The Fall of Man

Genesis chapter three verses one to seven narrates the fall of Man from God’s rest and grace. In this account, we can see how sin entered the world, sin’s devastating effects, and how man tried to cover up the consequence of sin.

The passage reveals the dangers of doubt and subtle deception can bring into a believer’s life. It is an understatement to say that doubt and deception cloud the believer’s mind. The deadly double D is the poison that destroyed Adam and Eve’s complete trust in God (3:1). Therefore, one must guard himself against the subtle voices of half-truths that come from the created world. We can see by the example of Eve that a deceived person’s speech does not echo God’s absolute truth (3:2-3). Adding to God’s truth surely did not make it more truthful. On the contrary, adding to God’s word has a great tendency to be deceiving, self-serving or legalistic. A believer can argue that it is best to look into Scripture, to protect oneself from adding or removing, when studying and seeking to share or apply God’s truth.

The text also exposes how doubt and deception leads one to sin (3:4-6). Twisting God’s words to give way to one’s own perceived truth is diabolical. To sin is to make God a liar (3:4). Sinning is an attack on God’s holy character. Just as the serpent audaciously declared on verse 5a, “For God knows.” Sinning is challenging God’s authority and robbing God of his deity and lordship over your life (3:5b). As sin begets sin (3:6), the believer’s body is enslaved to sin and his whole faculty becomes an object for sin to abound (3:6a). Sadly, the sinner leads others to sin. Sin then becomes contagious; leading others towards corruption. Thus, knowing these truths from the Scripture, the believer must come daily unto God in prayer and total surrender, asking for his mercy, grace, and strength to escape and win over temptations.

Lastly, we must bear in mind that the sin of Adam and Eve instantly lead to their death (3:7). It is an immediate spiritual death; the death of innocence and purity (3:7a). Adam and Eve ceased to be holy. Their state of holiness was replaced by malice and shame.

The passage says, “… and they knew that they were naked.” God’s image bearers have instantly fallen from grace (3:7b). Man, now represents his fallen nature, unable to represent God. Their very core ceased to be holy and now represent an image tainted with sin, guilt, disgrace, and toil. The true and perfect rest that comes from God alone came to a halt. The great disobedience of Adam and Eve caused them their perfect relationship with God. They must now strive and depend on their own strength to coverup their shame. In their fallen nature, Adam and the woman attempted to provide “rest” and “comfort” for themselves and for each other by sewing fig leaves together to cover their shame. The perfect rest that God graciously offered to them was set aside in exchange for a pretentious kind of comfort that never fully satisfies.

Today, we can come to God humbly through Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of all our sins. He is the only way to back to the Father (Jn 14:6). The invitation of Jesus to find that rest in Him is open (Matt 11:28). Would you respond to the invitation of Jesus in faith? Would you live under his rule and reign, and not trust on you own strength but solely depend on him in all your endeavors? You can make that decision today. He is lovingly waiting for you.