What is a type? It is a figure of representation of something to come. A type must foretell something. Types must be Interpreted by the Scriptures. Keep in mind such a figure cannot be pressed In every minor detail. Example: the Passover lamb was a type of Christ. A type furnishes points of comparison between a physical affair and the spiritual likeness. The physical never typifies itself. The antitype is always greater than the type. Some things that pertain to Adam and Eve are the type; Christ and the church the antitype. Types help make clear truth and confound error. If one can see the points of the physical type he should not have trouble seeing the application in the antitype, thereby understand great spiritual truths.
Adam was created by miracle, when God formed his body of the material elements and placed the soul in the body (Gen. 2:7). Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary by miraculous birth, produced by the Holy Spirit (Matt. 1:21-23).
The first man Adam became the head of the physical family (1 Cor. 15:45). When Christ ascended back to heaven He was seated at God’s right hand and became the head of the church, which is His body (Eph. 1:20-23; Col. 1:18; Eph. 5:23).
God caused a deep sleep to come upon Adam, his side was opened and a rib was taken (Gen. 2:21). In the crucifixion the sleep of death came upon Christ. His side was opened (pierced by the spear) and there came out blood and water (John 19:34). The blood was the price taken (Rom. 5:8-9).
From the rib God took from Adam’s side he formed the woman (Gen. 2:22). With the blood Jesus shed on the cross the purchase price for the church was paid, and the church is formed from the material thereby purchased-the souls of the obedient.
The woman was named from the man: “She shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of man” (Gen. 2:23). “Woman” is the general term, her specific name was Eve (Gen. 2:20). Members of the Lord’s church are named from Christ. The church in general should wear his name. The specific name given is “Christian” (Acts 11:26). This name was divinely given by God and not in derision by enemies.
After the creation of Adam and Eve God demanded that the man should leave his mother and father and cleave (cling) to his wife (Gen. 2:24). The members of the church, which constitute the bride of Christ, are to put Him first above family (Matt. 10:34; Luke 14;26) Also, when one becomes a Christian, he is to leave the world of sin and cling to Christ (2 Cor. 6:14-7:1).
Some Things To Consider
The bride of Adam did not exist until after his side was opened and the rib taken. Neither did the church exist in fact until the side of Christ was opened and the bloodshed. It is as reasonable to assume that a man can exist as a result of the operation upon Adam and not belong to the human race, as to argue that one can be saved by the blood of Christ and not belong to the church He purchased with His blood (Acts 20:28).
The Law of Reproduction
In the botanical world God ordained that every kind of vegetation bring forth after its kind, whether it be grass or fruit. The same law governed the animal world which is also to “bring forth after his kind.” Nine times in the first chapter of Genesis is this expression used: “After his kind or their kind.” (This law is still binding and one kind never crosses the line into another kind).
In the realm of nature, God’s law is supreme, and “like begets like,” Also, God’s natural laws are binding. The earth rotates upon its axis once a day, and revolves around the sun once a year. This does not change. In the realm of spiritual matters, God’s law is just as binding as in the natural realm. Isaiah 40:8 says: “The gross withereth, the flower fadeth, but the word of God abideth forever.” Matthew 24:35 and l Peter 1:23,25, show the word to be unchangeable, indestructible. God forbids adding to, taking from or substitution (Deut. 4:2; 12:32; Gal. 3:15; Rev. 22:18-19), thus the spiritual laws are just as binding as the natural.
In applying the principle, “After his kind,” If one desires to raise corn, what plant? Or soybeans, or watermelons? If one wants to raise Mohammedans or Buddhists, what do you plant? Their doctrine, of cause. The rule: The life is in the seed, and the kind of seed planted determines the product. In the realm of religion it is the same. The product is determined by the kind of doctrine planted in the hearts of people. In Christianity the soil is the heart (mind, spirit) of man. The seed is the word of God (Luke 8:11). Therefore, if nothing but the word of God is sown into the minds of people, it will produce Christians and nothing else, and will make them members of His body. “Come now, and let us reason together” (Isa. 1:18).
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