These are difficult questions. I am asking those who bear the name of 'Christian'. I have an opinion, an answer, but am interested in other believer's opinions and answers.
What does it mean that Christ is the last Adam? (1 Cor. 15:45)
What does it mean that Christ is the Second Man, when numerically, He wasn't the Second Man?
Quantrill
We know these passages are dealing with Christ and with Adam. (1 Cor. 15:22) "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."
And we know that God calls Adam and Christ, the first Adam and the Last Adam. (1 Cor. 15:45) "And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit."
Many times Christians make the honest mistake of calling Christ the Second Adam. But Scripture doesn't call Him the Second Adam. It calls Him the Last Adam. And for a reason.
Each Adam represented their race. They are the head of their race. Their actions are applied to their race. Because Adam sinned, all his race sinned with him. Because Christ was obedient, all His race is obedient and receives the gift of life and righteousness. (Rom. 5:17)
For all those in the 'first Adam', there is nothing they can do to obtain eternal life. They can't lead a good life and be moral and earn eternal life. They are sinners because Adam sinned. They can't remove it no matter how hard they try. The only hope is to turn, by faith, to Jesus Christ, the Last Adam, and be saved. This places them 'in Christ', the Last Adam.
Adam is called 'the first Adam' because he was the 'first Adam'. There had never been another. He was the first representative head of the human race. Jesus Christ is called 'the Last Adam' because there will never be another. Jesus Christ is the Last Representative Head of the human race'
But, what about Jesus as the Second Man. Why is He called the Second Man when numerically He was not the Second Man?
(1 Cor. 15:47)
Quantrill