct and end result of sin is death and how the ultimate cure to deliver and rid ourselves of sin is through death. What’s more is that this particular concept of death delivering us from sin is actually two-fold. If we wish to truly understand this particular concept of death delivering us from the body of sin we must not only understand and recognize in terms of the death which the Lord Jesus died upon the cross nearly two thousand years ago but also the death which we ourselves must needs walk through that we might freed and delivered from the body of sin. The more we seek to understand the sin nature and the byproduct of sin within our hearts and lives the more we must needs realize that it actually took death on two different fronts to deliver us from it. The more we recognize and understand this the more we will come to terms with how we have been delivered and how we are still delivered from the body of sin within our lives.

 

            As I sit here today thinking about and considering the tremendous reality of sin within our lives I can’t help but be brought face to face with the strong truth that in order to deliver us from the just penalty of sin which is death—and not only to deliver us from the just penalty of sin which is death but also from sin itself—it was necessary for the Lord Jesus to die. The apostle Paul makes it perfectly clear according to the gospel that the Lord Jesus died that we might delivered and set free from this sinful flesh which we struggle with on a consistent basis. The apostle Paul recognized and understood the necessity of the Lord Jesus dying upon the cross and how through His death we might in fact be delivered from the penalty of sin. What’s more is that we must needs recognize that He who knew no sin became sin and took upon Himself sin that in His flesh He might destroy the power and influence of sin. It is absolutely necessary that we recognize this powerful truth for it calls and draws our attention to the wonderful reality that in order to deliver us from sin and in order to deliver us from the penalty of sin which is death the eternal Father sent His only begotten Son so that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. There is something truly astonishing and remarkable about this particular truth for it brings us face to face with the tremendous concept that it is through the death of the Lord Jesus that we are delivered and have been delivered from sin as well as death which is the penalty of sin. What’s more is that if you read the words which are found in the fifth chapter of this particular epistle you will find the apostle Paul emphatically declaring that it was through Adam that sin and death entered into the world—and not only entered into our world but also produced death within each and every one of us.

 

In all reality it might very well be said that upon our birth—although life has been granted us upon this earth—there is a part of us that begins to experience death. Although the death that I am speaking of us not a physical death it is nonetheless a death which we ourselves begin to experience as a direct result of being born in the flesh. At the end of the day each and every one of us is a son or daughter of Adam and as a direct result of that we have inherited this sinful nature and this corrupt flesh. The apostle Paul made it very clear in the third chapter of this epistle that the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life. The apostle Paul recognized and understood the reality, the severity and the seriousness of sin and sought to convey this particular truth to his hearers and readers. The apostle Paul had not yet been to Rome and hadn’t had the chance to preach unto them the gospel of the Lord Jesus and it is for this very reason he might have filled this particular with such great theological and doctrinal truths. The more we read the words found and contained within this passage of Scripture the more we are brought face to face with the awesome truth that not only are the wages of sin death but death has also reigned upon the earth from the time of Adam. What’s more is the apostle Paul boldly and unreservedly declares that death reigned from Adam until the time of Moses when the Law was given—this despite the fact that man would not sin after the same similitude of Adam’s transgression.

 

Perhaps one of the greatest truths we must needs recognize and understand is this reality and concept of the apostle Paul’s writing in this particular epistle for within it the apostle Paul emphatically declared that death reigned upon the earth among men from the time of Adam until the time of Moses. The Law was meant to serve as a schoolmaster teaching men the decrees and statutes of the living God and even more than this we must needs recognize and understand that the Law of Moses was given that men might no longer be a judge unto themselves. You will recall in the garden of Eden there were two trees—the one tree being the tree of life while the second tree was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. When the serpent came unto Eve in the midst of the garden he beguiled and seduced her into eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil by making her believe the living God was somehow withholding something from her. That thing which the living God was presented as withholding from Eve was the knowledge of the good and evil and the ability to be as gods in the midst of the earth. Eve declared unto the serpent how the living God declared that in the day they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they would die—a statement which the serpent rebuffed and reneged with his own deceit and treachery. Upon hearing the words which Eve spoke unto him the serpent declared unto Eve that she would not surely die as the Lord God had commanded for the Lord knew that in the day they ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil their eyes would be opened. It would be the serpent who deceived and beguiled Eve into thinking the living God was somehow withholding something from them. There in the garden the serpent deceived Eve into believing that if she ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil her eyes would be opened, she would be as a god and she would be like God knowing good and evil. Consider if you will the actual narrative of the treachery in the garden as recorded in the third chapter of the Old Testament book of Genesis:

