What Would Have Happened if Adam Didn't Eat the Fruit?

[Salop]

We fell into sin because Adam took the fruit and ate it. But what would have happened if he had refused it? If he had said, "No Devil! I rebuke you in the name of Jehovah!"

What would have happened to Eve and Satan?

Thanks!

 

[now faith]

We fell into sin because Adam took the fruit and ate it. But what would have happened if he had refused it? If he had said, "No Devil! I rebuke you in the name of Jehovah!"

What would have happened to Eve and Satan?

Thanks!

Most likely Adam would have had a choice to go or stay in the Garden. Gods Word would not change Eve would have died. If we look at Moses and God, God in his anger would have killed the children of Israel ,and gave Moses a new people. God might have done the same with Adam, and gave him a new wife.

 

[PastorMike]

I think there would have been no problems, God made the covenant with Adam before Eve was created, Eve didn't sin, she was deceived...

Satan would have been cast out forever and there would have been no fall...

(IMHO of course ;-)

 

[ABlessedAnomaly]

Most likely Adam would have had a choice to go or stay in the Garden. Gods Word would not change Eve would have died. If we look at Moses and God, God in his anger would have killed the children of Israel ,and gave Moses a new people. God might have done the same with Adam, and gave him a new wife.

Ahh....clarification for those of you (like me) who read this with presuppositions the first time through:

now faith is answering if Adam would have refused to eat AFTER Eve had already eaten, after Satan had deceived HER and her alone.

--
In that, I don't fully agree. Eve, in this view, sinned. God did not bring death to Adam and Eve when they sinned, rather He sent a redeemer. So why should it be different if ONLY Eve sinned? Jesus would have come also, if only for her. And evern if ONY Eve sinned, the human race would have been bound to sin and in need of a redeemer.

 

[ABlessedAnomaly]

Eve didn't sin, she was deceived...

Mike, could you elaborate on this a little. I have to say that I sit in disagreement of this statement, but am curious to learn why you say this.

My justification would be:

Romans 5:12
12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—
​

In line with the OP and now faith's response, I would like to add that I don't think "through one man" means Adam alone, but rather Adam/Eve as one flesh -- in other words, my difference to now faith's response is that if Eve ate and Adam didn't, then sin entered into the world and spread to all men -- even Adam.

And my only caveat would be the very next verse:

Romans 5:13
13 for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam
​

That although sin entered, it was not imputed until there was Law.

 

[PastorMike]

Well lets start with where was Eve when God told Adam not to eat from the tree?

 

[ABlessedAnomaly]

We fell into sin because Adam took the fruit and ate it. But what would have happened if he had refused it? If he had said, "No Devil! I rebuke you in the name of Jehovah!"

What would have happened to Eve and Satan?

Thanks!

Since you started with "we fell into sin because...." and then asked what if the "because" didn't happen, then the logical answer would be we would not have fallen into sin.


I want to make a point here, though. Adam fell, and by that sin was imputed to mankind. It wouldn't matter if you never committed a sin in your life: sin is imputed to you. You are reckoned sinful because of what Adam did (not what you do). You sin because you are sinful and you must repent of your personal sin, but it was by Adam's sin that you were lost.

Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 5:14
Nevertheless death reigned ... even over those who had not sinned ...
​

In like manner, Jesus paid the price for your sin. You did not pay that price nor will you ever have to. Righteousness is imputed to you. You are reckoned righteous because of what Jesus did (not what you do). You can walk righteously because God redeemed you and you must strive to follow God's commandments, to walk in His will for you, but it is by Jesus' sacrifice that you are saved.

Romans 4:5-7 (see also 4:11)
But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:
7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
And whose sins are covered;

Romans 4:22-25
22 And therefore “it was accounted to [Abraham] for righteousness.” 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24 but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.

​

 

[hhodgson]

I Timothy 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. (Sinned)


Greater works...
______________
Harry
​

 

[ABlessedAnomaly]

Well lets start with where was Eve when God told Adam not to eat from the tree?

Well, she was part of Adam (Gen 1:27 "male and female He created them"). She was taken from his rib (Gen 2:21) -- his dirt -- not created from new dirt. The male and female were separated individually from one, and in marriage we then become one ... again.

Next, it must not be assumed that the "talking quotes" in Genesis 1 & 2 are the ONLY conversations that God had with man (including Eve). So those who would say that God ONLY told Adam to stay away from the fruit would be making a huge assumption. (I'm not trying to put words in your mouth here, but an implication was made.) We see in Genesis 3:8 "the Lord God walking in the garden" and also in verse 10, Adam responds "I heard the sound of You in the garden," something that Adam seems quite familiar with. God walked with them in the garden. Can we assume He taught them both when He did this?

And turning to Genesis 3 the serpent and the woman are both very aware of what God said about the fruit of the tree (unless we are going toward the discussion about the "words" being different -- Gen 2 doesn't mention "touch it"). They know what action causes transgression.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

The universe would have exploded.
These things were designed and pre-destined since before the foundations of the earth. Man was not created for the sake of man, He was created for Jesus. Man had to die spiritually so that Jesus could die and so man would become one with Jesus in His resurrection. The purpose of creation is so that all things will be turned over to God and all things become one in Him.
I do not know the ramifications and specifications and how and whys... but I do think the senario suggested in the OP could not have happened. Adam ate from the fruit, he always has, and always would. I would entertain any ideas to support this or disagree!

Didsers.

 

[hhodgson]

How about this..? Eve's sin may have been in ignorance through deception, whereas Adam's was willful disobedience...


