God’s Network Principle

Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.   1 Corinthians 15:22

The whole of human history revolves around two men—Adam and Christ. Just as the consequences of Adam’s sin run through his network, bringing corruption and death to all his descendants, the consequences of Jesus’ righteousness run through his network, changing the eternal destiny of all who are joined to him.

In other words, God has decided to plant another tree, and by faith, you can be grafted onto it. When this happens, the life of Jesus will flow into you, just like the life of a vine flows into its branches.

God’s network principle is terrible when we consider Adam’s sin, but it’s wonderful when we consider Jesus’ righteousness. One man’s triumph can open the door of everlasting life for many. But there is this one condition: that they are joined to him by faith. You and I are both in Adam by nature. Are you in Christ by faith?

When we come to Jesus in repentance and faith, the Holy Spirit joins us to him. We are still in Adam because we have sinful natures and we live in this fallen world. One day we will die. But when you come to Jesus, the most important thing is that you are in Christ, and that means you will share in his triumph.

There is still a great deal of repair work that needs to be done, but when you are in Christ, God begins his work of restoring you. One day that work will be complete. Then all that was corrupted will fall away. Even your body will be transformed and equipped for everlasting life.

So don’t go through life telling yourself what a miserable failure you are. If you are in Christ, hold your head high. You are a child of God, a member of his family. The Holy Spirit is in you. His righteousness makes you righteous before God, and when you see Christ, you will be like him (see 1 John 3:1-2).

For further reading, see 1 Corinthians 15