 

“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 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, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day; and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amonst the trees of the garden. And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also and thistles shall it brin forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” (Genesis 3:1-19).

 

It is absolutely necessary that we recognize and understand the words and language that is found in the third chapter of the Old Testament book of Genesis for within it we are brought face to face with the treachery, the conspiracy and the deceit of the serpent. In the third chapter of the Old Testament book of Genesis we find the serpent speaking unto Eve and asking her if the Lord God really did say they ought not to eat of every tree in the garden. Upon hearing the words of the serpent Eve declared unto the serpent that they may eat of every tree in the garden, however, of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they ought not eat of it nor touch the fruit thereof. Moreover Eve would go on to declare unto the serpent how the LORD God had declared that in the day they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they would die. The serpent would then bring the full fury and force of his treachery and deceit for he would not only declare unto Eve they would not die but he also called into question the words which the Lord God had spoken. Moreover the serpent would go on to deceive Eve into thinking that in the day they ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil their eyes would be opened and they would be as gods knowing good and evil. What made this temptation, this deceit and this treachery so dangerous is how the serpent beguiled Eve into thinking the living God was somehow withholding something from them. Oh that we would recognize and understand this within our own lives for the living God can give us the whole garden and can allow us to freely eat of the fruit of all the trees in the garden save one and the serpent will always seek to deceive us according to that one tree—according to that one thing we feel the Lord is withholding from us.

 

I sit here today thinking about and considering how perhaps the single greatest deception the serpent can produce within our lives is that of the Lord God somehow withholding something from us. The serpent is very much aware of everything the Lord God has given unto us and even the dominion and authority we were created to exercise upon the earth. The serpent is very much aware of the entire garden that is before us and the freedom to eat of all the trees in the midst of the garden save one. What the serpent does is direct and divert our attention to that single solitary tree that he might deceive us into thinking the Lord God is somehow withholding something from us. Perhaps one of the greatest temptations the serpent produces within our hearts and lives is that of the Lord God somehow withholding something from us. If the serpent can produce within our hearts and our minds doubt in the Lord God and belief that He is somehow withholding something from us he can then sow his seeds of treachery and temptation. Once the serpent is successful in bring us to the place where we fix our eyes on that one thing the Lord God has commanded us to abstain from and avoid the serpent can then produce a covetousness and a wantonness within our hearts and souls—so much so that we actually desire, crave and yearn for that one thing. There has never been a greater deception of the serpent in the history of mankind than that of believing the Lord God is somehow withholding something from us. If the serpent can be successful in deceiving us into thinking and believing the Lord God has somehow withheld or is somehow withholding something from us he can then attempt to seduce and deceive us according to that belief the living God is withholding something from us.

 

The third chapter of the Old Testament book of Genesis reveals how once Eve saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes and desirable to make one wise she took of the fruit and did eat. Moreover Eve didn’t merely take of the fruit and eat of it herself but she also took of the fruit and gave it to Adam who also did eat. Once they ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil their eyes were immediately opened and they realized they were naked. Once they realized they were naked they immediately sewed fig leaves together to make aprons unto themselves that they might cover their nakedness. What’s more is that covering their nakedness wasn’t enough for what they also sought to do hide themselves in the midst of the trees of the garden of Eden. If I am being honest with you who are reading these words I would dare say the serpent thought and believed that after Adam and Eve ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they would surely die. I have to believe the serpent risked so much to deceive and beguile Eve because he knew what the Lord God had said and how He declared unto them that in the day they ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they would surely die. I would dare say the serpent bet everything on this deceit and temptation thinking that if he could get Adam and Eve to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they would surely die. Much to the surprise, shock and perhaps even horror of the serpent the Lord God did not destroy and kill Adam and Eve but instead made a sacrifice and used the flesh of the sacrifice to clothe them.

