The Death of Adam
A Devotional Series from Genesis
Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
4/29 Reading Portions: Numbers 6; Psalm 40-41; Song of Solomon 4; Hebrews 4
Genesis 5:4-5
The days of Adam after he fathered Seth were 800 years; and he had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died.
GRACE
The death of Adam at 930 years fulfills the absolute certainty of YHVH God’s judgment in pronouncing the death of Adam by his disobedience. YHVH Elohiym said to him, as it is written:
And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Genesis 2:16-17
Surely, Adam died spiritually the moment he disobeyed, as mentioned in an earlier devotional, fulfilling what the LORD God said, “for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Yet when Adam died physically at 930 years of age—being made perfect but now cursed because of his sin, taking a while for his deterioration and demise—it still fulfilled God’s judgment, his death occurring on the day he sinned. It is written,
But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 2 Peter 3:8 (see also Psalm 90:4).
These verses are also another proof of Adam’s salvation by the sovereign grace of God. By Adam’s gracious redemption through faith in a promised Messiah (Gen 3:15), and by God’s continued grace, he was able to partially fulfill God’s commandment in his life. Adam and his wife were commanded to…
“Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth…” Genesis 1:28
By God’s grace, they were able to fulfill this part of the command, having had other sons and daughters. It is likewise for you and me as redeemed saints in Christ. Because of the corruptions that remain in our mortal flesh, we can never fully and perfectly fulfill God’s commands. That’s why Jesus, the God-Man, must come in the first place, to live the perfect sinless life on our behalf, a life that you and I cannot possibly live. Nevertheless, it does not make us void of good gospel works given in worship to our Redeemer. In humble contrition and brokenness (Psa 51:17), obedience (1 Sam 15:22), praise to God, good deeds, sharing with others what we have (Heb 13:15-16), we present our bodies as living sacrifices to God in Christ (Rom 12:1), for we are to die daily as Christ’s disciples (Luke 9:23; Gal 2:20). Hallelujah! What a Savior!