ORIGIN OF MAN
AND HIS FALL
Bro.
Michael Jacob
There is no need of any
demonstration required to show that something is wrong with the world of
mankind. Something is wrong with man himself. To know what is wrong with man,
and how he came to be in such a condition, we have to turn to God’s word. Out
side God’s word we cannot find an answer to this universal problem. Look at
human nature as it is now: depraved, wretched, subject to death. Look at our
hospitals, prisons and cemeteries and the enmity between Cain and Abel, Ishmael
and Isaac, Esau and Jacob is only an example and is duplicated in every age.
What is the answer for all this antagonism? Philosophy cannot answer, our
heredity and environment cannot answer this question. The Bible alone traces
that antagonism to its very source. Ancient recognized that all men were
poisoned but how this poison came to spread to every human they did not know.
We believe and it is true that man
was created (not evolved ) by God . Whatever science says , life has a source and that is
God. "I am the Resurrection and life" , Jesus said. It is only through him we
can have life. Ask the scientists even in this century to create a blade of grass, they
cannot do so. It needs a creator and that creator is called God. Once a native African
found a watch over a sandy beach shore and he did not know what it was . Looking at the
watch and opening inside he could see the various arrangements of small wheels and
understood that it was not accidentally evolved but created by somebody who knew its
designs. " I am fearfully and wonderfully made" Psalmist says . We have a
designer and it is foolish to argue and believe that we came or evolved out of something
or some animal. God made man wonderfully and gave him all authority to rule the world. He
did not make man imperfectly for whatever God makes he makes it perfectly. Most certainly
we cannot attribute mans natural in ordinance and defectiveness to his creator. To
do so would be blasphemy for this word declares "God hath made man upright"
(Eccles 7:29) . It is impossible to say that darkness should come from the Father of light
or sin from the Holy One.
Man is not now as God made him. Man
is a fallen creature . He has lost the crown and glory of his creation . This requires
that we should consider man in his original state . Gods word makes known Gods
intention . "Let us make man in our image after our likeness" (Gen 1:26). There
are two things to be noted in that brief statement, the repeated use of the pronoun in the
plural number, and the fact that there was a conference between the Divine Persons before
the creation of man.
God is trinity in unity . It is not
1+1+1 but it is 1*1*1 i.e. the Father , Son and the Holy spirit the Divine Trinity in unity
. So also he made man on entire unity "spirit, soul and body" (1 Thes. 5:23).
"So God created man in his own
image in the image of God created he him ; male and female created he them" (Gen
1:27). This announces the actual accomplishment of Divine purpose and counsel. It tells of
the excellence of mans original nature . That man was created in positive holiness
is also taught in Ecclesiates 7:29 " God hath made man upright".
"And the Lord God formed man of
the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life ; and man became
a living soul" (Gen 2:7). This supplies with additional information on the creation
of man . First, the matter from which his body was formed out of the dust of the
earth- This should teach man his humble origin and dependence on God. Secondly, God
breathed into him the breath of life. This is why we said in the beginning
that life comes only from God and not from water as the scientists would say now. Thirdly,
the effect on Adam , he became a "living soul". His body was animated and
capable of vital acts.
"And the Lord God said, it is
not good that the man should be alone; I will make a help meet for him
.. And the
Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and he slept ; and he took one of his ribs,
and closed up the flesh there of ; and the rib, which the Lord God taken from man, made he
a woman, and brought her unto the man" (Gen 2:18-22). God chose this mode of making
the woman, to express the intimate union between them . If God had taken a bone from the
head of Adam and made a woman , she would be sitting on his head. If God had taken a bone
from his foot, man would be stamping the woman. So God took a rib and made the woman.
"And God blessed them ,and God
said unto them , be fruitful, and multiply , and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and
have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every
living thing that moveth upon the earth"Gen1:28) so God conferred upon Adam the
Headship and authority . Psalm 8:5-6 says, "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" Adam was
Gods viceroy on the earth.
God not only endowed Adam with
righteousness and holiness, but also bestowed upon him the reasoning power which
distinguished him from all other creatures God made. "And the Lord God planted a
garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed
And the
Lord God took the man and put him in to the garden Eden to dress it and keep it"
(Gen2:8-15).
God put the man in the Garden of
Eden "to dress it and to keep it". This shows that God takes no pleasure in
idleness . It also implies Adam of keeping his own heart the garden of his soul-
"Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits" (Song of
solo. 4:16).
In addition to the institution of
marriage (Gen 2:23-25 ; 1:28) God appointed the weekly Sabbath. "On the seventh day
God ended this work which he had made. And God blessed the 7th day and
sanctified it ; because that in it he had rested from all this work God created and
made"(2:2-3). What is the rest of God ?