 

CLOTHING THE SINNER WITH THE FLESH OF THE SACRIFICE! Oh there is something we must needs recognize and understand when reading the words found in this particular portion of Scripture for not only did the living God not kill and put to death Adam and Eve after they had sinned in the garden but He actually made a sacrifice and shed blood after their transgression. What’s more is that after he had made the sacrifice He proceeded to clothe them with the flesh of the sacrifice. I am absolutely convinced this is something we must needs recognize and understand within our own hearts and lives for it is truly powerful to think about and consider how instead of the Lord God killing and putting to death Adam and Eve He would put to death something else—perhaps even a lamb—and would shed the blood of that innocent lamb. Even more than this the Lord God would take of the flesh of that which He had sacrificed and would use it to clothe Adam and Eve. The Lord God would take and remove the covering they had made for themselves and would give them a new covering—a covering which He Himself would make for them. Not only this but the Lord God would proceed to clothe them with the flesh of the sacrifice which He had made thus covering their nakedness with sacrifice.

 

I have to admit this reality and concept of clothing Adam and Eve with the flesh of the sacrifice He had made is a powerful picture and symbol of that which the Lord God would do through the second Adam. It would be there in the garden the Lord God would make a sacrifice and as a direct result of the sacrifice the Lord God would take the flesh of the sacrifice and clothe Adam and Eve. The Lord God would remove their own coverings which they had made and would cover their nakedness with a covering which He Himself had made. Instead of Adam and Eve being clothed with fig leaves they would actually be clothed with flesh—“coats of skin” as is mentioned in the third chapter of the Old Testament book of Genesis. Pause for a moment and consider how Adam and Eve attempted to clothe themselves and cover the shame of their nakedness with aprons they fashioned from fig leaves. When the Lord God actually began conversing with Adam and Eve and after He finished speaking with them He would make for them coats of skin and would clothe them with it. Oh imagine what it must have looked like there in the garden as the Lord God made a sacrifice to obtain the flesh needed to make coats of skin and then either the Lord God Himself removed their aprons and clothed them with it or the Lord God had them remove the aprons they had made and clothe themselves with the coats of skin. From that day on the shame of Adam and Eve’s nakedness would be clothed with a coat of skin and from the flesh of the sacrifice the living God had made. Oh we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this for instead of killing and putting to death the first man and first woman in the garden the Lord God would make for them coats of skin and would cover and clothe them.

 

The more I read and consider the words which are found here in this passage of Scripture the more I am brought face to face with the awesome and powerful truth surrounding the action of the Lord God. The Lord God could have immediately struck down Adam and Eve and put them to death after they ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The Lord God could have spoken a word and much like His spoken word caused that which was not to be that which was during the six days of creation His word could have taken life from the first man and the first woman. What we must realize, however, is that the Lord God did not immediately strike down Adam and Eve after they had sinned and transgressed against His commandment. Although they had indeed disobeyed Him and the command He had given them He would not kill nor would He put them to death. Oh I would absolutely love to know what it was like for the serpent to witness the Lord God walk in the garden in the cool of the day—and not only walk in the garden in the cool of the day but also call unto Adam and Eve. I am sure the serpent watched in stunned horror and shock as the Lord God did not kill Adam and Eve. Although they had transgressed against His command and although they had violated His word the Lord God would not put them to death. There is not a doubt in my mind the serpent thought and believed that after they had eaten of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they would surely die and be put to death. That which the Lord God did must have sent shivers up the spine of the serpent for instead of putting Adam and Eve to death the Lord God put to death something else—the first sacrifice if you will there in the midst of the garden.

