Original Weakness to Temptation?

[CoffeeSwirls]

I have a question for my reformed brothers and sisters, as I am actually quite new to this theology.

I understand that we sin because we are sinners, rather than being sinners because we sin. Before we are regenerated we have a fallen resistance to God that can only be reversed by the grace of God. I'm on the right page on that one. What I'm wondering about is Adam and Eve prior to the fall.

They had neither the knowledge or experience of sin in them. All they had was a perfection that God proclaimed as very good, along with the rest of pre-fallen creation. There was only one stipulation made on them, that was to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Since they had nothing within them that would predispose them toward sin, and since the serpent's words obviously contradicted the command of God, I can only assume that they were naive, having no experience in any fallacy. The fact remains that these claims made by Satan contradicted the word of their creator, so with a perfect righteousness that Adam and Eve enjoyed, why would they fall for such temptations?

Yes, they had free will, and I believe we all do. Prior to regeneration, we want to do the things Satan desires, following regeneration we have a longing to obey the Lord. What am I overlooking here? What piece of the pre-fall puzzle have I missed?

 

[Irishcat922]

I think you are on the right track, we discussed this on another thread. I think if we think about what the Apostle says in the N.T. we have to believe Eve was decieved.

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

So they were decieved. Most reformed theologians believe the original sin was desire.

Gen 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant1 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.


I think although they were created in perfection, they were created with a desire for knowledge, Satan manipulated that desire and deceived them and they sinned. (My 2cents.)

 

[BBAS 64]

I have a question for my reformed brothers and sisters, as I am actually quite new to this theology.

I understand that we sin because we are sinners, rather than being sinners because we sin. Before we are regenerated we have a fallen resistance to God that can only be reversed by the grace of God. I'm on the right page on that one. What I'm wondering about is Adam and Eve prior to the fall.

They had neither the knowledge or experience of sin in them. All they had was a perfection that God proclaimed as very good, along with the rest of pre-fallen creation. There was only one stipulation made on them, that was to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Since they had nothing within them that would predispose them toward sin, and since the serpent's words obviously contradicted the command of God, I can only assume that they were naive, having no experience in any fallacy. The fact remains that these claims made by Satan contradicted the word of their creator, so with a perfect righteousness that Adam and Eve enjoyed, why would they fall for such temptations?

Yes, they had free will, and I believe we all do. Prior to regeneration, we want to do the things Satan desires, following regeneration we have a longing to obey the Lord. What am I overlooking here? What piece of the pre-fall puzzle have I missed?

Good Day, CoffeeSwirls

Good question... See if I can help.

Adam and Eve where created with the abilty to sin and the abily not to sin .

http://www.the-highway.com/freedom2_Berkouwer.html

Augustine cover this some where also.

http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/four-fold.html

They also had liberty to make that choice, which is what was ultimatelly lost in the fall. They were not slaves to a nature which is now in slaved to sin.

By the work of God we are made free of the bondage of the will and it's slavish tendancies to sin.

For His Glory Alone!

Bill

 

[reformedfan]

Adam, Eve & Christ were the only ones that had free will in history: They could chose to obey perfectly, or disobey. No matter how hard Christians try to obey perfectly, we won't, therefore our will isn't free. We are as free to obey as a bird in a cage with a broken wing is to fly. Theoretically, perhaps, but not actually.