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 man’s 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 God’s 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 man’s 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 God’s 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 7^th 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 doesn’t 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 7^th day. Sabbath is God’s 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 Adam’s 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 , Adam’s 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 Adam’s 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 doesn’t want anybody’s 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. Man’s 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 serpent’s 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. Isn’t 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.

Satan’s 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". Don’t omit any word from the word of God. Don’t 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 God’s word also by saying ,"neither shall ye touch it "(refer GEN 2:17 and GEN 3:3). She also toned down God’s word "lest ye die". The Lord had said "thou shalt surely die ". Never tone down God’s 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 serpent’s 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 God’s 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 God’s 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 , God’s 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 God’s word you will be deceived by Satan . Eve was beguiled because she listened to another voice and not God’s 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 Eve’s life made her to hanker after that forbidden fruit.

Eve should have consulted Adam if any doubt was in her mind . It is wife’s duty to consult her husband . Many a family has been ruined because of lack of consultation between husband and wife . Rather God’s word says "let the woman if they don’t 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 Satan’s 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.