Our first parents were created in the "image and likeness of God" (Gen. 1:26-27). Adam bore the image of God in that he was created a rational being, a personality not only capable of thinking and reasoning, but also a living spirit who knew his Creator personally, originally living in personal fellowship and communion with God. From a moral standpoint, Adam also bore the image of God in that he was endowed with a natural uprightness of heart. According to Ecclesiastes 7:29, "God made man upright..." for he was originally created conformed to the moral character of God, Who Himself is "good and upright" (Psalms 25:8).
Man was originally a very glorious creature. The whole nature of his being pointed toward God his Creator; he was created to reflect the glory of God, even as the rest of the creation shows forth His eternal power, wisdom, and majesty (Romans 1:20). Adam and Eve knew and worshipped their Maker, and naturally walked in personal fellowship with Him. Man's affections were then free from defilement, for God's law and God's love were written naturally upon his heart and mind. Man's soul was created for an eternal existence, the "breath of life" breathed into his body directly from God (Genesis 2:7). His body was free from disease and death, which are the consequences of sin. Though our first parents were not created to live in idleness (Gen. 2:15), yet toil, weariness and physically exhausting labor, and the pain and labor of childbirth, were to be unknown to them. These things came later as a result of the curse which God put upon them, and upon the earth, because of their sin (Gen. 3:16-19). They were placed in an earthly paradise suited especially for them, blessed in the bond of marriage (Gen. 2:21-25), and given the command to "be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion..." (Gen. 1:28). All living creatures were originally in subjection to Adam, and no fear existed between them. According to Gen. 2:19-20, Adam gave names to all living creatures, displaying an intelligence far greater than that attributed to the grotesque "ape-man" imagined by the evolutionists.
Man was originally created, then, the crowning glory of God's wonderful handiwork and creative power and wisdom in the physical universe -- made in His image, made for His loving fellowship, made with an upright moral character, and given dominion over the earth, according to Psalms 8:5-6,
"Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet."
Though our first parents, Adam and Eve, were created in the image of God, having an upright moral character, they were not robots. They were endowed with free wills, and as free moral agents, they had the ability to choose to obey God's command, or the ability to choose to disobey it. God placed them under the most favorable circumstances, and forbid them only the fruit of one tree, though everything else in the Garden of Eden was theirs to use freely. God warned Adam of the consequences of disobedience: "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof, THOU SHALT SURELY DIE" (Genesis 2:17). In giving this commandment to our first parents, God was putting man's obedience and loyalty to the test, and giving him the opportunity to exercise the faculty of free choice. Can anyone deny that God has the sovereign right and prerogative to test his creature's fidelity? Had Adam stood this probationary test in honor, choosing to obey rather than to disobey God, the fate and history of mankind would have been vastly different; he acted in behalf of, and as the federal representative of, the entire human race (Romans 5:12-19). Obedience would have confirmed him, and all whom he represented, in holiness and righteousness forever. Disobedience plunged him, and the entire race of mankind, under the sentence of death, into ruin and corruption, and under the judgment of a holy God. The Biblical account of the temptation and fall of man is given in Genesis 3:1-7:
1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
THE TEMPTER -- A literal serpent is involved in the temptation (see Genesis 3:14-15), but this serpent is only an instrument being utilized by an unseen, supernatural being; the real tempter was the Devil, or Satan, who spoke through it, as revealed in the New Testament in Revelation 12:9 and 2 Corinthians 11:3,14. Satan, motivated by malice toward God, and being envious of man, who was created in His image, set out to deceive and destroy the human race by enticing our first parents to disobey God. Because he succeeded in this attempt, the Lord Jesus Christ refers to him in the New Testament as a "liar and the father of it," and "a murderer from the beginning" (John 8:44). Further on in this book, we will see in more detail what the Bible reveals concerning Satan's origin, rebellion against God, and subsequent history.