What is the rest of God ? God
doesnt need to take rest like us . But then what is the rest of God ? He stopped all
his restoratory and creative work. In six days God did all the creative work and rested on
the 7th day. Sabbath is Gods day of rest . But this rest was disturbed
due to the sin of man . He had to create again. So he sent his son to save us from our sin
and created a new creation through his blessed son the Lord Jesus CHRIST. That new
creation was possible on the resurrected day or first day of the week. So the early church
gathered on the first day of the week , had communion and rejoiced on the first day of the
week . That is our rest day now . Jesus said, "come to me
.. I will give you
rest" Rest from what? Rest from your sins.
Though Adam had been made in the image of God,
nevertheless he was capable of falling . Adam was just a creature , as such he was
entirely depended on him. Moreover as a creature he was finite and therefore possessed no
invincible power to rebel opposition . Secondly Adams nature to fall lay in his
changing character. God alone is changeless (James 1:17). Changelessness is the character
which distinguishes the creator from the creature. Thirdly , Adams nature to fall
lay in the freedom of his will . The freedom of will consisted in a power of choosing .
So we can see Adam was more than a father of the human
race . We can say he was the covenant head of all his spiritual seed . He acted and
transacted in their name . So to say that we were all in his loins agreeing with his
actions. So Adam was the federal head and legal representative of all his offspring. This
is in 1Cor 15:45 where the first Adam is designed as "the first man" and Jesus
Christ, the last Adam as "the second man" .They were the only two who where the
federal head and legal representative of all their offspring.
"And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in
Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed . And out of the ground made the Lord
God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food ; the tree of life
also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil" (Gen 2 :
8-9) .
This is the first mention of the two notable trees.
"And the Lord God commanded the man saying , of every tree of the garden thou mayest
freely eat : 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" (Gen 2 : 16-17). God
commanded the man and not man and woman. So this must have taken place before Eve was
created and thus Adam alone was responsible for that covenant between him and God.
In forbidding Adam to eat of the tree of knowledge of
good and evil God asserted his authority . Man was placed under law and therefore
Adams loyalty and subjection was put under test . Adam was not an independent
creature . He did not create himself. Being made by God he owed a debt to him . Today this
is where man fails . He thinks he is an independent creature. He wants to do as he
pleases. He doesnt want anybodys authority. Nobody need to teach me. I
know what to do But that is wrong. Since God made him he has a responsibility to his
maker as his creator . After his fall , he had to turn to him as his redeemer. This is not
to say man has no freedom , In Christ he has all things.
In forbidding Adam to eat of the tree of knowledge of
good and evil, trail of his obedience was put to test whether the will of God was sacred
to him. Though created in the image and likeness of God, man was not infallible.
Mans character was not yet confirmed in righteousness . Though made
upright he was capable of falling.
Regrettably man did not endure honorably . Instead of
preserving their integrity they fell into sin and misery. In spite of the ideal conditions
they were placed, they did not enjoy for a long time . It has been generally held among
Bible students that our first parents remained unfallen for only a brief time . It looks
that our first parents remained unfallen for a very short period of time . In the morning
man was holy ; by night he was a sinner ! This is always the case with man . Noah when he
came out of the ark defiled himself at a very early date. After a few days at Sinai the
Israelites were guilty of the horrible sin of idolatry . Man is a sad failure. Even the
honor of the early church was tarnished by the sin of Ananias and Sapphira. "They
have turned aside quickly out of the way".
We will now consider the Fall of Man
THE FALL OF MAN
Genesis 3 describes the event . This important chapter
please study prayerfully. This drama which was enacted in the Garden of Eden is still
going on and six thousand years not completed yet. This chapter gives the ruined condition
of the world . Here we are shown how sin entered the world . Here are revealed the cunning
devices of our great enemy the devil . On the other hand it also shows the grace and mercy
of God and promises us that the seed of the woman will crush the head of the serpent (Gen
3:15).
In Genesis 3 much is compacted into an exceedingly small
space.
"Now the serpent was more subtle (wiser) than any
beast of the field which the Lord God had made" (Gen 3:1 ) . It is not the monkey but
the serpent in the origin was wiser than any beast of the field which God made. ////this
statement refers to a "literal" serpent as being the instrument of Satan . Satan
made use of the literal serpent as his mouthpiece in beguiling Eve. Moreover in Revelation
12:9 and 20:2 Satan is called that old serpent in allusion to Genesis 3 . It
may be also that in the beginning the serpents form looked like an angel with wings
etc before the curse of God.
