Genesis 1 gives the account of the creation of all things. Whether plant or animal, the decree by God was that all things living would bring forth after its kind. God’s original creation was called, “very good.” When Adam sinned, he died spiritually and began to die physically. All of creation was thrust into chaos. Death, disease, violence, and corruption marred what was once “very good.” Soon after, Adam and Eve produced two sons “after their kind.” The language suggests that Cain and Abel were twins. Genesis 4 states that Eve bare Cain and bare again his brother Abel. Kind produces kind. The first offspring of Adam was a murderer. God’s testimony in Genesis 6 declares the total depravity of man when he said that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart were only evil continually. Genesis 8, after the flood, with only eight people on the earth, God says, “The imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth.” Man’s history bears witness of God’s indictment of Romans 3:10-19 which begins with, “There is none righteous,” and ends with, “All the world is guilty before God.”

1 Cor.15:45-47 identifies Jesus as the 2nd Adam. Just as the 1st Adam could only bring forth after his kind, so also the 2nd Adam. John 1:13 declares that the true children of God are born of God. 1 Peter 2:9, original Greek, declares that all in Christ are a chosen race, a holy nation. Ephesians 4:24 states that we are a “new man.” The word “man” doesn’t mean an individual person, but a new race of beings. 2 Cor.5:17 and Gal.6:15 identify all in Christ as a “new creation.”

The true Church, the Bride of Christ, does not consist of reformed or cleaned up sinners.

Going to church, modifying behavior, and doing some good things can’t change what you are. The true church consists of those who are born from above, begotten of God. By birth they are sharers of God’s divine nature and have the mind of Christ. They possess imputed righteousness, their faith is a gift, and they confess they are saved by grace alone, by faith alone, in Christ alone.