The Last Enemy, Death, Brought to Nothing - ADAMIC SIN AND DEATH BROUGHT TO NOTHING

Yes, Jehovah could rescue Paul.  Directly after mentioning "the shroud," Isaiah wrote: "He will swallow up death forever, and the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will wipe away the tears from all faces." (Isaiah 25:8) Like a father who removes the cause of his children's suffering and dries their eyes, Jehovah takes great joy in bring Adamic death  to nothing! In this he has a collaborator.  1 Corinthians 15:22 reads: "Just as in Adam all are dying, so also  in the Christ all will be made alive."  Similarly, after Paul asked:"Who will rescue me?" he continued: "Thanks to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!"  (Romans 7:25) Plainly, the love that moved Jehovah to create mankind did not grow cold with the rebellion of Adam and Eve. And the one who shared with Jehovah in the work of bringing the first couple into existence did not loose his special fondness for their offspring.  (Proverbs 8:30, 31) But how would this rescue be accomplished?

Human imperfection and death involve both the sin Adam committed and Jehovah's righteous  judgment.  (Romans 5:12, 16) We read:  "Through one trespass the result to men of all sorts was condemnation." (Romans 5:18) What could Jehovah do to remove his condemnatory judgment without invalidating his own standards?  We find the answer in Jesus' words: "The Son of man came . . .to give his life as a ransom in exchange for many." (Matthew 20:28) The one who was Jehovah's first spirit son  made clear that he, having been born on earth as a perfect human, would provide a ransom.  How would you randomly satisfy justice? - 1 TIMOTHY 2:5, 6.

As a perfect man, Jesus had prospects  similar to those of Adam before he sinned.  Jehovah's purpose was to fill the earth with Adam's perfect offspring. Hence, with deep love for his Father and for Adam's descendants,, Jesus gave up a perfect human life that corresponded to what Adam had lost.  Thereafter, Jehovah restored his Son to life as a spirit. (1 Peter 3:18) Jehovah could justly accept the sacrifice of that one perfect man, Jesus, as a ransom or purchase price, to buy back Adam's family and give them the life prospects that Adam  had forfeited.  In a sense, Jesus took the place of Adam.  Paul explains: "So it is written:  'The first man Adam became a living person.' The last Adam became a life-giving spirit." - 1 CORINTHIANS 15:45.

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