Most remember the story of Adam and Eve. They sinned, they ate of the fruit God commanded them not to eat, and they lost their paradise, and they lost their relationship with God. They were removed from the garden and as part of their punishment they were faced with death.Most believe that it was Eve’s fault that this happened, but when we get to the New Testament, Eve isn’t blamed and Adam’s the fall guy. In 1 Timothy 2:14 we’re told that Eve was deceived… but Adam wasn’t. That implies that Adam apparently knew what he was doing.Paul tells us in Romans 5:12 that “sin came into the world through one man” NOT through one man and one woman, but one man. Adam! And he says in I Corinthians 15:21-22, “Since death came through a man (ADAM), the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man (JESUS). For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”Now 1 Corinthians 15 is a chapter dedicated to explaining the resurrection from the dead Adam seems to be a central part of the story. So why would Adam be so critical to our understanding of the Gospel story?First, the story about Adam explains why God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. So why would God care? Let’s go back to creation in Genesis. We are told that God created the world in seven days. Genesis 2:7 says, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him.” Humans are created in God’s image. That answers David’s question, “What is man that God is mindful of us?” (Psalm 8:4).Being created in God’ image does not mean that we “look” like Him—He’s a spiritual being. It refers to the fact that Adam—so all humans—have an eternal spirit as part of our nature. That’s what makes us different that all the other creatures—animals, birds, fish! When God created Eve, first, He had Adam name all creatures, but the point was that not any were suitable to be his partner. So God created Eve.Second, the reason Adam is critical to the gospel story is that Adam was created with the gift of free will. He was given the gift to CHOOSE whether he’d obey God… or not. Now, of course, Adam made the wrong choice, and that’s why the world is ...