 

I am sitting here writing these words and I find it absolutely incredible to consider how the Lord God chose not to put Adam and Eve to death but instead put something else to death—a living sacrifice if you will. It would be in the putting to death of that living creature blood would be shed, death would take place and coats of skin would be made for Adam and Eve. Oh it is something truly remarkable and worth noting that instead of the Lord God allowing Adam and Eve to be clothed with their own aprons which they themselves had made He would clothe and cover them. Pause for a moment and consider the fact that the living God did not kill and put to death Adam and Eve but instead covered them. From that day on Adam and Eve would have a covering upon their physical forms and flesh not made of fig leaves nor of their own making but given unto them by the living God. There is something truly remarkable and powerful about the words and language which is found in the third chapter of the Old Testament book of Genesis for when the serpent thought the Lord God would have killed and put to death Adam and Eve the Lord God would put to death something else and would implement sacrifice. It would be from that moment on sacrifice would begin to be practiced in the midst of the earth and the main reason why Abel’s offering was acceptable in the sight of the living God whereas Cain’s wasn’t. Abel brought before the Lord God that which was pure, that which was blameless and that which could be offered as a sacrifice whereas Cain brought to the Lord God the fruit of the ground which He had cursed. It would be there in the midst of the garden the Lord God would make the first sacrifice and from that sacrifice would obtain the coat of skin needed.

 

I have to admit that I am absolutely and utterly blown away and captivated with what the Lord God did for Adam and Eve in the garden for despite the fact they sinned and transgressed against His command and ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil the Lord God would cover them. Not only this but the LORD God would not immediately put Adam and Eve to death and would allow them to remain alive upon the earth. Although they would no longer have access to the garden and the tree of life they would still remain upon the earth alive and covered. ALIVE AND COVERED! There is something incredibly powerful about Adam and Eve in this particular portion of Scripture for although they had sinned and transgressed the commandment of the Lord God they would be alive and covered within and upon the earth. Adam and Eve had indeed disobeyed the command of the Lord God and they had indeed sewed together aprons made of fig leaves for themselves and hid themselves among the trees of the garden, however, the Lord God would not immediately put them to death. The Lord God would allow them to remain upon the earth covered with a coat of skin which He Himself had made for and provided unto them. The Lord God would continue to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve yet if that nakedness was going to be covered it would be covered with a covering of His making. Despite the fact Adam and Eve may very well have forfeited the covering of the shekinah glory of God upon them when they sinned and transgressed against the command of the Lord they would still receive a covering from the Lord God. Not only this but Adam and Eve would also be covered with that covering which the Lord God had made after making a sacrifice there in the garden. Oh that we would recognize and understand that the first sacrifice that was made in human history was not made by man but was made by the living God when He sacrificed a living creature that He might make coverings of coats of skin for Adam and Eve.

 

COVERED WITH THE FLESH OF THE SACRIFICE! COVERED WITH THE SKIN OF THE SACRIFICE! COVERED WITH THE ESSENCE OF THE SACRIFICE! COVERED WITH THE NATURE OF THE SACRIFICE! Oh pause for a moment and consider the tremendous truth that is found in this particular passage of Scripture for what we find here is an incredibly powerful picture of the living God making a sacrifice for us through the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. There would be another sacrifice that would be made—and not only would this sacrifice be made as an offering and atonement for sin but it would also be made to provide a covering for our nakedness, to provide a covering for our shame, and to provide a covering for our guilt. If there is one thing we must needs recognize and understand it’s that the Lord God would put to death His only begotten Son and would then take of the nature and essence of His Son that we might be clothed with the divine nature of the Son. It is absolutely necessary we recognize and understand this for when we think of the sacrifice that was made through the person of the Lord Jesus Christ we must needs recognize that sacrifice was made—not only that atonement might be made for sin but also that a covering might be provided for us. I am convinced that just as Adam and Eve were provided a covering from the Lord God for their sin and nakedness so also would men be clothed with the nature of the Lord Jesus after His own sacrifice. The Lord Jesus would sacrifice His physical body and His flesh that we might be clothed and covered with the nature of the sacrifice itself. There is something to be said about the Lord Jesus Christ offering the physical flesh of His body that we might be covered and clothed—and not clothed with that which we ourselves have made but with a covering that comes from God.

