The Fall of Man: Man's Treason and Results

The fall of man: Man’s treason and results

A. Man was created in the likeness and image of God Almighty.

1. Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

2. Because man was the last thing created before God rested, man is the crown of creation.

a. Genesis 2:1-3 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

2:3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

B. God conferred upon Adam the authority to rule the universe, it was an awesome honor and responsibility.

1. Genesis 1:28 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.

2. Psalm 8:3-6 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

8:5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

8:6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

3. Adam was placed in the garden of Eden after his creation and given responsibilities.

a. Genesis 2:15-17 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

2:17 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.

1). Adam was given a direct command from God about this tree which shows he was not deceived in his sin. He knew exactly what he was doing by disobeying a direct command from God.

b. One of the responsibilities of Adam was to “keep” the garden, which included guarding and protecting it.

1). keep [Strong: 8104 shamar shaw-mar' a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.:--beward, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).]  [Gesenius: to keep, guard, observe, give heed, to keep, preserve, protect.

c. Adam was also given a direct command by God not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He was also told that if he did eat it he would “surely die.” In Strong’s dictionary “surely die”, both English words are from the same Hebrew word for ‘die’.

1). die [Strong: 4191muwth mooth a primitive root: to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill:--X at all, X crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), X must needs, slay, X surely, X very suddenly, X in (no) wise.] [Gesenius: to die, kill, have one executed,  to die (as penalty), be put to death, to die prematurely (by neglect of wise moral conduct).]

d. In the Septuagint the English “surely die” is translated from the Greek ‘die by death’. In the margin of some Bibles it reads, ‘in dying thou shalt die’. This reveals a two fold death, spiritual death and physical death.

e. We know of course that Adam did not die physically for 930 years, but he died spiritually on that day. The fact is Adam was not supposed to die at all, he was created to live forever. Adam died physically because he died spiritually.

C. Temptation of Eve and the fall of Man.

1. The devil began by placing doubt on the word of God and then calling God a liar.

a. Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

1). The first thing the devil did was try to throw doubt on God’s word.

b. Genesis 3:2, 3 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

3:3 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.

1). Here Eve added to the word of God, perhaps because it was Adam who received the direct word from God and passed it on to his wife.

c. Genesis 3:4, 5 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

3:5 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.

1). Satan calls God a liar.

a). 1 John 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

2). Reason why report of the ten spies was declared to be “an evil report” in Numbers 13:32. They called God a liar.

d. Adam was right there with Eve when she was being tempted and he did nothing to stop it.

1). Genesis 3:6 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.

2). Adam was failing in his responsibility to “keep” [guard and protect] the garden.

e. Adam was not deceived, he knew exactly what he was doing.

1). 1 Timothy 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

2). 2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

2. Spiritual death, the nature of Satan enters the spirit of man. They see they are naked and they experience shame and embarrassment for the first time, clear indications that spiritual death has entered their spirits.

a. Genesis 3:7 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.

b. The reason they did not see themselves naked before this is they were clothed with the shekinah glory of God. God is clothed with His own glory.

1). Psalm 104:1, 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.

104:2 Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:

2). Angels that come from the presence of God are clothed with the glory of God.

a). Matthew 28:1-3  In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

28:2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

28:3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

3). This is why the face of Moses was shining with God’s glory when he came down from the mountain after receiving the ten Commandments.

a). Exodus 34:29-35 And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.

34:30 And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.

34:31 And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses talked with them.

34:32 And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh: and he gave them in commandment all that the Lord had spoken with him in mount Sinai.

34:33 And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face.

34:34 But when Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he took the vail off, until he came out. And he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded.

34:35 And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone: and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.

4). When Adam and Eve sinned they lost the glory of God that was their covering and they saw their own nakedness and were ashamed.

b. Genesis 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

1). They experience fear for the first time, which is tied to bondage and is another indication of the spiritual nature change.

a). Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

D. What is Spiritual Death?

1. God is a spirit being and His nature is life

a. John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

b. John 5:26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

c. The devil is a spirit being and his nature is death.

