What was the effect of the fall on humanity? How did the fall affect our world?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Adam and Eve lived in perfect unity with God and creation until they decided to make their own choices and be their own gods (Genesis 3:6). The immediate result of this rebellion was to be removed from God’s presence (Genesis 3:22-23). All of the ease and comfort of living with God now turned to darkness and despair.

As a result of sin the ground was cursed, requiring man to sweat and toil for his food.Peaceful relationships now carried animosity and selfishness. Where there once was only life, there was now death.

This rebellion extended from Adam and Eve to all mankind and to the rest of creation. Man was forever separated from God, unable to reclaim for himself the life he once shared in the garden. But Jesus came as the ultimate sacrifice who bled for us to redeem us and restore our relationship with God (Colossians 1:19-20) and reverse what the fall had destroyed.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Adam and Eve lived a perfect life with God in Eden, then rebelled in sin (Genesis 1-2).
• After the fall, man’s relationship with the creation was destroyed, causing his need to toil and work considerably harder at obtaining his food (Genesis 3:17-18).
• After the fall, man’s relationship with his helpmate was marred, causing an attitude of selfishness, blame, and strife (Genesis 3:12,16).
• Because of the fall, sin and death entered the world (Genesis 3:19).
• Because of the fall, mankind became separated from God and spiritually dead (Genesis 3:24).
• Because of the fall, physical death became real when Cain killed his brother Abel out of jealousy over his sacrifice (Genesis 4:3-8).
• After the fall, mankind became continuously corrupted and evil, and God destroyed all except Noah and his family in a global flood (Genesis 6:11-13).
• The effects of the fall continued despite God judging the evil that existed. Mankind persisted in rebellion and sin and tried to make a name for themselves above God (Genesis 11:1-4). Men in Sodom engaged in homosexuality (Genesis 19:4-13), a perversion of the gift of marriage given by God (Genesis 2:23). Jacob schemed against his brother Esau for his birthright (Genesis 25:29-34) and his firstborn blessing (Genesis 27:18-29). Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery (Genesis 37:23-28). The Israelites worshiped other gods (Exodus 32:1-10). David committed adultery with another man’s wife (2 Samuel 11:1-4) and had him killed (2 Samuel 11:14-17). Solomon married many wives and introduced many foreign gods into Israel (1 Kings 11:1-4). Jonah ran from God because of his extreme hatred for an evil nation (Jonah 4:2).
• Isaiah said that we would condemn the One who came to save us (Isaiah 53:3) and that all of us have gone astray and gone our own way (Isaiah 53:6).
• Jeremiah declared that the heart of man is desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• When Jesus came, He revealed that sin and the effects of the fall come from what is within us. He said that what comes out of our hearts defiles us (Matthew 15:18-20).
• Jesus came to the world He created to save us. He revealed that because of the fall, humanity loves darkness rather than light (John 3:19-21).
• Paul described humanity’s slippery slope into sin starting with rejecting the truth (Romans 1:18-25), then living for pleasure (Romans 1:26-27) and finally existing in a state of chaos, confusion, anger and bitterness (Romans 1:28-32).
• Paul also said that Adam’s rebellion caused the entire world to be in this state (Romans 5:12). Even the earth itself is under the curse and longing for its own redemption (Romans 8:19-22).
• Paul also told the Galatians that the deeds of the natural man are evil and end in death (Galatians 5:19-21).
• James stated that man is tempted by his own evil desires, and his sin ends in death (James 1:14-15)

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Christ has overcome the curse of sin with His triumph at the cross (Galatians 3:13; Ephesians 4:8). Christ has overcome sin with holiness (Hebrews 4:15), death with life (John 10:10; 14:6), painful labor with eternal rest (Matthew 11:28), broken relationships to God with reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18), a groaning creation with a new earth (Revelation 21:1), guilt with forgiveness (Romans 8:1), fear with confidence (Hebrews 4:16), anxiety with peace (Philippians 4:7), and despair with joy (John 15:11). The works of the flesh, which are the result of the fall, are overcome by the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23). Rather than be bound to the fall, we can trust Christ through faith in the reality of the resurrection and have hope to one day be raised to life again with Him (Romans 6:3–11).

UNDERSTAND

• Adam and Eve's rebellion introduced sin, death, and separation from God.
• Despite God's interventions, humanity continued to sin.
• Jesus came to redeem and restore the death and destruction that the effects of the fall brought.

REFLECT

• How do you see the effects of Adam and Eve's rebellion in your own life and relationships?
• How do you experience the struggle between good and evil within yourself and in the world?
• How does the promise of redemption through Jesus impact your perspective on the challenges and sufferings you face?

ENGAGE

• What are some examples of how the fall has impacted human society and the natural world?
• How should we interpret the idea that sin comes from within us, as Jesus taught in the New Testament?
• How do we see the hope and restoration offered by Jesus playing out in our world today?