 

It is with all of this in mind I find myself asking you who might be reading these words whether or not you have been covered and clothed with the nature of the sacrifice. I sit here today thinking about and considering this incredibly powerful truth and I can’t help but wonder whether or not you have been covered and clothed with the nature and the flesh of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus. The living and eternal God has in fact made a sacrifice in the flesh for you and for me and the living God did indeed put to death a sacrifice that you and I might be covered and clothed. Instead of you and I being put to death as the just penalty for our sin the living God would take of the divine nature of the Lord Jesus and clothe us with that nature. Instead of our being naked and ashamed, instead of us being naked and guilty the living and eternal God has covered and clothed us with the eternal nature of the Lord Jesus that when the living God looks upon us He does not see the shame of our nakedness but sees the coat of skin which we have been covered with. This is so incredibly important for us to recognize and understand for I would dare say this is what was so incredibly significant about the sacrifice the living God made in the garden and covering Adam and Eve with these coats of skin. Instead of looking upon their nakedness and instead of looking upon the aprons made of fig leaves which they themselves sewed together the Lord God would see the coats of skin He Himself had made and which He himself had clothed them with. When the living and eternal God looked upon Adam and Eve after they had sinned and transgressed against His command in the garden He would not see their nakedness, He would not see the shame of their nakedness nor would He see the guilt of their iniquity.

 

This particular truth is something we must needs recognize and understand for I am absolutely convinced the covering the Lord God made for Adam and Eve carried with it so much more than simply covering their nakedness. The coats of skin with which Adam and Eve were covered with not only covered their nakedness but it also represented that which the Lord God had done and that which the Lord God had made for them. Each and every time the Lord God would look upon Adam and Eve He would not see their nakedness and He would not see aprons of fig leaves but He would see a different covering—a covering which He Himself had made. The covering which was upon Adam and Eve was a covering made by the living God Himself and each time He looked upon that covering He would remember that which was put to death. Each time the Lord God looked upon the covering which clothed Adam and Eve He would remember the blood that was shed as atonement for their sin and their iniquity. The Lord God would look upon the covering which was upon Adam and Eve and He would not see their nakedness nor would He see their shame but would see His own handiwork. What’s more is I would dare say the Lord God would see grace and mercy when He looked upon the covering which was present upon the physical forms of Adam and Eve. The Lord God would look upon Adam and Eve and would see the covering which He Himself had made and that covering would be a powerful witness and testimony of grace. Moreover I would dare say that the covering which was upon Adam and Eve was indeed that which would keep them alive and secure their well-being upon the earth. The Lord God did indeed declare that in the day they ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they would die, however, each time the living God looked upon Adam and Eve He would see the covering that was upon them—and not only any covering but a covering which He Himself had made and which He Himself had given unto them.

 

CLOTHED AND COVERED! COVERED AND ALIVE! The Lord God would indeed look upon Adam and Eve would see the covering that was upon them and it would be that covering that would bear witness to His grace and mercy. That covering which was upon the physical forms of Adam and Eve would bear a powerful witness and testimony in the sight of the living God of the sacrifice He had made and the blood He had shed that the shame of their nakedness might be covered. Although Adam and Eve would spend the rest of their days east and outside of the garden of Eden separated from the tree of life the Lord God would look upon them and see the covering with which they were covered. The Lord God would look upon the covering which He Himself had made for them and would remember that work which He had performed in the midst of the garden. The Lord God would not allow Adam and Eve to be covered and clothed with a covering of their own making but would cover and clothe them with one of His own choosing and His own making. It is with this being said we must needs understand the great lengths the Lord God made to redeem and restore man—even after they had sinned and transgressed against the command which He had given and spoken unto them. The Lord God could have destroyed and put to death Adam and Eve and we know this could very well have been the case for in the same Old Testament book we find Him destroying all life upon the earth save Noah, his wife, their three sons, each of their wives, and two of every living thing that was upon the ark. Moreover we know the Lord God destroyed the cities of the plain during the days of Abraham and Lot—the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah—by fire and brimstone from heaven. The Lord could have very easily destroyed Adam and Eve, put them to death and even started all over with a new creation.

