Notice, in the above verse, that it is not just the body of sin but the whole "old man" (our entire adamic personality) that is to be counted as crucified with Jesus. By crucifying the old man, the adamic personality, God is able to get at the body of sin in us and destroy it. The body of sin consists of the worldliness, the lusts, and the rebellious self-will that dwell in our personality.

When the body of sin has been destroyed we shall serve sin no longer. By this we know that God's new race is not one in which righteousness is imputed (ascribed) to the members because Christ is righteous. The new race is righteous because the members themselves, being filled with Christ's virtue, no longer are serving sin but are obeying the Divine laws of righteousness, holiness, and obedience to God.

The adamic race is a marvelous creation. All we love, know, experience, feel, remember, treasure, is bound up in what we are in our flesh and blood personality.

It is interesting that God would go to the trouble to create a race and then just as quickly condemn it to death.

God knows what He is doing. God never intended that man should remain an animal creation. The animal creation was necessary in order to provide a starting point for the eternal spiritual creation that God has in mind.

The animal creation always was viewed by the Lord as a temporary work, as a garment that is to be discarded once it has served its purpose.

They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. (Hebrews 1:11,12)

Why would God have a temporary race and a temporary age prior to the true, eternal race and age that always have been in God's mind?

One reason is, as we have stated, to provide a starting point for the eternal spiritual creation. The physical world provides a material stock on which God can graft the eternal bud (Christ).

A second reason for the temporary race and age is to furnish an arena in which the members of the eternal race can be tested before they are entrusted with the wealth of the Kingdom. We make our mistakes now, and because of the blood of Jesus we are not cut off from God. We can repent, learn our lesson, and press forward.

A third reason is to draw out into the open for all to see, the nature of Satan and his angels and the product of their works. The ugly, tragic, nightmarish history of Adam's descendants on the earth is playing out in the sight of God's creatures the folly of rebellion against the Father.

Man has been made "a little lower than the angels" until God has created His Kingdom in him. However, man is destined eventually to reign over all the works of God's hands, including the angels; but not while he still is of the old adamic race, of the animal creation.

To be continued.