What Adam Lost and Christ Restored

Genesis 1:26 - "Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion...'"

When God created this world, He made it for you. He created all the things you see, feel, touch, and enjoy - the mountains, the oceans, the sand, all the different animals, the beautiful wonders of His creation. He created all these things for man, as gifts for man. Then, finally, He created man.

Mankind was created to have dominion over this earth. Adam was created as a sort of middle manager. God never relinquished His power or superiority; however, He did grant mankind this delegated authority in the Garden of Eden. Every single thing was placed under man's dominion. Animals were subject to man. Creation was subject to man, but man was subject to God.

Psalm 8:3–8 (NASB95)
3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained;
4 What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?
5 Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty!
6 You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,
7 All sheep and oxen, And also the beasts of the field,
8 The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.

Some English Bibles (such as the NKJV) translate Psalm 8:5 as "a little lower than the angels," but in the original Hebrew, it says "Elohim," the term for God. Here, the New American Standard Bible translates it correctly as "God". The passage states that "You have made mankind a little lower than Elohim (God) and have crowned him with glory and majesty" in the original creation.

We were meant to be victors in this world. Yet something tragic occurred, resulting in humanity losing that authority. God commanded, "Don't eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil," yet Adam and Eve both ate the fruit, disobeyed God, listened to the devil, and thereby surrendered that authority to Satan.

Because we lost our authority, we could not save ourselves. We were now imprisoned, defeated by the devil, enslaved to sin. Once we lost our original authority, Jesus came on the scene because we needed Him to save us.

What we originally had was forfeited because of our rebellion against God's clear command. Jesus came to restore what Adam lost: the place of authority and dominion that God intended for His children.

Reflection Question: How does understanding what Adam lost and Christ restored change your perspective on your identity as a believer?

"Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that what was lost in the Garden of Eden, You restored through what Jesus did on the cross. Help me to walk in the authority You've given me through Christ. I want to live as a victor through Jesus. Show me how to live in the dominion You've restored to me. In Jesus' Name, amen."

Adapted from "Reigning Through Christ" (Ephesians 1:19-23): https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/qzggtfz/7-reigning-through-christ-eph-1-19-23