 

I have to admit that as I sit here today writing this words I am thankful the Lord God did not put to death Adam and Eve in the garden. I am eternally grateful the Lord God didn’t put to death Adam and Eve and instead made a sacrifice, shed blood and clothed and covered them with coats of skin. It would be those coats of skin which Adam and Eve were clothed with the Lord God would extend unto them grace and mercy in His sight and presence. Moreover it would be those coats of skin that would be like the blood which was upon the posts of the door of the children of Israel in the land of Egypt. You will recall in the land of Egypt how the Lord God was going to send His angel of death throughout the land of Egypt—an angel of death which would put to death the firstborn of both man and beast in the midst of the land. When the death angel passed through the land of Egypt, however, he would pass over the houses which were marked with the blood of the lamb upon the doorposts. Despite the fact that death would move throughout the land and would move in and out of countless houses during that fateful and decisive night the angel of the death would pass over the houses which were marked with and marked by the blood of the lamb. I would dare say that the same way the blood of the lamb upon the doorposts preserved the children of Israel on that night when the angel of death passed through the land is the same way Adam and Eve were preserved because of the coats of skin they were covered and clothed with. There is not a doubt in my mind that Adam and Eve would be preserved because of the coats of skin they were clothed and covered with. The Lord God would look upon Adam and Eve and would not see their own coverings of fig leaves but would see His covering of coats of skin. The Lord God would look upon Adam and Eve and would see that which He Himself had covered them with and it would be these coats of skin that would cause the Lord God to pass over Adam and Eve thus preserving them and not putting them to death.

 

There is something absolutely beautiful and captivating when reading the words found in the third chapter of the Old Testament book of Genesis for within this chapter we find the Lord God making a covering for Adam and Eve—a covering that would serve as a powerful witness and testimony between the Lord God and the first man and first woman. The Lord God would look upon Adam and Eve and would not see their nakedness, would not see aprons of fig leaves and would not even see their guilt, their shame, their iniquity, their transgression, and the like. When the Lord God looked upon Adam and Eve He would see the coats of skin upon their flesh as they would be covered and clothed by Him. This is important for us to recognize and realize for when the Lord God would look upon Adam and Eve He would see a reflection of His own nature and a reflection of His own character. The Lord God would see the coats of sin which Adam and Eve were covered with and He would remember the sacrifice that was made and the blood that was shed. What’s more is I would dare say the Lord God would look ahead into the distant future to another sacrifice that would be made which would provide a different covering for man. It would be several centuries and generations later the eternal God would make another sacrifice of flesh and blood—not only to make atonement for sin that men might be restored to fellowship with Him but also that men might be covered with His image, His likeness, and His nature. On the day the Lord Jesus gave Himself as a sacrifice and offering for sin there was something incredibly powerful that took place—namely that coverings would be made and coverings would be given unto all who would believe on Him.

 

COVERINGS OF REDEMPTION! COVERINGS OF RESURRECTION! Oh dear reader there is something we must needs understand when considering this concept of covering which took place in the garden of Eden. While it is absolutely true the coverings which were upon Adam and Eve were such that would cover their shame and their nakedness I would dare say that covering would point to two distinct realities which would later be seen in the New Testament. I am convinced that the coverings which the Lord God made for Adam and Eve would be a portent and sign that would point to the covering that would be upon the houses of the children of Israel in the land of Egypt when the angel of death passed throughout the land. With this being said I must needs present to you that the coverings which the Lord God placed upon Adam and Eve would in fact point to the covering of redemption and the covering of resurrection the Lord God would provide for all who believed on Him. When the Lord Jesus offered Himself as a living sacrifice in the sight of God there would be a covering of redemption that would be made as we would and could be clothed with His nature, His image and His likeness. It is for this reason the apostle Paul speaks of our being clothed with and our putting on Christ for the apostle recognized and understood the tremendous need for our being covered and clothed with the nature of Christ. With this being said I would also point out that the coverings which were placed upon Adam and Eve were coverings that would point to coverings of resurrection for the apostle Paul would write how flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. As a direct result of flesh and blood being unable to inherit the kingdom of God we would need new bodies which would be created by the living God. Essentially we would need to be clothed with a new likeness and a new nature that we might be where the living and eternal God is in heaven. Consider if you will the following words which are found in the fifteenth chapter of the first epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the Corinthian saints:

