(“The Aftermath of the Fall”)

Genesis 3:1-24, NASU

“They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” (Genesis 3:8)

(A) INTRODUCTION

(1) Though to some it may read like a myth or fairy tale (i.e. a talking snake, and a fruit tree with the power of death), the Fall of mankind recorded in Genesis chapter three is intended to be taken as an historical event.

(a) Jesus may have been alluding to the Fall in John chapter eight when He said, “the devil … was a murderer from the beginning”, as well as “a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). Paul, however, was clearly referring to the Fall when he said, “it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression” (I Timothy 2:14; c.f. II Corinthians 11:3).

Paul also had the Fall in mind when he made certain comparison between Adam and Christ, saying in part: “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive” (I Corinthians 15:22), and again: “For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:19).

(b) Hence, if the Fall of mankind is a myth, then we have no good reason for thinking Christ’s work of redemption on our behalf is anything but a myth also.

Truth must be based on reality. For example, if scientific laws are not valid, then the science built upon those laws cannot be valid either. In much the same way, if we did not all die in Adam, we have no valid reason to believe we will be made alive in Jesus Christ. Hence, the validity of our redemption hinges, in part, on the historicity and/or reality of the Fall of mankind as recorded for us here in Genesis chapter three!

(2) One question people sometimes ask is, “Why did the Fall not take place until after Adam ate the fruit and/or until Adam disobeyed?”

(a) Its obvious from Genesis chapter three Eve sinned first – for verse six says, “she took from its fruit and ate”, and only afterwards did “she (give) also to her husband with her, and he ate” (Genesis 3:6). During that interval – i.e. between the time Eve ate and Adam ate (and remember, we don’t know how long an interval it was, although it doesn’t appear too much time passed) – (during that interval) there’s no indication anything happened – no suggestion Eve suffered any ill effects from her act of disobedience.

She obviously didn’t die (i.e. Adam didn’t find her lying dead on the ground, with a piece of fruit in her hand that had a bite out of it) – nor did she appear to have any new-found awareness of her nakedness (i.e. she didn’t tell Adam, “Hurry up and eat this fruit so we can go find some fig leaves”) – nor is there any sign she had suddenly developed a fear of God (i.e. she didn’t tell Adam, “Hurry up and eat this so we can go hide before God gets here”!). When Eve disobeyed God, nothing seems to have happened – and the question is, “Why not?”

(b) It’s only after Adam disobeyed that the consequences of sin began to manifest themselves – for we read: “Then the eyes of both of them were opened … (then) they knew that they were naked … (then) they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings … (then) they hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden” (Genesis 3:7-8). Once again, though, the question is – “Why did it only happen then, after Adam had sinned against God, and not before right after Eve sinned against Him?”

(c) I suppose some might say it was because Eve’s sin was less horrific than Adam’s, seeing as how she was deceived, while Adam deliberately and knowingly rebelled against his Creator. However, I think the answer lies elsewhere.

I think the answer lies in the matter of headship – nor am I speaking of the fact Adam was Eve’s head, by virtue of the created order as well as their marriage relationship – rather, I’m talking about the fact that Adam had been appointed by God to be head of the entire human race!

This is the basis of what’s known as “Covenant Theology”. And according to this view of Scripture, God established a contract or “covenant” with Adam in which he would represent the whole human race of men and women who were to follow him. Adam was to stand before God on the basis of his obedience – i.e. if he continued to obey, all who came after him would also be established in obedience and blessed by God because of him. However, if Adam sinned, all who followed him would also fall in/through his transgression, in which case sin and death would pass on to them because of his sin.¹

(d) One problem with this view is that there are no specific passages of Scripture that speak of God establishing such a covenant between Himself and Adam.² However, it is implied in certain New Testament passages which say, in part: “through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12) – and again: “death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam” (Romans 5:14) – and once more: “through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men … for … through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners” (Romans 5:18-19).

The language clearly implies a kind of representative arrangement, in which blessings or judgments incurred by the one, are also incurred by those he represents. Hence, the Fall of mankind did not officially take place until after Adam sinned (by eating the forbidden fruit), because he (not Eve) had been appointed head of the human race! (That might also explain why verse nine says, “God called to the man [instead of the woman], and said to him [rather than her], ‘Where are you?’” [c.f. Genesis 3:9].)

(B) THE AFTER EFFECTS OF THE FALL

(1) Technically the Fall of mankind takes place in verse six (c.f. Genesis 3:6). Consequently, there is a sense in which everything that follows in the Bible is part of the aftermath of the Fall³ – from Cain’s murder of Abel (c.f. Genesis 4:8) – to David’s adultery with Bathsheba (c.f. II Samuel 11:1-4) – to Christ’s work of redemption on the cross (c.f. I Peter 2:24).

For our purposes tonight, however, we will focus on the consequences of the Fall as recorded for us, starting in verse seven of this evening’s Scripture lesson and going to the end of the chapter.

