We know that Jesus came in the flesh and fulfilled all the Law and the Prophets. He fulfilled the Old Testament to perfection with perfect and sinless obedience to the Heavenly Father. (Mat. 5:17; Luke 24:44)
So let me ask a question: How did Jesus, a single and childless man, fulfill God's command at Creation to "multiply and fill the earth"?
Genesis 1:28 (Geneva)
28 And God blessed them, and God said to them, Bring forth fruit, and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and rule over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the heaven, and over every beast that moveth upon the earth.
We know that Jesus was single for His entire walk on earth, and we know He did not produce any natural Children. Yet He fulfilled ALL the Law and the Prophets. He fulfilled the whole Book of the Old Testament.
So how did He fulfill Genesis 1:28?
The answer is found in these Scriptures.
Jesus is speaking in this one:
John 3:6 (Geneva)
6 That which is born of the flesh, is flesh: and that that is born of the Spirit, is spirit.
Also John 1:12-13 tells us how Jesus gained children and filled the earth with His Seed:
John 1:12-13 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
12 But as many as received him, to them he gave prerogative (the right) to be the sons of God, even to them that believe in his Name,
13 Which are born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Jesus tells us who His spiritual children are! He is speaking here:
Revelation 21:5-7 (Geneva)
5 And he that sat upon the throne, said, Behold, I make all things new, and he said unto me, Write: for these things are faithful and true.
6 And he said unto me, It is done, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end: I will give to him that is athirst, of the well of the water of life freely.
7 He that overcometh, shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my Son.
So did you catch that?
Jesus Christ has MULTIPLIED and FILLED THE EARTH as the LAST ADAM. He has filled the earth with His Spiritual children.... those who have RECEIVED CHRIST and are OVERCOMERS in Jesus.
The First Adam, (Genesis 1-3) was a natural man, who had a natural wife, and had natural children. He sinned, and thus his entire line was tainted with sin.
The Last Adam is the Lord from Heaven. He is a spiritual man, with no natural wife, no natural children, yet He FILLED THE EARTH. He did it with SPIRITUAL CHILDREN. He has a SPIRITUAL BRIDE, the New Heavenly Jerusalem (not the old one). (See Rev. 21.)
We are no longer bearing the image of the first Adam, who failed. We are now following and reflecting the image of the Last Adam! (For more, read 1 Corinthians 15:45-49)
We no longer rely on natural children to carry on our lineage. We rely on the spiritual heritage of Christ. He shall never die... and His Spirit-born children will never die either! We all shall live forever (John 11:25-26).
Jesus certainly upheld Biblical marriage and natural childbirth. But it is not meant to be a command used to make the single or the childless feel guilty. Listen to me: Jesus Christ was childless and single in the natural. Yet He is our LAST ADAM. He has an EARTH and a HEAVEN that is FULL of His Spiritual Children!!!
Now, instead of putting heavy emphasis on Genesis 1:28, we put emphasis on Matthew 28:18-20. Go and teach all nations. That is the LAST Adam's command and it is as important as Genesis 1:28, if not moreso. Natural birth is very important and we must uphold that. But we must not stop there. We must also preach the New Birth, being born in the Spirit according to Jesus in John 3.
The Apostle Paul and the Apostle John both realized that they were now the spiritual sons of Jesus Christ and they raised up more spiritual children themselves. So even those of us who are childless, like Jesus and Paul were, can raise up spiritual children in the local church. It's what I have been doing for the past 16 years... thanks be to Jesus for that privilege. I have blessed many people, spiritual children, and I try to follow Christ's example.
Matthew 19:13-15 English Standard Version (ESV)13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, 14 but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” 15 And he laid his hands on them and went away.
1 Timothy 1:1-2 English Standard Version (ESV)
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,
2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
John also raised spiritual children. It was His love-language to the churches He cared for.
1 John 2:13 (Geneva)
I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome that wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
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So I encourage you not to feel guilt just because you don't feel led to have children, or you don't feel led to be married. You are not less of a Christian if you cannot bear natural children or have chosen not to produce them. You have a ministry in the local church, something God has specially designed for you to do. You can BLESS and RAISE spiritual children! It's the New Testament truth.
If you are already pregnant and expecting, then by all means, protect and cherish your child and let that child be born. I am FOR LIFE. Raise that child in love and in the Word of God.
But at the same time, the precedent has been set by our Last Adam. You are not a bad person just because you don't raise a natural family or cannot bear children. If you accept Christ, then you are ACCEPTABLE in the BELOVED! You are His loved child and you can carry on His legacy, by raising up people in the faith. Marriage and natural pregnancy remain important... but raising the spiritual family, the local churches, is now Christ's major focus.
Jesus has fulfilled Genesis 1:28 with spiritual children, and here is proof:
Ephesians 3:14-15 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 (Of whom is named the whole family in heaven and in earth)
Be blessed,
Pastor Curtis
Fri Nov 25 2016 2:18pm EST
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