Adam is the federal head of the human race because both male and female were created within him, making him the one representative for all humanity.
Les Feldick points to Genesis 1:27, where God creates man male and female, and Genesis 5:2, where God calls their name Adam. He teaches that Eve was already in Adam, so the whole human race came from Adam's line. Because of this, the blame for the fall is placed on Adam, and one Redeemer is sufficient for everyone.
Genesis 1:27 — Records that God created man as male and female, which Les cites as proof that both were in Adam from the start.
Genesis 5:2 — Shows God called the male and female Adam, indicating the woman was part of Adam.
Romans 5:12 — States that by one man sin entered the world, which Les uses to show Adam's federal headship brought condemnation on all.
1 Corinthians 15:45 — Sets up the two federal heads by contrasting the first man Adam with the last Adam, Christ.
The Bible records in Genesis 1:27, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." Even though Eve's creation is described later, the text speaks of male and female from the very beginning. In Genesis 5:2 the same truth is repeated: "Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created." In Romans 5:12, Paul explains how sin entered through Adam: "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." 1 Corinthians 15:45 makes the contrast explicit: "And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit."
Les Feldick teaches that the whole answer to why Adam is the federal head is found in the opening chapters of Genesis. He emphasizes that when God created Adam, within Adam were both the male and the female (Genesis 1:27). He then connects this to Genesis 5:2, where God called their name Adam, showing that Eve was already inside to a certain degree and was part and parcel of Adam. This was necessary, Les says, so that Adam could be the federal head of the human race when it came to salvation. Because everyone, male and female, came from Adam, the blame for the fall is placed on Adam rather than on Eve. Eve ate first, yet sin came on the whole human race through Adam. Adam's one act of disobedience plunged every human being into condemnation. But God provided a second federal head, the second Adam, Christ, who makes it possible for every sinner to become a child of God. As Les puts it, Christ is the response to that federal head because Adam fell.
Genesis 1:27 says God created man male and female before Eve appears on the scene, and Genesis 5:2 says God called their name Adam. Les Feldick draws the conclusion that the woman was already within Adam, or part and parcel of him, even though she was not brought forth until later.
Les points out that Eve ate first, yet Scripture does not place the human race under sin by Eve. Romans 5:12 says by one man sin entered the world. Les explains this is because Adam contained Eve and was the federal head; Eve, though not cursed directly for eating, still inherited the sin nature through Adam.
Les teaches that there are two federal heads. Adam is the head of the natural human race and plunged everyone into sin and death. Christ, the second Adam or last Adam, is the Lord from heaven and is the response to Adam's failure, making salvation possible for every child of Adam.
Male and Female in Adam
Les teaches that both male and female had to be in Adam at creation, because redemption through the Savior applies to everyone and the blame for the fall is placed on Adam, not Eve.
Christ Responds to Adam's Headship
Les teaches that Adam is the federal head of the human race and that Christ is the response to that head because Adam fell, making Christ the second Adam.
Adam Plunged All into Condemnation
Les teaches that Adam's single act of disobedience in eating the forbidden fruit plunged every human being into condemnation, since Adam is the federal head of the whole human race.
Genesis 5:2 Names Them Adam
Les teaches from Genesis 5:2 that God called their name Adam, showing Eve was already in Adam and part of him so Adam could remain the federal head for salvation.
Two Federal Heads in Scripture
Les teaches that Scripture presents two federal heads: Adam, who brought sin and death to natural humanity, and the last Adam, the Lord from heaven.
Eve Came Out of Adam
Les teaches that Eve came out of Adam so that every person, male and female, would come from Adam's line, and that sin came on the human race through Adam, not Eve.
Male and Female in the Created Adam
Les teaches that Genesis 1:27 shows both the male and female were within Adam when God created him, even before Eve's creation is described.
Adam Contained the Woman
Les recalls that Adam, as first created, contained the woman who would later be known as Eve, though she was then called simply the woman.
Genesis 1:27: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Les uses this verse to show that both male and female were present in Adam at creation.
Genesis 5:2: Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
Les cites this verse to prove that God named the male and female Adam, showing Eve was part of Adam.
Romans 5:12: Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.
Paul connects Adam's one act with sin entering the world, the foundation of federal headship.
1 Corinthians 15:45: And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
Paul contrasts the first Adam with the last Adam, Christ, the two federal heads.
1 Corinthians 15:47: The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
Paul again contrasts the earthy first man with the heavenly second man.
A federal head is a representative of a larger group. For Les, Adam is the federal head of the human race because the woman was in him at creation, so his fall brought condemnation to everyone and his line is the only line through which people come into the world.
Les points to Genesis 1:27, where God creates man male and female, and Genesis 5:2, where God calls their name Adam. He explains that Eve was already in Adam, part and parcel of him, even though she was not formed until later.
Les teaches that even though Eve ate first, the human race did not come under sin by Eve. Because Adam was the federal head and contained Eve, sin came on the whole human race through Adam, and Eve inherited the sin nature through him.
Les teaches that Adam is the federal head who fell, and Christ is the response to that head. As the last Adam, Christ restores what Adam lost and makes salvation possible for every descendant of Adam.
Watch the Teaching: Creation Completed: Why God Rested & How Man Was Formed