THE TEMPTATION -- Satan's attack upon Eve, and ultimately upon Adam, was launched in four stages. First, he introduced doubt in Eve's mind concerning the truthfulness of God's Word (verse 1); second, he flatly denied that they will die as a result of disobedience, calling God a liar (verse 4); third, he slandered God by misrepresenting His motive in denying them the fruit of the tree (verse 5); and finally, he enticed her with the promise that they will be elevated to the same level as God Himself, attaining such increased knowledge that they "shall be as gods, knowing good and evil" (verse 5).
THE FALL -- Eve took the bait as presented by Satan (verse 6), preferring to follow her own desires, rather than the will of God. She saw that the tree was not only "good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes" but also "a tree to be desired to make one wise." Eve brought her husband into the sin by offering some of the fruit to him, and the Word of God says, "and he did eat."
In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul, writing by the verbal inspiration of the Holy Spirit, refers to the Fall of Man in 1 Timothy 2:14: "Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression." From this verse we understand that Eve allowed herself to be duped and deceived, actually believed Satan's lies, and transgressed the commandment of God. Adam, however, was not deceived; he did not believe Satan's lies. His sin was an act of deliberate defiance and rebellion against the authority and rule of God over him. Though it is not clear from the Scriptures exactly why Adam chose this course of action, if we read between the lines, it seems highly probable that, upon observing Eve's transgression, he transferred his allegiance and loyalty from the Creator to the creature. Eve must have been very beautiful, the very essence of feminine loveliness and charm, and although no children were conceived before the Fall, it is very likely that the first couple had already consummated their marriage with a pure and holy physical union, enjoying the pleasures of married love. Being fully aware of the consequences of disobedience, Adam was forced to make a choice, and in doing so, he made the wrong choice, defiantly walked into the sin with eyes wide open, deliberately preferring Eve's approval, companionship and fellowship to the approval, companionship and fellowship of God. See Romans 1:25.
IMMEDIATE CONSEQUENCES FOR ADAM AND EVE -- Instead of becoming as "gods," achieving a level of knowledge equal to God, our first parents discovered that they were naked, and feeling a sense of shame and guilt for having transgressed the commandment of God, sought to cover their nakedness with fig leaves (verse 7). Their one act of disobedience contained within it a breaking of the whole moral Law of God, the essence of which is supreme love to God, and to "love thy neighbor as thyself" (Matthew 22:37-39). Here we see them preferring the "god" of self and self-will over Jehovah and His will; bowing down and worshipping the creature rather than the Creator; blasphemy in that they so little regarded Him as their Ruler and Lord; spiritual adultery, in that they chose to side with God's enemy, Satan; not only self-murder, but the murder of their entire unborn race; stealing, by taking that which did not belong to them; bearing false witness to the character of God and the truthfulness of God's Words; and coveting that which was forbidden by their generous Creator and Benefactor.
Do we need proof that Adam and Eve suffered immediate spiritual death, which is separation from the favor, fellowship, and intimate knowledge of God? It is seen by the fact that they attempted to hide from the presence of the all-seeing God (verse 8), the One Whom they once adored and worshipped. Read for yourself the account of the Divine interrogation (verses 9-13) and you will see that they who were originally created righteous are now corrupt and hardened sinners. Adam brazenly and impudently seeks to shift the blame for his sin to Eve, and ultimately blames God -- "The woman whom YOU gave to be with me, SHE gave me of the tree, and I ate." And when Eve is questioned by the Lord God, she blames the serpent. Rather than confessing their sin in brokenhearted repentance, neither want to admit that they are to blame. A holy and righteous God pronounces judgment upon the guilty pair -- Eve is now to experience pain in childbirth and to be under the rule of her husband (vs. 16); Adam is told that the ground is cursed for his sake, and that in sorrow and toil he will eat of it until physical death returns him to the dust from which he was made (vs. 17-19). With the sentence of death hanging over them, our first parents were expelled from the Garden of Eden (vs. 23-24), to begin the human experience in the state of sin and alienation from God. As we shall see, all that Adam lost in his Fall, all of us -- the entire human race -- lost in him.
