A Look At The First Sin (Part 1)

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The Bible speaks a great deal about the reality that we call sin. So much so that it is almost on every page! The Old Testament uses many terms to designate “sin.” They are borrowed from human relations such as omission, commission, iniquity, rebellion, and injustice. To these is added the concept of debt.

In general we could say that the Biblical definition of a sinner is “one who does evil in the eyes of God.” But when we look at the true nature of sin in the whole of the Bible, with all its malice and in all its dimensions, we learn: a) about the nature of man; b) about the nature of God; c) about God’s wrath; d) about God’s love; e) about His mercy in regard to sin.

The history of salvation is the often-repeated attempts by God, the Creator, to draw man away from sin and toward righteousness. Perhaps the best place to begin to understand sin is in the very beginning with the very first sin - the sin of Adam in Genesis 3. Though the word “sin” is not used in this passage we can still see what the Bible generally defines as a sinner - “one who does evil in the eyes of God.”

Adam’s sin could be simply put: a conscious and deliberate opposition to God by violating one of His commands. Adam was created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-31) and given dominion over all the earth and its life forms. God reserved nothing for Himself. When man was placed in the Garden, God gave him access to all the trees - freely. The garden contained rivers, trees, beautiful precious stones, and gold. It even contained the “tree of life” which the man and his wife could freely have (Gen. 2:7-26)!

God was very good and very generous to Adam and Eve. They were so familiar with Him that they could stand before Him stark naked and were not ashamed (Gen. 2:25).

But then came the serpent (Gen. 3:1). Note the first doubt-producing question. “He said to the woman, ‘Did God really say, “You must not eat from any tree in the garden?”’"(NIV) But, when we read the woman’s response we find that she was not confused about what God had told her. She knew what God had said and repeated it back to the serpent exactly. She told the serpent that they could freely eat of any of the trees except the tree in the middle of the garden. They were not to eat from it or touch it lest they die.

Next followed the BIG LIE. We’ll see just how this lie affected our first parents and how it is still affecting the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve to this day in our next Sabbath Thoughts.

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Satan told the BIG LIE. “And the serpent said to the woman, "You surely shall not die!”(v. 4 NAS). Immediately he went on to clarify his statement to imply that God was withholding something good from them. Verse 5 (NIV): “"For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." In the Spanish translation it implies, "God knows more." or more than He wants you to know. Once again people are convinced that God is holding back the things that are good for us.

When people go outside the bounds of God’s commands, isn’t it because they feel that God is somehow withholding something good from them? When teenagers decide to try drugs, isn’t it because they think there is really something being withheld from them? What about you? And what about the people you know who have gone astray for God's commands? Isn't it because they thought there was something better to be had by disobeying God than by obeying Him?

With doubt about God’s intents placed in her mind she began to look closely at what was forbidden. “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom…” (v.6 NIV), she then took it and ate it. Following that she gave it to her husband who apparently did not question any of her evidence or distrust for God.

Paul says that the woman was deceived. But really God held the man responsible. Yes, she was deceived. But what was her deception? It was not that she misunderstood God. It was not that His commands were unclear. Her deception really was that she chose to believe another statement creating doubt about the veracity of God’s statement and His intent. Adam was not deceived, he just went along as though he had no responsibility!

Adam and Even wanted to be like gods - they wanted to substitute themselves for God in deciding good and evil. Thus they could claim to be the only masters of their destiny and would dispose themselves as they wished. They refused to depend on God who created them and thus they ruptured the relationship which united them to God!

After they took that forbidden fruit, everything changed. They used to stand before God naked, now they ran and hid (Gen 3:8). God, who created them and was good to them, was now a person they did not want to see. Neither did they want to be in His presence. They ran and hid from Him. But He kept searching for them.

God called out: “Where are you?” Their answer was that we heard you coming but because we were naked we hid ourselves among the trees. God then asked, “Who told you you were naked?” And then the question: “Did you eat from the tree which I commanded you not to eat from?” Now, God knew the answers to all these questions. Just like you ask your children a question when you already know the answer. You do it to see how forthcoming and honest and responsible they will be.

Since they did not want to be in God’s presence, they were driven out from the Garden of Eden eastward. The Temple of God with its Holy Place and Holy of Holies is a type of the Garden of Eden. They were driven out eastward. The Temple ran east to west. The Holy of Holies was on the western side of the Temple. People looked west toward the Holy of Holies. That's why God was angry when He spoke through Ezekiel when He saw the people standing on the porch of the Temple but facing the eastern sky. Their backs were toward God and their faces toward the Sun!

Salvation is about returning into God’s presence again but we must do it through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, the righteous! We do it by looking to God's Throne. We do it by being willing to confess our sins knowing that He is faithful and just to forgive us of them and to cleanse us from them. See 1 John 1:4-9.