"And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said ,
ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden ?". If you are a careful reader , this
question the serpent asked because Eve and the serpent were talking before already . For
the opening yea implies something was going on before. Where was Eve when the
serpent thus addressed her? We believe that she was standing before the very tree whose
fruit had been forbidden to eat we also believe that Adam was not there when the serpent
was talking to Eve. Eve was alone . "For Adam was first formed not Eve. And Adam was
not deceived , but the woman being deceived was in the transgression" (1Timothy
2:13-14). The holy spirit emphasize the woman was first in transgression and then became
seducer of man . The serpent then must have tempted Eve in the absence of her husband.
So Eve was alone and also near to the forbidden tree.
Had she kept away from that she would have been on safer ground. Satan cannot injure any
of us while we are walking with God. "Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go
not in the way of the evil man. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it" (Prov
4:14-15). Eve exposed herself as the greatest danger by standing near the tree.
"And he said unto the woman. Yea, hath God said, ye
shall not eat of every tree of the garden?". The serpent must have looked like a
cherubim very different from what it is now , not only standing erect but also of
beautiful appearance. Isnt the word of God says Satan sometimes deceives us as an
Angel of light . Apparently he stood before the tree of the knowledge of good
and evil. It seems likely that he took and ate the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil
before Eve. As Samuel Hopkins long ago pointed out , "It is probable that the serpent
told the woman that by eating of the fruit of that tree he had obtained the reasoning
power and the faculty of speech ." The serpent deceived Eve that he could even speak
and rationalise things like a human and not as an animal . It is probable that is why Eve
was not surprised at all to hear the serpent speak.
John Brown wrote in his family Bible that "perhaps
the serpent pretended that himself acquired the knowledge over and above other beasts by
eating of the forbidden fruit" In some Margin Bible it is written , "Is it
because God hath said that you are starting at seeing me eating the forbidden fruit?"
Here we see the guile and malice of the enemy by
destroying Adam and Eve , by making them to disobey God , he could spoil the entire human
race and the plan of God to put man as the crown of God's creation and the vice-roy of the
earth, a position once Satan enjoyed before his fall (Read Ezek 28). He made the Divine
restriction appear much greater and severe than what it was. The Lord in fact had made a
general provision for them to eat freely (without any simple restriction ) of every
tree of the garden but with a single exception (Gen 2:16). This is always the wisdom
of Satan as he attempts to twist and misunderstand the word of God which he had been using
for six thousand years and continue to do so. Satan is always seeking to inject this
poison into our hearts. This poison is to distrust the Word of God . This is what really
behind every lust and disobedience. Allow nothing to question his love.
Mathew henry pointed out, "Satan tempted Eve that
by her , he might tempt Adam; So he tempted Job by his wife, and Christ by Peter. It is
his policy to send temptations by unsuspected hands that have most interest in us and
influence over us". The word of God says, "Go from the presence of a foolish
man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge" (Prov 14:7). The
serpent's opening conversation produced a spirit of discontentment in Eve. Compare Eve
with Christ. He steadfastly refused to enter into debate with the devil. He only took his
stand on the word of God . Rather Eve was dilly dallying with the devil.
"And the woman said unto the serpent, we may eat of
the fruit of the tree of the garden : 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" (Gen 3:2-3). Instead of fleeing in fear from the serpent , Eve conferred with
him, which was both foolish and fatal. Remember Satan is most wiser and experienced than
we are and so we cannot meet him in his own ground. The result will be disastrous if we
try to meet him on his ground. That is why the word of God says "Flee from youthful
lusts". The only person qualified to meet Satan face to face is Jesus Christ and we
are all sinners and he is the sinless one.
Satans evil influence had already begun to affect
Eve. The Lord had said, "of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat" Eve
omitted the word "freely". Dont omit any word from the word of God.
Dont add any word to the word of God . Let science say anything. Let philosophy say
anything. Remember this is inspired word of God written by the inspiration of the Holy
Spirit . She added to Gods word also by saying ,"neither shall ye touch it
"(refer GEN 2:17 and GEN 3:3). She also toned down Gods word "lest ye
die". The Lord had said "thou shalt surely die ". Never tone down
Gods word . Never preach sweet quoted sermons. Say the horribleness of sin and its
result as plain it could be and say that," the wages of sin is death".
"And the serpent said unto the women ye shall not
surely die" (GEN. 3:4). Here Satan took bold advantage . He flatly contradicted divine
threatening . "Look here I am alive even after eating the forbidden fruit . The same
will happen to you and you will gain more reasoning powers . God is only trying to
frighten you . I have eaten it without suffering any ill effects".