 

“But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: and that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: but God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was mad a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have born the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15;35-58).

 

The words and language we find here in this passage of Scripture are absolutely and utterly amazing when you take the time to consider it for it calls and draws our attention to the tremendous truth surrounding the covering which Adam and Eve received in the garden. The covering which Adam and Eve received in the garden would be such that would cause the Lord God to look upon them and remember the sacrifice He Himself made and the blood which He had shed for them. The coverings which the Lord God had made in the lives of Adam and Eve were such that would point to covering of redemption which would be provided for men through the death and sacrifice of the Lord Jesus. It would be through the death of the Lord Jesus the living God would cover and clothe us with His own nature, His own likeness, His own image and would do so that He might cover our nakedness and the shame of our nakedness. No longer and no more would the Lord God look upon us and see our nakedness, nor our shame, nor our guilt, nor even our own likeness but He would see His own image. We must needs recognize and understand that we have been clothed with coats of skin yet the coats of skin we have been covered with is the very nature and image of the Lord Jesus. For those who believe—those who have confessed with their mouth the Lord Jesus and believed in their heart God raised Him from the dead—the Lord would look upon them and see a different covering upon them. The Lord God would look upon them and would see the nature, the character, the likeness and the image of His own Son. For those who believed and were given the power to become the sons of God the Lord God would look upon them and would see the character, the likeness and the image of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

If there is one thing that is truly interesting it’s that when Adam was formed from the dust of the ground He was formed in the image and after the likeness of the living God. After the Lord God breathed the breath of life into the nostrils of Adam thus causing him to become a living soul He would see within and upon Adam His own image and His own likeness. When Adam and Eve sinned and transgressed against the command of the living God that image and likeness would be marred and scarred. It is for this reason I believe the Lord God clothed Adam and Eve with coats of skin which He Himself made for although His image and likeness within and upon them would be marred they would still be covered with that which He Himself had made. When the Lord God looked upon Adam and Eve He would not so much see His image and likeness that had been marred and scarred but He would see the coats of skin which He had made for them and clothed them with. The Lord God would make for Adam and Eve coats of skin that when He looked upon them He would see and remember the sacrifice, He would see and remember the blood, and He would see that which He Himself had clothed them with. Oh after they had marred and scarred the image and likeness of the living God through disobedience and transgression the Lord God would create for and clothe them with coats of skin that when He looked upon them He would see those coats of skin—perhaps even above the image and likeness they were created in.

 

There is something we must needs recognize and understand when thinking about and considering this for it calls and draws our attention to the truth surrounding that which we have been clothed and covered with.  We as those who have believed have been clothed and covered—not with physical coats of skin but with the very nature, image and likeness of the Lord Jesus Christ. Through the death and sacrifice of the Lord Jesus coverings have been made for us with which we can indeed be clothed in the sight of the living God. It is these coverings which are upon us which allow the Lord God to not only pass over us but also to see the image, the nature, the character and the likeness of the Lord Jesus. That which we find in the fifth chapter of the epistle written unto the saints at Rome is a powerful picture of how death was introduced through Adam and reigned upon the earth from Adam unto Moses when the Law was given unto Him atop Sinai. Death would reign upon the earth from the time of Adam unto the time of Moses—despite the fact that man might not have sinned after the same similitude of Adam’s transgression. When the Law was given it would be given that man might not be governor unto themselves concerning right and wrong and the knowledge of good and evil. The Law was given that the living God and His decrees and His statutes might be the governance concerning the knowledge of good and evil. Oh we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this for through the Law the knowledge of good and evil was defined by the living God. Moreover it would be through the Law given unto Moses that death would further be introduced in the earth for sacrifice and offerings would be made day after day upon the altar for countless generations. Moreover it would be through the Law that the sting of sin would truly be felt, and it would be through the Law that death would further be manifested in the earth as men and women would now have an incredible standard with which to live by.