CONSEQUENCES OF ADAM'S SIN UPON CREATION -- When we read in Genesis chapter 1 the account of God's creation of the universe, as He spoke the universe into existence, we find this phrase used repeatedly at various stages of creation, "And God saw that it was GOOD." And then, in Genesis 1:31, on the sixth day, when God had completed the creation, we find these words, "And God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was VERY GOOD." From these verses we know that all that came from the hands of God in creation was originally perfect, with no flaws or defects. There was no chaos of natural disaster upon the Earth; hurricanes, tornadoes, cyclones, typhoons, earthquakes, floods, volcanoes, and unbearable extremes of temperature were unknown. The Earth was a virtual paradise, with the Garden of Eden being God's very best for Adam and Eve.
However, as we have already seen, God cursed the ground (or the Earth) because of Adam's sin (Genesis 3:17-19), and this accounts for all the harsh realities that we as a fallen race are faced with as a part of life in our world. Every disease, every natural disaster (which are commonly referred to as "acts of God") that brings illness, injury, and loss of life and property, are manifestations of the truth set forth in Romans 1:18, "For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness." Additional light is shed upon this subject in other passages in the New Testament, where we find revealed that not only the Earth, but the entire creation has been subjected by God Himself to the consequences of Adam's sin. In Romans 8:18-22, the Apostle Paul personifies the creation in order to bring out this truth more clearly, and to show the glorious deliverance and transformation that is yet future for the entire universe upon the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the revelation of the sons of God. In this passage, the creation is personified, and described as "made subject to vanity (or frailty, frustration and futility)," waiting "in earnest expectation for the manifestation of the sons of God," "groaneth and travaileth in pain until now," and, in the future, "shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God." In other words, as a result of the fall of man, the entire universe is presently in a state of corruption and gradual deterioration.
These truths, penned by the Apostle Paul hundreds of years ago, is confirmed by modern science, as the first and second laws of thermodynamics have been discovered. Without getting into technicalities, the second law of thermodynamics basically teaches that without question there is a principle at work in the universe (the scientific term for this principle is "entropy") which tends toward decay and disorder. This principle of entropy, if uninterrupted by the Creator, would inevitably result in the universe "running down and wearing out." (See Hebrews 1:10-12) Of course, these Scriptural and scientific principles emphatically contradict the evolutionary hypothesis, which teaches that everything is progressing, advancing, and developing to a higher order.
Since God's creation was originally perfect and without flaw, this passage in Romans chapter 8, linked with Genesis 3:17-19, clearly teaches that God Himself ("Him who subjected," verse 20) introduced the principle of decay and disintegration (the "bondage of corruption," verse 21) into the physical universe, as a result of the voluntary sin, willful rebellion, and fall of man through the first man Adam. Obviously, God has inseparably linked the condition of creation, the entire "cosmos," with man. This being so, when the Lord Jesus Christ returns in all of His glory from Heaven (which is far beyond the starry heavens) He will not only have a people redeemed to God by His shed blood "out of every kindred, tongue, people and nation" (Rev. 5:9), but, according to 2 Peter 3:10-13, He will dissolve the old creation with fire, and create an entirely new universe! Therefore, even now, those of us who are the redeemed of the Lord, "according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new Earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." In connection with this, read Revelation 21:1, compared with Matthew 24:35. We will study this glorious deliverance of the creation from the bondage of corruption in more detail when we come to its proper place in "Part II -- God's Remedy."
Adam's sin corrupted human nature, both mind and body, and poisoned the whole race of mankind contained in his loins. The streams of all mankind which have flowed from Adam are corrupt, because the source or fountain was poisoned by sin. Adam naturally transmitted that sin, guilt and corruption to all his posterity, for, "Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?" (Job 14:4). Children are not born innocent, as many believe, but come into this world with a sinful nature, which discovers itself very soon by attitudes and actions. Fallen Adam begot a son, not in the moral image of God, but in his own corrupt moral image and likeness, according to Genesis 5:3 and 1 Corinthians 15:22,49-50. Adam naturally fathered a race of guilty sinners, all of us under the sentence of death and destruction (Romans 5:12-19; Ezekiel 18:4).