(2) Before telling us about the individual judgments God dealt out to the three primary participants, Moses recorded some general effects of the Fall – effects that have to do primarily with Adam and Eve (and then by extension, all their descendants).

(a) The first noticeable effect was one of guilt and shame.⁴ Look at verse seven: “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings” (Genesis 3:7).

[1] If we think of their shame solely in physical terms, we will have missed the point of this verse. Obviously Adam and Eve were suddenly ashamed of their physical nakedness – and this sense of shame was a direct result of their sin. But more than that, they were suddenly beset by a new and terrible sensation unlike anything they had ever experienced heretofore – namely, an awful sense of guilt and shame over having disobeyed God.

[2] Matthew Henry writes of this “spiritual” aspect of their experience, saying in part: “Now, when it was too late, they saw the folly of eating (the) forbidden fruit. (Now, when it was too late,) they saw the happiness they had fallen from, and the misery they had fallen into. (Now, when it was too late,) they saw a loving God provoked, His grace and favor forfeited, (and) His likeness and image lost … (Now, when it was too late,) they saw their natures corrupted and depraved, and felt a disorder in their spirits of which they had never before been conscious … (Now, when it was too late,) they saw themselves disrobed of all … honor, (stripped of) their dignity and … (exposed) to the contempt and reproach of heaven and earth, as well as their own consciences.”⁵

[3] Their guilt and shame, then, were not simply due to the nakedness of their bodies – they were due to the spiritual nakedness of their souls.

Adam and Eve tried to cover their physical nakedness with fig leaves – and they tried to cover their spiritual nakedness by hiding from God among the trees of the garden (c.f. Genesis 3:8). Their physical nakedness was relatively easy to cover – but as they were about to find out, it was humanly impossible to cover their spiritual guilt and shame!

[4] Have you ever done something sinful that left you with an almost immediate sense of guilt, shame and/or remorse? Maybe it was an act of immorality – maybe it was drunkenness – maybe it was a hateful comment, or a bald-faced lie – maybe you physically struck someone, or took something that didn’t belong to you – whatever it was, your sense of shame and guilt was almost immediate.

Can you recall how you felt? If you can, then multiply that feeling many times over, and you will have some sense of how Adam and Eve felt when their eyes were suddenly opened to the realization of what they had done!

There are several ways to handle the guilt and shame associated with sinning against God – but I will mention just two. One is to try and “cover” up those feelings by repeating the offense over and over until our conscience becomes seared and the pain has been numbed. The other way (which is the better way, and/or the biblical way) is to turn to the Lord in repentance, honestly confessing our sin and guilt (c.f. Psalm 32:5), while also seeking His forgiveness and cleansing (c.f. I John 1:9).

Unfortunately, in their fallen condition, Adam and Eve chose to try and cover their sin, instead of confessing it to God and throwing themselves on His mercy.

(b) The second noticeable effect of the Fall was that of broken fellowship with God. Look at verses eight through ten: ^{8“They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, ‘Where are you?’ 10He said, ‘I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.’”} (Genesis 3:8-10).

[1] The fact Adam and Eve recognized God’s approach (and remember, there’s a lot of anthromorphic imagery here – i.e. the Holy Spirit has condescended to speak of God in human-like terms to aid our finite understanding) (the fact Adam and Eve knew God was approaching) indicates they were familiar with Him, and/or accustom to having intimate fellowship with Him – perhaps during the course of each day.

[2] We also assume that ordinarily God’s approach was something Adam and Eve looked forward to – something that brought them a great deal of joy. Now, however, just the opposite was true – God was the last “Person” they wanted to see – and so, like a child who hears his father coming just moments after he has broken the antique vase in the living room, they sprang into action⁶ – which in this case meant trying to run away from God – running off into the trees in the vain and foolish hope He wouldn’t be able to find them (and/or suspect anything was wrong).

[3] Adam and Eve’s reactions indicate spiritual death had already taken place. God told them if the day ever came when they disobeyed Him, by eating the forbidden fruit, they would die – specifically He said: “in the day … you eat from it you will surely die” (c.f. Genesis 2:17b).

Obviously they were still alive physically – however, that should be understood as a matter of God’s grace (c.f. Romans 2:4), not an indication of His indifference toward their sin, or that He had changed His mind about the penalty for their sin. Besides, Adam and Eve did succumb to physical death eventually (c.f. Genesis 5:5).

But though they did not immediately die physically, there’s every indication they did immediately die spiritually – those indications being {a} that they both tried to hide themselves from God (c.f. Genesis 3:8) – {b} that Adam tried to blame God for what had happened, saying: “the woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate” (c.f. Genesis 3:12) – and {c} that they were both expelled from the garden of Eden (c.f. Genesis 3:24). Hence, we see that the spiritual part of the promised penalty for sinning against God went into effect swiftly.

