by Milt Rodriguez

"For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous." Rom. 5:19

"Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old man with its evil practices, and have put on the new man who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him, a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all." Col. 3:9-11

The Many in One

We have been inundated by the age of the individual. Most of us live in a very individualistic society with a very individualistic lifestyle. Therefore, when we hear or read the word 'one' we think of a singular item or entity. It's difficult for us to think in any other terms but individualism, separation, and singularity. In fact, I would venture to say that it's impossible for us to think in any other way, at least, in the natural. Unfortunately, this is a cultural detriment to our spiritual health! We tend to interpret the scriptures through our own viewpoint that is given to us by our environment.

However, when God speaks the word 'one' He isn't always referring to the singular definition. In fact, it's very clear from the context in Romans 5 that when He is speaking of Adam, He is speaking of a whole race, not just 'one' man. Yet that whole race is referred to as "Adam". "For as through the one man's disobedience, the many were made sinners…" Here we have a perfect example of the 'one' being composed of the many. Why would God think this way? Maybe it's because He is this way! Remember He Himself is One composed of Three.

The Old Man

In Romans 5 it is very clear that the old man is not only an individual but also a racial order with Adam as its head. It is the corporate, collective Adam having separated and departed from God. We are told that we have put off the old man, but we normally think of this in personal, individual terms. Yes, that is part of it, but there is much more involved here. These scriptures are speaking of a collective entity or race called Adam. This race has separated itself from God and His eternal purpose. This racial order has turned away from God through the sin of Adam.

The New Man

These scriptures also tell us that in Christ we have put on the new man. This also we think of with a personal and individual mindset. Yes, the new man is composed of individuals, but this is not God's primary thought concerning the matter. In Ephesians it is quite clear that the new man is referring to the Church, the corporate expression of Christ. Christ, the Head of this race, is one with all the members of the body. Head and body make up one Person, called Christ. Why do we always separate these two in our minds? We always think in terms of the Head, Jesus Christ, and/or the Body, the Church; and somehow we separate them in or minds. They are not separate! Head and body together make up One Person, One race, One new order! Christ is all and in all. In the old man, it was Adam who was all and in all. But in this new man, it is Christ Who is all in all.

Body Consciousness

In this corporate expression of a Person there must be a corporate consciousness or body consciousness because the life of this New Man is dependant upon a life of fellowship. The consciousness must reflect the reality of the race. This new man is a corporate entity, and therefore, must have a corporate consciousness and lifestyle. The purpose of God for the new man depends upon a corporate life. But we cannot have a corporate life until we first have a corporate consciousness.

This was the conflict happening within the old man called Adam. There is a corporate entity but there is no corporate consciousness. Every member of this race has an independent, separate, and individual consciousness. In fact, the consciousness in this race is a divisive one. Therefore, there is no corporate life here. There are only independent individuals living in chaos and disorder.

You could say that the old man is like the butterfly. He flies from one thing to another. He is very beautiful, but he has no purpose. His life is an individual life, not a corporate life. The New Man is like the bee. He also flies from one thing to another, but with purpose. He is not just an individual; he is part of the corporate expression of Christ (the Body of Christ - head and body). He is part of a hive. His consciousness, and therefore lifestyle, is a corporate one. He is working for the hive. And that hive is producing the sweet tasting honey for its Master.

God is After a Man

That man is represented by His Son, and the Church is His expression as His Body. That expression can only be realized when we put off the old man and put on the new. This means a change of mindset and a change of consciousness. Now we must think with the mind of the new man, the mind of Christ. We need to wake up to who we are and to whom we belong! We are no longer part of the old man with his separation-isolation way of thinking and living. We are now part of the New Man and that New Man is Christ. We need to think as a body and live as a body. And this needs to be a very practical and local expression. Not just some nebulous, super-spiritual idea without any concrete expression.

God's goal is to sum up all things in Christ so that the fullness of Christ fills the universe, and that Christ would be the All in all.