I’ve heard some Christian preachers say they are going to show their sore displeasure to Adam when they see him because he did not obey God in the Garden of Eden and so brought suffering and death into the world for all the rest of mankind. (Rom 5:12-19; 1Cor 15:22) This attitude does not at all understand that whoever Adam would have been, you/I would have done the same thing: God already planned before the creation that the Son of God – the Word become flesh – would come into the world in the fullness of time to redeem every person, for all have sinned. . . .there is none righteous. . . .except for God Himself. In Adam all die; in Messiah all live.
Adam is the human father of us all: we are all children of Adam (bnei Adam). It will help us to know him better so that we can identify with him rather than condemn him. He is one of the great cloud of witnesses whom God has given us in the Bible to encourage us in our faith and in our works of faith.
YHVH God created Adam as an adult male who was nonetheless at a maturity level of ‘innocence’. (Gen 1:26-27; 2:7-8; Is 7:16) He didn’t really know a whole lot spiritually, but somehow he could give names to all the animals from the information His Creator put into him; There was no one else to talk to or to ask questions. Only God was there to let the man know anything. Remember that God has subjected the creation to futility (Rom 8:20), and here at the very beginning we see and hear God commanding the man not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, a tree with fruit that was very appealing, lest he die. (Gen 2:9, 15-18; 3:6)
Why not? (in the light of Messiah and God’s full revelation)
–Our Father in Heaven knows the consequences of sin, and wants to cut it off at the root.
–To obey God’s voice, to trust Him completely to do His will, is our security and peace in life.
–God the Father knew that Adam and Eve, in their innocence, would not know what to do with the knowledge of good and evil (Gen 3:5,22). Even the devil knows that there is good and evil. God is good. Maturity is knowing to discern good and evil, and to choose the good. (Heb 5:14) This qualifies us to train others in godliness.
–In disobeying God, Adam proved that he was not in perfect relationship within himself or with God.
Very good is not perfect!
–In the wisdom of God, man through wisdom can not know God.
–‘Lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil’: we can not be confident in our own capacity to stand victorious in the face of temptation; therefore, we do not pray or ask God to lead us into situations where we would be tempted into sinning, but rather into ways of peace.
Gen 3:6-10 transgression of God’s command (Job 31:33) and consequent guilt, shame, and fear: separation from fellowship
Was this a lack of proper faith, or simply a lack of comprehension? What made it sin?
–Disobedience: Adam did not understand what it meant when God told him “You will surely die!”, but he did know that God had commanded him not to eat from that tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Sin is not believing and not obeying the Word of YHVH God, the Creator of all.
–He listened to the voice of his wife (3:17) – who listened to the devil and not to her husband – rather than to God the Creator.
–As a consequence of Adam’s sin, all are born in sin (we have inherited sin as human beings), and die. In this willful and knowledgeable disobedience, Adam is not a type of Christ, but of the antichrist! (Rom 5:12-19; 1Jn 3:4; 1Tim 2:14; Hos 6:7)
Knowing good and evil is not wrong or evil; in fact, it is necessary for those created in God’s image and likeness. Disbelieving and disobeying God is wrong and evil, and disobeying those who have godly authority over us is not good. If we are deceived, we can be led into transgression.
–It is better to obey than to sacrifice.
–This is a very basic principle that, if learned, produces good fruit in life and society and in personal relationships (Heb 12:7-13)
Gen 3:11-19 confession mixed with self-defense (Job 31:33), self-justification; and the consequences to the serpent, the man and the woman, and to the ground (Gen 5:28-29)
–Our sins are not private and personal only; they can have devastating and long-lasting effects upon others, especially our families and those over whom we have authority and influence
–Until we confess our sin/s against God without excuse or rationalization, we are still not fully aware of what sin is, of what holiness is, of what humility is, of what God’s love is, of what perfect is….
Along with the chastening and the punishment, YHVH God gave the Word of promise, which gave (and still gives) hope and a sanctifying effect upon the life (2Pt 1:3-4)
–to know God, both His goodness and severity (Rom 11:22)
–to be correctable, teachable
–to learn righteousness and to discern good from evil
Gen 3:20; 4:1,2,25; 5:4 Adam called his wife’s name Eve, and they had sons and daughters, even in the face of death and disappointment.
–Cain, Abel, Seth, other sons and daughters
Adam and Eve now believed God and the Word of Promise from Him, and acted with faith, hope, and love.
In Christ Jesus — the Seed of the woman and the Son of Man — all humans (sons and daughters of Adam and Eve) have the hope of YHVH’s promise, through the forgiveness of sins, transgressions, and iniquity.
Israel as a nation (and similarly a remnant from every people group on Earth) has been given the same promise and hope of God’s redeeming love in holiness and truth. (Ex 34:5-8; Hos 6:7; Rom 11:25-36)
Do you think it ‘unfair’ that we should all be made to suffer and die because of one man’s sin? Does this seem harsh?
Is it ‘fair’ that because of one Man’s righteousness all who believe in Him should have their sins forgiven and receive the gift of eternal life? The goodness of God leads us to repentance (Rom 2:4), to turn from our selfish and sinful ways to Him who loves us with such a love to pay the price for our sin. He died to deliver the children of Adam and Eve from death and to enable all who believe in Jesus to become sons and daughters of God.
Lk 2:33-35 The second and last Adam (Man) was born destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign spoken against.
Fear YHVH, who alone forgives sin.
