By John Boda (From the old archives)
 

Our key text is found in 1Corinthians 15:44-47. When speaking of the contrast of natural and the spiritual Paul says 
...there is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, (the first man Adam became a
living being. (Gen. 2:7) The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However the spiritual is not first, but the
natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the
Lord from heaven.

From this wonderful text we see that there is both the natural and the spiritual - and that is the divine order - first
the natural then the spiritual. All of us as sinful fallen human beings are part of the natural which began with the 
first man - Adam. But there is a second or last Adam: Jesus Christ, who originates in heaven and is the head of the 
spiritual. all who even hope to have any spirituality must have a new birth through Him (John 3:3). But even this great 
salvation through Christ  could not be accomplished unless He Himself did not first come in the natural, born in 
Bethlehem and living an earthly life - without sin - fully man and yet fully God! Because of His death and ressurrection 
He now offers the spiritual life to anyone who will receive it, by faith, in Him - first the natural, then the spiritual! 

We who are born-again believers went through the same order: first we were born in the natural, we lived a 
natural life until we came to realize that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and His word is true when He says: I am the 
way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (Jn 14:6) We then confessed our sins, 
repented, received His forgiveness & salvation, and we began a new life living the spiritual life in Christ by faith! 

It is the Christian's spiritual life, walk, and growth that I want to focus on next. As the principal of the 2nd is far more 
than just salvation - but is a very important principal of understanding the war that every born-again believer knows all 
too well: the battle of the flesh vs. the spirit.

In growth as well as in salvation, the Prindipal of the 2nd is primarily this: God rejects the first and accepts the
2nd. In our natural state as human beings, no matter how moral or pious we may think we are, we are of no use to
God! The clear teaching of the scriptures shows that God cannot use our natural human state, but requires a 
supernatural one so we can begin to be used by Him. Now I know that God¹s spirit works to draw people to Him, and 
He works through anyone He chooses, saved or unsaved (as in the time He spoke through a donkey!) but the work 
of God I am referring to is the life-long, divine shaping of a true born-again child of God into His image! 

Look at Abraham, who is the father of all who believe (Romans 4:16), God called him in Genesis 12:1-3 to leave 
his country, his father¹s house, and his family, to leave everything from his old country as God was bringing him 
into a new land and wanted to mold and shape him without the old influences of his idolatrous living. Isaiah 51:2 says 
God called him alone. Like Abraham, we can bring nothing with us into the new life in Christ! That which is flesh is
flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:6)

Following are seven clear, scriptural examples to illustrate the principal of the 2nd.These are the seven that stuck out 
to me in my search, there may be more, but since seven is god's number of perfection we'll stop here! 

I will only give a brief comment on each one as this list is more for your prayerfull consideration,. Also I hope to 
encourage you to read the scriptures for yourself and let the Word of God change you! 
 

THE PRINCIPLE OF THE 2ND 
 

However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual.  1Corinthians 15:46

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they
are life.  John 6:63
 

1. CAIN AND ABEL  (Genesis 4:1-5) 
   The first two children of Adam and Eve! God rejects Cain and his wrong offering, but 
   accepts Abel who brought the sacrifice God commanded. Cain was born first, Abel  the 
   second. This is the account of the world's first murder. 

2. ISHMAEL AND ISAAC  (Genesis 17: 17-29) 
   God rejects Ishmael, Abraham¹s first born son, born by Abraham and his 
   handmaiden Hagar - representing a work of the flesh (Galatians 4:23). God accepts 
   the second born son Isaac, who was the special promised son born according to 
   the Spirit (Galatians 4:29). 

3. ESAU AND JACOB  (Genesis 25:21-26 & Romans 9:6-15) 
   God rejects Esau, the firstborn, but accepts Jacob, the second! Read the entire 
   chapter of Romans 9 and see how Paul uses this to show God¹s mercy, 
   sovereignty, and purpose which is beyond our comprehension! 

4. EPHRAIM AND MANASSEH (Genesis 48:8-20) 
   Read this incredible account ot Israel (Jacob) blessing his two grandchildren by 
   Joseph. In defiance to Joseph, he knowingly crosses hands and gives the blessing 
   to Ephraim who was the second born. Joseph thought it was a mistake, but Israel did this by 
   the Spirit of God and says that Ephraim, the second born, will be greater. 
   Again God rejects the first-born and accepts the second! 

5. SAUL AND DAVID (I Samuel 15:10-35) 
   We know this story! Saul was Israel's first king who was more the people's choice 
    than God's ! He was rejected because of his disobedience and God accepted David, the second king! 

6. DAVID AND BATHSHEBA¹S SONS (2Samuel12:15-25) 
   The first son of David & Bathsheba was conceived through the sin of adultery & 
   murder. This child was struck by the Lord  and died. It was their 
   second son, Solomon who was blessed and reigned as king after David! 

7. ADAM AND THE 2ND ADAM (1Corinthians 15:45-49) 
   I've saved the best for last! In this passage Paul speaks of the first man (Adam) and 
   the last (2nd) adam, Jesus! Also in Romans 5:14 we are told that Adam was a 
   type of Him who is to come! God rejects Adam who sinned (of which we all come 
   from, our natural state) but he accepts the 2nd and last Adam, Jesus Christ, if 
   we are born-again in Him we are accepted too!