In yesterday’s post I pointed out that there are basically only two religions in the world.
One religion teaches that man is god or can become a god and the other teaches that there is an impenetrable line of demarcation drawn between man and god and never shall the twain meet.
Well, in Genesis chapter 3, we can see a fleshing out of this concept.
After Adam and Eve eat of the fruit of the tree, they both realize they are naked.
So in order to cover up their nakedness, they make themselves a covering made out of fig leaves.
Note that this is the equivalent of man attempting to cover up his own sin through his own efforts independent from God.
However, this apparently wasn’t good enough for God.
So God took it upon Himself to clothe Adam and Eve with animal skin clothing.
God had to kill an animal in order to provide Adam and Eve with a suitable covering for their nakedness.
Two very important principles are established here.
First, man of his own devisings cannot save himself.
Second, the only suitable payment for sin is the shedding of innocent blood.
God had to kill one of His own created and innocent creatures to pay for Adam and Eve’s rebellion.
Finally, note that Adam and Eve had to leave the Garden of Eden.
Because of their sin, they were now separated from God…physically and spiritually.
Another powerful principle is established here.
God cannot permit uncleanness and sin anywhere near His perfect holiness.
The reason the concept of original sin is debatable, is because for us to sin, it is required either that our spirit be corrupt (in the case of an unsaved person), or it is required that we still possess and old sin nature, along with our new nature (in the case of a saved person). Because neither one of these conditions apply to Adam or Eve, it is theoretically impossible that they sinned, at least not like people do today. The serpent knew this before he beguiled Eve. That is why he beguiled her right in front of Adam, who was obviously bewildered.
Many times the bible discusses “in the flesh”. Me, I personally don’t like the phrase, “sin nature”. What the innocence of Adam and Eve was, was that they had no KNOWLEDGE of good and evil. I like to say, “the nature of IGNORANCE”. That’s what innocence is all about. Not knowing what is wrong, or evil, is innocence.
What we need to concentrate on, is the word “FLESH”. Another word for that is BODY.
1 Cor 15:42-46 discusses TWO types of bodies. One, made from DIRT, or dust of the EARTH, and the OTHER, made from HEAVEN. And it is for THIS reason ALONE, that I do not believe in “Original Sin”. But there are other reasons, as well.
1 Cor 15:42-46 tells the story of what our CURRENT bodies are all about, vs. what our future bodies will be all about.
Current Bodies:
42 It is sown in corruption
Corruption…not related to MORALS, but DEATH, i.e. flesh rot, decay.
Example:
Acts 2:31
He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
Acts 13:36
For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:
OK, so, moving back to 1 Cor 15
43 It is sown in dishonour; it is sown in weakness;
44 It is sown a natural body
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
Verse 46 is important to say that a NATURAL DYING DISHONORABLE WEAK body came FIRST…and that is another major reason that I do not believe in the doctrine of Original Sin.
Adam was going to die ANYWAY. The ONLY reason that he did not OBTAIN eternal life, is because he never ate of the Tree of Life.
And, this is important…he STILL could have OBTAINED eternal life, in a fallen state.
Genesis 3:22, 24
And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:…24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
So, the concept that Adam’s “dying process” began at the fall is completely inaccurate. He was going to die anyway, based on the BODY that he began with…DIRT.
So, Adam sinned, and GOT KNOWLEDGE of Good and Evil. But to call that a SIN NATURE? No, it was already in their DNA from the DIRT. What was missing was…KNOWLEDGE…knowledege of Good and Evil.
And we all have the same exact cycle that Adam did. Innocence until we get knowledge.
1 John 3:4 Sin is the transgression of the law
Romans 3:20 The Law is the KNOWLEDGE OF SIN
Romans 7:7-9
7 …I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
Deuteronomy 1:39
Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.
So, what KIND of death is the following? Natural Death, or Spiritual Death?
Genesis 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.
Spiritual Death. The ONLY THING we INHERITED from Adam was NATURAL DEATH, because he failed to eat of the Tree of Life. And God had to block that tree after the fall, so that he could not obtain eternal life, in a fallen state. We did not inherit a SIN NATURE.
Romans 5:13
13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
Romans 4:15
15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
Adam and Eve got the law by supernatural means. A Tree. They probably passed down their knowledge about sin for a few generations, before it fizzled out.
Was Adam/Eve sinning before the fall? I’d say, ABSOLUTELY. but the mere fact that they had no knowledge of it, puts them in the category of innocence.
Acts 17:30
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
They can’t repent until they get knowledge of what they did wrong/evil! Otherwise, they are innocent.
Ed Chapman