 

It is in the fifth chapter of the epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the saints of Rome we encounter death reigning from Adam unto Moses and how through Adam death would be introduced into the earth. Not only would a physical death be introduced in the earth for it would be appointed unto men once to die but there would also be a spiritual death that would be introduced as well. We must needs recognize and understand that there is indeed a physical death which many of us might very well face in this natural life but there is a different death that many experience—namely, a spiritual death as a direct result of sin. The apostle Paul emphatically declared the wages of sin is death and he would then go on to declare how through Adam death was introduced into the death. When the Lord Jesus came as the Second Adam He would not only come to grant life in response to death but He would also come to fulfill the Law of Moses. The Lord Jesus—He who knew no sin would become sin and take upon Himself sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in the earth. The Lord Jesus would give of His own life that we might be redeemed and find righteousness of God according to the free gift of God through faith. The Lord Jesus would give of Himself while we were yet enemies and while we were yet alienated form the living God that we might be justified according to faith. It is with this in mind I invite you to consider the following words which are found in the fifth chapter of this New Testament epistle:

 

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement” (Romans 5:1-11).

 

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many b e dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. ) Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace di much more abound: that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:12-21).

 

As I bring this writing to a close I find it necessary to call and draw your attention to a statement I made earlier—namely, that it is absolutely necessary for us to recognize that the single greatest combatant to the nature of sin within our physical flesh is death on two different fronts. We know that the wages of sin is death and that death has reigned in man from the time of Adam until the time of Moses on through the time of Christ and unto this present generation. With this being said we must needs recognize and understand that we have in fact been called into a place where we recognize that the way we combat sin within our mortal bodies is through death—and not only death but death on two different fronts. There is the initial front of death which has already been accomplished—namely, the death and sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the cross. It was through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ sin has already been combatted as He through His own flesh destroyed sin in the flesh that we might no longer be slaves and servants to sin. With this being said, however, we must needs recognize and understand that we have been called into a secondary place of death—namely, our own desire and willingness to put to death our members that we no longer yield ourselves to slaves and servants of sin. If there is one thing we must needs recognize and understand it’s that the only way we can truly contend and deal with the sin nature in our flesh is through the death of the Lord Jesus as well as through our own death as we are crucified and buried with Jesus in His death. It is the death of the Lord Jesus Christ that invites us into the place where we crucify ourselves with Him that we might no longer be slaves and servants unto sin but might indeed be servants of the Holy Spirit.

 

The more we think about and consider this particular portion of Scripture the more we must needs be brought face to face with the tremendous truth surrounding our need to be baptized into Jesus Christ in His death. With this being said we must needs be buried with him by baptism into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father we should walk in newness of life. The apostle Paul emphatically declares that if we have been planted together in the likeness of the death of Christ we shall also be in the likeness of his resurrection knowing that our old man is crucified with Him that the body of sin might be destroyed. It is this reality of the body of sin being destroyed which we have a great need to recognize and understand for the only way we can indeed experience the destruction of the body of sin within our lives is through death—and death as we allow ourselves to be crucified with the Lord Jesus. The apostle Paul goes on to declare how that one who is dead is freed from sin and it is only to the degree and measure we our dead and allow ourselves to be dead we are able to truly experience freedom from this body of sin. The single greatest question we must needs ask ourselves is whether or not we are willing and able to crucify ourselves with Christ that we might no longer serve and be slaves to sin. It is through the death of Christ that we have been delivered and set free from sin but we must needs recognize that while Christ died once and for all and there is no need for Him to die again we ourselves must continually yield ourselves to death that we might be delivered and continually set free from this body of sin, death and destruction.