1). Ephesians 6:11, 12 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

2). Ephesians 2:1-5 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

c. Man is also a spirit being

1). 1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2. Spiritual death is not non-existence, it is a state of existence, a condition of separation from God.

a. Physical death is separation of the spirit from the body.

1). James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

b. Spiritual death is the separation of the spirit from God.

1). Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

c. The second death is eternal separation of the spirit of man from God in the lake of fire.

1). Revelation 20:14, 15 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

E. All of the characteristics of spiritual death enter into man.

1. We know also that because Adam and Eve were the parents of the human race, all their consequences became our consequences, spiritual death passed to all of us.

a. Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

b. 1 Peter 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

1). Death, bondage and corruption was passed down to the succeeding generations.

2. Adam loses his position sonship, he is no longer a Son of God, who is led by the Spirit of God.

a. Before he committed high treason Adam was led by the Spirit of God, because he was a son of God.

1). Luke 3:38 Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

2). Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

3). As a result of his sin Adam is no longer a son of God, no longer led by the Spirit of God.

3. Man becomes a child of the devil, ruled and driven by the devil through his flesh and mind.

a. John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

1). The first murder occurs when one of Adam’s son murders his brother.

a). Genesis 4:1-8 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord.

4:2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.

4:4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

4:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

4:6 And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

4:7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

4:8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

b. Jesus said children of the devil will do the lusts of their father, they are in bondage or slavery to his dominion, and his [the devil’s], lusts men will do.

1). Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

c. The law of sin and death is injected into man’s nature. Also referred to as the body of the sins of the flesh.

1). Romans 7:14-25 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

7:16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

2). Colossians 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

d. Satan became the god of this world, and he begins to blind men and women’s minds by building strongholds, ungodly imaginations and thought processes against the knowledge of God.

1). 2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

2). 2 Corinthians 10:4, 5 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

e. Adam’s mind became flesh dominated, ruled and led by his senses and at enmity with God.

1). Romans 8:5 “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh…”

2). Romans 8:6 “For to be carnally minded is death…”

3). Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

4). He begins to be led by the devil who leads man through his mind and flesh. The result is the home and once paradise of man is filled with pain and suffering.

a). Ephesians 2:2, 3 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

b). Genesis 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

c). Genesis 6:11, 12 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

6:12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

5). Man becomes the natural man with all its consequences, oblivious to the things of the Spirit, to the degree man thinks the things of God are foolish

a). 1 Corinthians 2:14 But 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.

b). 1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.  

4. The ‘renewing of the mind’ spoken of in Romans 12:2 is an on purpose targeted return to the thought pattern that Adam had before the fall. A return of obedience to the Scripture,  without doubt, without disputes, without questions, God’s word is the final authority. This is the same attitude of Christ Jesus, revealed in Scripture that we as new creations are supposed to strive for.

a. 1 Peter 4:1, 2 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

4:2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

5. Redeemed man, through the new birth, and the power of the word of God can only begin the process of that restoration. Adam walked in 100% of the ability of his mind as a son of God.  Adam had the mental capability of operating under submission to his spirit and ruling the universe.

F. Jesus the last Adam

1. In 1 Corinthians 15:45 Jesus is referred to as “the last Adam”. What that means is that Jesus became man to redeem man from what the first Adam lost or more accurately ‘gave away’. The contrasts between the first Adam and the last Adam are also made in Romans. What Adam gave away and lost for the human race, Jesus won back

a. Romans 5:17-19 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

b. 1 Corinthians 15:45-49 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

15:48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

2. We have been brought out from under Satan’s kingdom and into the kingdom of Jesus.

a. Colossians 1:12, 13 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

3. We are delivered from the law of sin and death.

a. Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

4. Jesus, the last Adam walked in the dominion and authority that the first Adam walked in, and he has given that authority unto us through the new Covenant.

a. Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

b. Mark 16:15-20 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.