[Truth 3 of 12; 5 minute read]
The curse of sin and death entered the world through Adam‘s willful disobedience. Although it was Eve who sinned first after being deceived by Satan who appeared to her in the form of a walking, talking serpent, it was Adam who bore complete responsibility for sin because God had commanded him even before Eve was created: “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17 NKJV)
That death would be both physical (soul and spirit separated from the body) and spiritual (soul and spirit separated from God). Adam and Eve were created immortal, in the image of God, so physical death made them mortal. Because of sin our mortal bodies will die too, but our spirits are eternal and will live forever, either in Heaven in the presence of God or in Hell to be eternally punished for our sins.
God’s commandment to Adam was not a suggestion.
The name of the tree carries a great significance in a world that was created “good.” It was man’s first choice between two things, one of which God had strictly forbidden. Satan deceived and confused Eve: “Can it really be that God has said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden?'” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees of the garden, except the fruit from the tree which is in the middle of the garden. God said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, otherwise you will die.'” But serpent said to the woman, “You certainly will not die! For God knows that on the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing [the difference between] good and evil.” (Genesis 3:3-5 AMP).
The lie Satan told Eve was that she would become like God. She would not. Both Adam and Eve willingly disobeyed God and immediately found out the difference between good and evil, the good they lost and the evil they found, as would all of mankind.
The penalty for Adam’s sin was the wrath of God, which included a curse on mankind, a rightful judgment where every human being born with the blood of Adam, including you, would be born into sin and separated from God and without a relationship with Him. Because Adam sin, all men became sinners.
There was no sin and no evil in the world until the first man chose through his own free will to rebel against God’s authority. God knew that Adam would sin, but His perfect plan included redemption through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and that plan was already in place even before time began.
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