The Fall of Adam and Eve

[James1979]

I just wanna get people statements on what they think of the fall. Do you think it's a divine mystery that Adam and Eve fell in the sin as they were created in the image and likeness of God?

I know that God's has control of the hearts of mankind, at all times. I don't think we can actually know the actual detail on what happen before the fall? Did God simply take his hand of Adam's and Eve's heart to let them commit the sin while allowing Adam and Eve curiosity get the best of them and see how they would do in the time of temptation?

 

[Defcon]

I just wanna get people statements on what they think of the fall. Do you think it's a divine mystery that Adam and Eve fell in the sin as they were created in the image and likeness of God?

I know that God's has control of the hearts of mankind, at all times. I don't think we can actually know the actual detail on what happen before the fall? Did God simply take his hand of Adam's and Eve's heart to let them commit the sin while allowing Adam and Eve curiosity get the best of them and see how they would do in the time of temptation?

For the state of Adam and Eve pre-Fall, I would point to the Westminster Confession, Chapter IX, Section II : "Man, in his state of innocency, had freedom, and power to will and to do that which was good and well pleasing to God; but yet, mutably, so that he might fall from it."

Yes, it is a mystery we simply can not grasp and should not attempt to beyond God's Word.

 

[Christum Crucifixum]

Yes, it is a mystery we simply can not grasp and should not attempt to beyond God's Word.

Amen to that, Defcon.

It is useless for us to speculate on what has not been revealed to us. If we are to take the transcendence of God seriously, we must acknowledge that the hidden God is better left to the philosophers, who cannot help but fashion Him into the form of a calf.

The first sin, as St. Augustine rightly noted, must be attributed to the will of the human creature alone, and can in no way be ascribed to the Godhead. How did a good will go bad? How could a good will go bad? Here we must confess with St. Paul that in this vale of tears we know only in part, looking as through a glass, darkly; but then we will see clearly, face-to-face.

Until then we hold fast to the Word:

"The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever" (Deuteronomy 29:29).

 

[kenrapoza]

I'm going to echo the other posts here and say that the origin of evil is not something that God has seen fit to reveal to us in His word. When Christ returns in glory and in judgment, we will probably learn what happened before the Fall. But until then we live in the shadow of the Cross, fixing our eyes on Christ. We can work with whatever boundaries are given to us in Scripture, and that should serve to limit our philosphical musings and prevent us from trying to peer behind the veil.

 

[Elect]

God is in absolute control of all things. According to Romans 8:18-21, it was God that subjected creation to futility and it was not the will of creation and for the reason of setting creation free from it's slavery to corruption into the freedom and the glory of the children of God.

Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed in us.
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creation waits for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Rom 8:20 For the creation was not willingly subjected to vanity, but because of Him who subjected it on hope
Rom 8:21 that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

There is a reason and a purpose for everything and that would include the fall of creation. We know that God is not the author of sin, but He does control it, purpose it and decree it from the beginning.

 

[Jeffersonian]

Man had ''free will'' in the garden
after the fall, he was totally depraved.
that's how i see it.

 

[stan1953]

I just wanna get people statements on what they think of the fall. Do you think it's a divine mystery that Adam and Eve fell in the sin as they were created in the image and likeness of God?

I know that God's has control of the hearts of mankind, at all times. I don't think we can actually know the actual detail on what happen before the fall? Did God simply take his hand of Adam's and Eve's heart to let them commit the sin while allowing Adam and Eve curiosity get the best of them and see how they would do in the time of temptation?

OK James I see you're still a member, so even though this OP is a little old I will address it.

I guess it depends what you consider the image and likeness of God to be. God is a spirit so that means He has no physical attributes. However Jesus existed before time, so do we believe He existed in physical forms. Well the OT seems to verify this based on ALL the encounters people had with a physical being that were NOT angels. Take a look at Daniel 3:25.
Also note that in Genesis 1:1, the Hebrew word for God, is "Elohim", pronounced "el-oh-HEEM". This is a plural form of the word EL, which means GOD, so this is the very first mention of the Trinity concept in the Bible.
Now look at us, we are tripartite beings, Mind, Body and Soul. Just like God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This is the image and likeness of God making mankind, as He said, "IN OUR IMAGE". Do you see the resemblance yet?
Now our mind, being representative of the Father, is the center of our free will. Unlike all the things and creatures God created before us, God gave us FREE WILL. We were not created as automatons, but as free will beings. We have NEVER been forced to do ANYTHING against our will. Our will has always been the very thing that God gave us to truly have a people that could love and worship Him of their OWN volition, UNLIKE the Angels He created. Although to a certain extent they appear to have had some kind of free will but that's another issue.
Now God is Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent, so He has ALL power, knows ALL things and is present in ALL places and times.
His Word says the LAMB of GOD existed before the beginning of creation. Why designate a LAMB if He didn't know one would be required? Why create mankind if He knew Eve would disobey Him by an act of her free will. There is NO mystery...there is just God creating a universe and place for humans to exist. Humans that He knows, have the capacity to love Him enough to obey Him and His Word and submit themselves to the leading and direction of the Holy Spirit. Just as humans throughout time have pledged allegiance to earthly kings, our heavenly King wants that total allegiance WILLINGLY from ALL of us, ALL the time. For that, He is willing to give us LIFE everlasting with Him!

Now to me this is NOT a mystery, but a very clear picture of the loving, patient and merciful God I have come to know!