No excuse can be made for Eve now. If she had acted
foolishly in coming near the forbidden tree , she should have turned away from there long
ago.. Even after listening to serpents opening remarks, she was standing there ,it
was foolish and disastrous . But now she should have run away from there after listening
to the serpent telling that the Lord God had lied . God is not a man to lie,
says the word of God. Joseph fled from his temptation (GEN 39:12). Instead Eve remained to
hear the serpent add one after another lies against God . "For God doth know in the
day ye eat thereof then your eyes shall open and ye shall be as gods ,knowing good and
evil "(GEN 3:5). Satan declared that they would benefit listening to him. Oh my
friend !you have listened to him some for 10 years , some for 20 years, some more and more
.What benefit you will receive in the end.? The WAGES of sin is DEATH- A three fold
promise was set before the woman-1. Their discernment will increase your eyes shall
be opened ,not the physical eyes, but understanding. 2 . they should as
gods,-their power enlarged and 3. knowing good and evil,-their wisdom will be
increased . It was not the appetite for the forbidden fruit but what the fruit could do to
Eve, increase their wisdom and elevate them to celestial creatures was the nature of the
attack by the serpent . 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 (GEN 3:6). Here is a dangerous consequence. Eve did not believe
in Gods word . She instead played with the enemy and landed the whole humanity into
curse and sin . David declared , "Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not
sin against thee (PSA 119:11) . Though Eve very well remembered Gods warnings
at that time she took it lightly believing more the lies of the devil rather than God . Is
it the same condition with you my friend ? God has been speaking to you through his word
,but you are not interested. Remember , Gods word says , "He that despised
Moses law died without mercy under two or three witness. Of how much sorer punishment ,
suppose ye , shall he be thought worthy, who had trodden under foot the Son of God , and
hath counted the blood of the covenant, where with he was sacrificed ,an unholy thing ,
and hath done despite unto the spirit of grace?"(HEB 10: 28,29)
In 2CORINTHIANS 11:13 we are informed that "the
serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety " How was she deceived if she knowingly
disobeyed God ? If you are not regulated by Gods word you will be deceived by Satan
. Eve was beguiled because she listened to another voice and not Gods voice . She
also disregarded her allegiance to her husband . Sin deceives and calls the good evil and
bitter sweet.
Eve saw that the tree was good for food and was
"pleasant to the eyes". Instead of acting in by faith on the word of God Eve
acted by sight. She saw it was "pleasant to the eyes". In (Genesis 2:9) we read
, "out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the
sight , and good for food". So every tree was pleasant to the eyes and not only the
tree of knowledge of good and evil. But why Eve attached a special sentiment only on the
tree of knowledge of good and evil ? Why to Eve that particular tree was appealing ?
because she secretly coveted it. Lust of the eyes , lust of the flesh and pride of life in
Eves life made her to hanker after that forbidden fruit.
Eve should have consulted Adam if any doubt was in her
mind . It is wifes duty to consult her husband . Many a family has been ruined
because of lack of consultation between husband and wife . Rather Gods word says
"let the woman if they dont understand ask their husband at home". Instead
she saw the tree was to be desired to make one wise. Her judgment on the
matter was entirely by what the serpent had told her and not by what God had said . She
has false hope James 1:14-15 says, "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away
of his own lust and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived it bringeth forth death".
She could have remained holy by her choice. If she had chosen good and refused evil she
could have been holy. "Butter and honey shall he eat , that he may know to refuse the
evil and choose good" Isaiah 7:15. This is said about Christ . Eve chose the
prohibited fruit. This is a solemn warning to you. What you are choosing in your life? Are
your choices according to the word of God?
"She took of the fruit and did eat" (Gen 3:6)
. The serpent did not put the fruit in her mouth but Eve took of the fruit by herself and
did eat . The devil can only tempt you but not force you to commit sin . By your own free
will, by giving heed to Satans words you are committing sin. She "gave also
unto her husband with her" By this time Adam must have joined her. "And he did
eat". He ate listening to his wife. He had seen her alive after eating and so he also
partook with her.
Thus Man rebelled against his maker. Thus man disobeyed
his words. David says "Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name" (Psalm
138:2). But the first couple failed to magnify the word of God. By his word he saves; By
his word he Protects; By his word he heals and by his word we live. But the first man
thought about the word of God very poorly. What about you my friend? What is the word of
God to you today? "He is coming again" says the word of God . It can happen any
time because he has said it. No power on earth can stop it.
This is the origin of sin. Adam put the whole human race
in depravity. This is the condition of every man. Who can save him ? He needs a Savior.
Who is he ? He can not be from this sinful human race for "all have sinned and come
short of the glory of God . No one is righteous". Your pilgrimages, your tithes, your
offerings may be good but they cannot save you . You and I NEED A SAVIOR.
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