In this book, it is our main concern to see and understand, with God's help, by the enlightening and convicting power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:25; Acts 16:14; Hebrews 4:12), the extent of our Ruin, and then to see, understand, and avail ourselves of GOD'S REMEDY. It is absolutely necessary that you and I see, understand and acknowledge these truths, for otherwise we will not seek GOD'S REMEDY. If a man believes he is in good health, will he take medicine, or seek a cure? But suppose his vitals are being secretly eaten away by a deadly cancer? How happy he would be if he received a warning in time to seek help at the hands of a physician who could cure him! Friend, the human race, and that includes you and me, is infected with a deadly spiritual disease called SIN, and if we would be healed, we must be made aware of our lost, undone condition (Luke 18:13; Acts 16:29-30), and put our case at the disposal of the Great Physician, the Lord Jesus Christ, who "came into the world to save sinners" (1 Timothy 1:15), and "to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). The following study is a diagnosis of our fallen and corrupt state by nature, revealed by the penetrating Searchlight of God's Holy Word, which lays open and bare the human heart and mind (Hebrews 4:12-13).
1. Fallen Man Is Now In Spiritual Darkness
How blind must that person be, who at noon, when the sun shines at its brightest, cannot see it! In like manner, man is now SPIRITUALLY BLIND as a result of the Fall, according to Ephesians 4:18, "having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their hearts . . ." Fallen man now cannot, without supernatural help from God, understand spiritual truth. In Adam's fall, the spiritual light went out in his heart, and this is the awful spiritual condition of every child of Adam's race ever since. God is the all-glorious Supreme Being in Whom all of us should find our greatest delight, but now, because of sin, we are by nature utterly lost from that personal knowledge of, and fellowship with, our Creator. His eternal Deity and Godhead shines forth in all His creation. The beauty of a sunset, the song of a bird, the precise movement of the heavenly bodies, the amazing intricacies of the human body and mind, all speak to us of God's majesty, power, and wisdom -- yet the Scripture says, "There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God" (Romans 3:11). The eternal majesty of God is clearly revealed in the visible creation, and leaves all men and women without excuse (Romans 1:20), but in spite of the inescapable knowledge that there is a God, and that all men are responsible to Him, man's understanding is now covered with such spiritual darkness that, according to 1 Corinthians 2:14, "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
If we need any further proof of the spiritual blindness of Adam's fallen race, let us consider the treatment which the Lord Jesus Christ received, and still receives today, at the hands of men and women. In John 8:12, the Lord Jesus spoke these words, "I am the Light of the world; he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." Jesus, the Son of God, is the Light of the world, because He is "God manifest in the flesh," according to 1 Timothy 3:16, and "the brightness of His Father's glory and the express image of His Person" (Hebrews 1:3). When Philip asked to see the Father, the Lord Jesus declared His own Deity, and oneness and equality with the Father in these words, recorded in John 14:9, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me, has seen the Father..." Yet, the Scripture says, "He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not" (John 1:10). Neither the religious world, nor the secular world, as a whole, recognized who He really was -- if they had, "they would not have crucified the Lord of glory," according to I Corinthians 2:6-8.
Because of man's utter spiritual blindness, the Lord Jesus Christ continues to be rejected and despised today. The Gospel of the crucified, buried, risen and glorified Christ is a stumbling block to the self-righteous religionist, who is too proud to acknowledge that he is a sinner in need of a Saviour. This Gospel is also rejected today by many of the so-called intellectuals who seek after worldly wisdom, and call the Gospel of the crucified, buried, and risen Lord and Saviour mere "foolishness" (1 Corinthians 1:18-25), not worthy of their "great minds," not recognizing their own desperate need of being "reconciled to God by the death of His Son" (Romans 5:10). Instead, many of them prefer to blaspheme and profane His holy name with almost every breath in everyday conversation. How little is He esteemed and regarded by so many of those who have heard of Him and His Gospel, even from childhood!