In the annals of human history, two events exhibit the lowest point for humanity: the atrocities of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the fall of man in the garden of Eden. The latter, a scene set in an environment of unparalleled life, beauty, and abundance, displays humanity’s descent from the pinnacle of divine fellowship to the depths of separation and sin.

In Genesis 1 and 2, we witness Eden in its untainted glory, home to Adam and Eve. In this perfect setting, they enjoyed not only the bounties of creation but also a unique communion with God, who was their blessedness and reward. These creatures were His children, bearing His image in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness. In Eden, the weather was good, the work was good, the food was good, the people were good, the company was good, God was good, and the worship was good. It was all very good and reflected God’s own nature and perfections.

However, “being left to the freedom of their own will” (Westminster Larger Catechism Q. 21), without any constraint or influence from a sinful nature, man freely exercised his will to rebel against His Father, ruining this unblemished existence. As Augustine poignantly observed, “Man, by making a bad use of his free will, lost both himself and it.” This liberty, meant for worship, service, and obedience (Deut. 10:12), was tragically misused, leading to a fall from innocence and holiness into isolation and death (Gen. 2:17).

As our Catechism highlights, the catalyst for this fall was “the temptation of Satan.” Would Adam and Eve love and trust God enough to obey Him and not eat the forbidden fruit?

As recounted in Genesis 3:1, the serpent’s question twisted God’s command, planting seeds of doubt and desire in the human heart. Most focus on the first part, “Did God really say?” However, a less obvious attack on God’s character is implied in the devil’s question about “every tree” (Gen. 3:1). The woman’s response centers on God’s restriction of one tree (3:3), stirring up questions of doubt, anxiety, and fear about God’s goodness and love. Satan uses the same subtle conspiracy today to trip up God’s children.

Eve considered the words of God and the serpent as she chose earthly desire over divine love (Gen. 3:6). Through the serpent’s deception, her mind was led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to God (2 Cor. 11:3).

Yet, while Eve’s transgression was consequential, it did not bring the fall upon all humanity in the same comprehensive manner as Adam’s sin, for he was the covenantal representative of humankind (Rom. 5:12). Instead of interceding for his beloved, Adam consciously followed her will over his heavenly Father’s (1 Tim. 2:14). Satan’s strategy involved exploiting Eve’s influence to reach Adam, fully aware of the broader implications of Adam’s potential disobedience. Adam’s rebellion was a pivotal moment marking the loss of humanity’s ability to do good and please God but also the catastrophic entrance of sin and misery into the world.

The fall illustrates several significant truths:

1. Left to ourselves, we are vulnerable to pride and selfishness (Ps. 49:12).
2. We cannot save ourselves, let alone preserve ourselves (2 Cor. 3:5).
3. The law, by itself, does not have the power to enable us to obey. Instead, it reveals our desperate need for Jesus Christ, the Righteous (Rom. 8:3; 1 John 2:1–2).
4. It is upon the background of our fall and sin that Christ’s redemptive work becomes even more glorious (Rom. 5:6, 18–21).

While the fall may raise questions about God’s goodness, we must understand that His wisdom and power are unfathomable. The fall, though grievous, was part of the divine plan that set the stage for the ultimate victory over sin through the Messiah. This victory is foreshadowed in God’s declaration to Satan in Eden of the promised son crushing the serpent’s head (Gen. 3:15).

The fall of humanity serves as a profound reminder of our frailty, the gravity of sin, and the immeasurable grace of God in providing a path to redeemed communion through Jesus Christ. It underscores the importance of understanding our place in God’s sovereign plan and the hope that lies in our Redeemer.