Greater works...
_____________
Harry

 

[now faith]

Ep

The universe would have exploded.
These things were designed and pre-destined since before the foundations of the earth. Man was not created for the sake of man, He was created for Jesus. Man had to die spiritually so that Jesus could die and so man would become one with Jesus in His resurrection. The purpose of creation is so that all things will be turned over to God and all things become one in Him.
I do not know the ramifications and specifications and how and whys... but I do think the senario suggested in the OP could not have happened. Adam ate from the fruit, he always has, and always would. I would entertain any ideas to support this or disagree!

Didsers.

I believe free will, trumps predestination. God in his perfection, made man imperfect by nature. Being imperfect is perfection , its like art not everyone understands the genius in a work, that is what makes it a true masterpiece. But I wouldn't rule out that God would not of his own freewill have destroyed Eve,he did command thou shall surely die. Adam would have found himself telling his new wife yes he really means die

 

[Salop]

Thank you all for the great responses. I am reading Kenneth Copeland's book The Blessing of the Lord Makes Rich and He Adds No Sorrow With It, and it got me thinking about what might have happened had Adam refused to eat the fruit.

 

[ABlessedAnomaly]

But I wouldn't rule out that God would not of his own freewill have destroyed Eve,he did command thou shall surely die. Adam would have found himself telling his new wife yes he really means die

You should rule it out. For Adam and Eve DID eat of the fruit and did not physically die that day -- they DID die spiritually that day, and thus were in need of a Savior, like all of us.

We COULD say that God would have destroyed both because of the transgression of the commandment, but He didn't. There is no further wonderment on the issue of whether God would strike them (or her) down: He didn't, He wouldn't. He offers forgiveness, for this is the person and nature of God. He offers salvation and redemption. And in all that, His words were Truth: they DID "shall surely die." That day.

 

[now faith]

Genesis 3:12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. Not only the original sin , but the first ever blame God for your sin. And it still used to this day.

 

[LantanaAnna]

If Adam had not accepted the fruit, none of us would be here discussing this matter.

The "fall" ushered in mortality and we were given a chance to prove our faithfulness to our Father in Heaven.

 

[ABlessedAnomaly]

If Adam had not accepted the fruit, none of us would be here discussing this matter.

The "fall" ushered in mortality and we were given a chance to prove our faithfulness to our Father in Heaven.

Huh? I'm not sure your basis for the mortality comment. Can you support with scripture that "the 'fall' ushered in mortality?"

There is nothing that suggests that Adam and Eve, pre-fall, were immortal. And after the fall has little to do with OUR faithfulness and EVERYTHING to do with God's faithfulness -- His Grace. If we had to "prove" faithfulness, then our salvation -- our renewed relationship with the Father -- would be based upon OUR works, and not God's Grace.

So if you have any scriptural support, I'm all ears.

 

[now faith]

Huh? I'm not sure your basis for the mortality comment. Can you support with scripture that "the 'fall' ushered in mortality?"

There is nothing that suggests that Adam and Eve, pre-fall, were immortal. And after the fall has little to do with OUR faithfulness and EVERYTHING to do with God's faithfulness -- His Grace. If we had to "prove" faithfulness, then our salvation -- our renewed relationship with the Father -- would be based upon OUR works, and not God's Grace.

So if you have any scriptural support, I'm all ears.

I think the term ,you will surely die as it is used implies that if she did not eat her mortality ,was subject to God. Just as surely die, could mean instantly, or eventually. But to support immortal, the term if they had eaten of the tree of life, they would have been as Gods themselves. This would imply the tree of life was in their realm but they had not eaten of it yet. Genesis 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

 

[PastorMike]

Well, she was part of Adam (Gen 1:27 "male and female He created them"). She was taken from his rib (Gen 2:21) -- his dirt -- not created from new dirt. The male and female were separated individually from one, and in marriage we then become one ... again.

Next, it must not be assumed that the "talking quotes" in Genesis 1 & 2 are the ONLY conversations that God had with man (including Eve). So those who would say that God ONLY told Adam to stay away from the fruit would be making a huge assumption. (I'm not trying to put words in your mouth here, but an implication was made.) We see in Genesis 3:8 "the Lord God walking in the garden" and also in verse 10, Adam responds "I heard the sound of You in the garden," something that Adam seems quite familiar with. God walked with them in the garden. Can we assume He taught them both when He did this?

And turning to Genesis 3 the serpent and the woman are both very aware of what God said about the fruit of the tree (unless we are going toward the discussion about the "words" being different -- Gen 2 doesn't mention "touch it"). They know what action causes transgression.

So do you think that the part of her that was part of Adam heard and entered into the covenant with God that if he ate from the tree that he would die...

I don't think so, that was specific to Adam, Adam was told that if he ate from the tree he would die, then God created Eve...

God didn't say... Oh and by the way that goes for everyone else too...

If you look at the context God spoke to Adam in the singular as a man and not plural as in mankind...

And as for God teaching them both in the garden, we can't assume or imply anything was taught, we just don't know...

 

[Optimax]

I think there would have been no problems, God made the covenant with Adam before Eve was created, Eve didn't sin, she was deceived...

Satan would have been cast out forever and there would have been no fall...

(IMHO of course ;-)

I agree with Pastor Mike!

Notice when ya read the account.

When Eve ate(made the decision) nothing happened.

Everything changed(happened) when Adam made the decision and acted on it by eating.

If Adam and Eve had then "eaten" of the Tree of Life they would have been "set" in the spiritual state of separated from God instead of "joined" with God.

That is why God guarded the way to the Tree of Life after Adam "fell".

If they had been allowed to eat of the Tree of Life after they fell their could have been no redemption for man.

They would have been "set" in a permanent state of separation from God.