[4] Scripture says, “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23) – and that prior to redemption, every person is “dead in (their) trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). These passages are speaking primarily of spiritual death – of the fact that even though an unregenerated person is physically alive, until they’re redeemed by the mercy and grace of God they are spiritually dead – and that, from the moment of their conception and birth (c.f. Psalm 51:5).

Hence, even today running FROM God (not to Him!) is what every unregenerated sinner is doing. That’s why the Scripture says – not once, not twice, but three times – “There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God … not even one” (Romans 3:10-12; c.f. Psalm 14:1-3; 53:1-3).

And the reason no unregenerated sinner ever takes the initiative to seek for God is because they are “hostile toward (Him)” (c.f. Romans 8:7a) – which means (among other things) that they are “out of fellowship with God” in the worst way imaginable! God is the last “Person” an unregenerate sinner wants to have to deal with – especially if he has to deal with God on His terms (which is the only way He deals with any of us!).

(c) The third noticeable effect of the Fall was that of broken fellowship between Adam and Eve. Look at verses eleven through thirteen: ^{11“And (God) said (to Adam), ‘Who told you … you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?’ 12The man said, ‘The woman … You gave to be with me … gave me from the tree, and I ate.’ 13Then … God said to the woman, ‘What is this you have done?’ And the woman said, ‘The serpent deceived me, and I ate.’”} (Genesis 3:11-13).

[1] Sin is much more terrible than any of us ever realize – and one way it shows its evil ugliness here in Genesis chapter three is by the fact that in one brief sentence, Adam tried to pass off personal responsibility for his own sinful behavior by blaming both God and his wife – as in, “the woman whom You gave to be with me (i.e. blaming God), she gave me of the tree, and I ate” (i.e. passing the blame off onto Eve) (c.f. Genesis 3:12).

It wasn’t that long ago, Adam looked at Eve for the first time and joyfully exclaimed: “This is … bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” (Genesis 2:23a). Now he essentially says, “She made me do it!” – “She’s the reason I sinned against You!”

Scripture doesn’t say how Eve felt when she heard those words. But we can imagine she must have felt more new and unpleasant emotions – like deep grief and/or a sense of betrayal – as she listened to the one who was suppose to love her and protect her “throw her to the wolves” (so to speak), instead, in a vain attempt to try and protect his own skin.

Of course when it was her turn, Eve didn’t behave any better, since she tried to pass off her moral responsibility onto the serpent, saying: “The serpent deceived me, and I ate” (Genesis 3:13b) – which is the equivalent of saying, “the devil made me do it”!

[2] Adam’s behavior in particular is a picture of how sin fractures human relationships. Even today sinful men and women are often hostile (not only toward God, but also) toward each other – which is another result of the Fall – and underscores the fact that each one of us comes into this world a sinner by nature.

My extended family was “horsing around” in my mom and dad’s living room one Christmas about fifteen years ago, when one of the nieces tried to navigate her way through all the bodies rolling around on the floor and accidentally knocked over a small table with a potted plant on it, spilling plant and soil all over her Grandmother’s brand new carpet. The instant she knocked that table over, my niece whirled around and without any hesitation whatsoever looked at her uncle Dan with fire in her eyes, and shouted, “Look what you made me do!”

[3] That sinful tendency is just as evident today as it’s ever been – especially since fewer and fewer people seem willing to take responsibility for their own sinful behavior. People want to blame their conduct on someone else – they want to blame the cigarette companies, or the gun manufacturers, or MacDonald’s – or those narrow-minded, right-wing Christians – or they want to blame their sinful behavior on bad genes and/or some other aspect of their heredity (which amounts to blaming ones parents) – or they want to blame the environment they grew up in (which basically amounts to the same thing).

So, even though the exact words are seldom used, many people today are essentially saying: “Look what YOU made me do!” In fact, all of us at one time or another, have tried to escape personal responsible for our own sinful actions, by saying, “Look what somebody else made me do!”

But that copout is as old as Genesis chapter three – and God doesn’t accept it any more now, than He did then! Nevertheless, we are often hostile toward one another (in part) because we are unwilling to take responsibility for our own sinful behavior – preferring, instead, to try and put the blame on someone else.

[4] If a man or woman is serious about being saved, one of the first things they must do is take responsibility for their own sin! In fact, even as redeemed Christians, if we want to experience the cleansing and forgiveness of our sins promised in Scripture (c.f. I John 1:9), we must first of all take personal responsibility for what we’ve done!

Remember, beloved, Jesus once said: ^{31“It is not those who (think they) are well who need a physician, but those who (realize they) are sick. 32I have not come to call the (self) righteous but sinners to repentance”} (Luke 5:31-32).

Remember, too, Jesus said it wasn’t the Pharisee in Luke chapter eighteen, who kept reciting all the good things he did, who went home justified before God – but rather the tax-collector who, “was (not even willing) to lift up his eyes to heaven, but (kept) beating his breast, (and) saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’” (Luke 18:13) – and He was!