Was “the fall” just a possibility, or was it planned?

Throughout our Judeo-Christian tradition, there is a majority consensus regarding the altered condition of mankind as a result of Adam and Eve’s transgression. A survey of old and new commentaries, writings of the Church fathers, and those of second-temple period scholars, shows a nearly unanimous perspective that Adam and Eve gave up a significant characteristic of their initial condition due to their fall. What varies is what they forfeited; from immortality, or perfection and completeness, to the destruction of the image of God within them.

All of these conclusions are built upon the presupposition of “the fall;” that the nature of man changed in a negative way, as did his condition, as a result of their transgression. Added to this is the apparent punitive response of God in the curses, along with their expulsion from the garden.

The Genesis 3:22 Affect

The first contradiction one must face when taking a fresh look at the events of the garden is what God himself claims:

Genesis 3:22a (ESV throughout)
Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. . .”

If one concludes that Adam and Eve were created complete in the image of God, and in that image they were fully equipped to dwell in eternity, then God’s claim presents a serious contradiction. If humanity was complete in the characteristics which constitute their role as God’s imagers, how could something be added to it? How could something as significant as morality – the knowledge and awareness of good and evil, be something to be gained?

If we’re to consider that humanity is not created fully in the “image of God” in their initial form, what affect does this have on the rest of the story in Genesis 2 and 3? I submit, as scripture does, that the largely negative results, which appear to be added to the text, vanish completely.

This view of God’s work in Christ is clearly a logical one as I have illustrated in the first article of this series. With Yeshua the Christ being the predestined firstborn of the new creation, which was determined before the world was formed, it fits entirely in the scope of the gospel which declares Christ as the express image of the Father. In Christ then, we can see the fullness of God’s plan laid out before us:

• Christ was sent from God as his express image to make known his will and purpose, having shared God’s glory before the world existed. (Fourth Gospel⁽¹⁾ 17:1-5)
• All things were created through Christ and for Christ. He’s the author of the first creation and the finisher of the new creation. (Colossians 1:15-20)
• This Christ, having died for all, reconciled all that we might become the children of God in the image and righteousness of Christ our Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:14-21)

As we concluded previously, this reflects clearly God’s proactive nature in that through the gift of the Son, God was providing for the completion of his children into his image and likeness (Romans 5:12-21). This realization indicates the likelihood that Adam and Eve’s transgression was already accounted for, at least in the context that it provides the need for a source of righteousness and eternal life at some future point. This aligns with what is revealed in the narrative; they were created imperfect, incomplete, and mortal.

Subjected to Futility in Hope

Though it appears counter-intuitive, Adam and Eve, instead of losing anything, gained something significant in their process of growing in God-likeness, but it came through disobedience to the lesser command that they might fulfill the greater command – be fruitful and multiply.

Now I’m not suggesting Adam and Eve were conscious of all these factors surrounding their choice. Quite the opposite. The narrative itself suggests they were not even aware of the Tree of Life until after taking from the Tree of Knowledge. From our vantage point, looking through the work of Christ, it appears that even the author was unaware of some of the key factors that led to their disobedience. This too was as God intended; a mystery to revealed when his true image-bearer would arrive on the scene – the Lamb of God.

Here’s what we’ve discovered so far from our vantage point that the author of Genesis would not have been aware of:

• He who is involved with the initial creation of humanity is also instrumental in its completion – a new creation. (Ephesians 1:3-14; Hebrews 12:1-2; Revelation 1:8,17-18)
• The process God intends for this is logical and progressive. It begins with the natural/physical. This is the realm that humanity has been given domain and authority over, having been created from the very dust of it (Genesis 2:7; 3:19). The process will end with the spiritual, through the work of his Son and the power of his Holy Spirit. Then, and only then, will humanity be properly equipped to dwell in God’s righteousness and eternal life. (1 Corinthians 15:45-50)

Let’s introduce another factor we can acknowledge that the original participants and the original author would have been unaware of. The test and tension which arises from Adam and Eve’s natural desire to be more like their Creator along with the inherent conflict within the two commands, leaves only one possible, or even desirable outcome – disobedience. Yet how could this be desirable?

Romans 8:18-25
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Here, Paul presents the concept of God’s creation being made subject to futility, to share in the corruption (disobedience) to which humanity was likewise subjected. As we shall see, all this God does in hope. There is much to unpack here, but let’s focus on just one of a few key points: creation was subjected to futility, not by its own choice, but by the sovereign will of God.

Just as the firstborn of many brethren was intended before the world began, so also was God’s willingness and long-suffering to subject the world to futility in order to achieve his purpose; to bring many sons and daughters to glory. To see the world subjected to futility and stop there would be similar to asking how a just and loving God can allow evil in the world. The answers are not simplistic, and require a depth of understanding of all that God is working out in Christ.

Paul hints at part of the explanation in his first statement – I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. In one context it has already been revealed to us in Christ our Lord. As followers of Christ, we trust in the context of that promise because it works toward the fullness of the glory yet to be achieved in us.

Romans 8:16-17
16The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Just as Christ put the suffering of the cross before the glory of the crown (Hebrews 2:9-10) , so he expects all that will follow in this path to do the same. The bondage to corruption is part of the suffering to which all creation, humanity included, is subject to. Note that in both cases it is by the grace and will of God that our Lord and Savior gained victory over death and corruption, and by the same grace so will all who surrender to Christ. (Ephesians 2:4-10; 2 Timothy 1:8-14; Romans 10:12-13)

It has always been the will of God that his creation share in the corruption to which humanity was likewise subjected to. It was not an afterthought. As Paul declares in Romans 11:32,

• (32a) God has consigned (committed, bound, imprisoned) all to disobedience
• (32b) that he might have mercy on all

As Jesus Christ is our witness, God did not subject the world to futility, in futility, but in hope. Yeshua the Christ is that hope. The faithfulness of God to accomplish in us what he has completed in Christ is proven by his work in the Blessed Redeemer. Yet God demonstrated this hopefulness even before the appearance of Yeshua the Christ by the generous works of his hands, even clothing Adam and Eve as they were placed outside the walled garden. Though they, and all since, were unfaithful in trusting God, he remains faithful, and has made himself known first through the creation then through the Son of Man (Isaiah 11:105,10; Isaiah 61; Jeremiah 31:10-14,31-34; 32:36-42; 1 Corinthians 1:4-9); the physical/natural first, then the spiritual (1 Corinthians 15:45-50).

Conditions of the Natural/Physical 

Imperfect is the condition described previously as it relates to their ability to sin. I would suggest that it is derived from the free will and self-determination with which they have been imbued. The existence of these two characteristics naturally leads to the possibility of disobedience and even rebellion. It should be clarified though that their first transgression was not a moral one but a relational one. It showed a certain independence from God, and lacked a depth of understanding (intellectual or experiential) available to them only after taking from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Incomplete refers to humanity’s created state in comparison to the intended goal described for them as God’s children elsewhere in scripture. The two key components of those glorified children of God, righteousness and eternal life, only comes to them through the work of Yeshua the Christ (Romans 5:18-21). This is what Paul describes as the new creation in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:16-20). This work or role for the Lamb of God was foreordained before the foundations of the world and the creation of mankind (Ephesians 1:3-10).

These two key components are also represented in the garden scene by the two trees. The Tree of Life represents eternal life in Christ, and the Tree of Knowledge represents the moral conscience (character) and wisdom by which the righteousness of God in Christ is measured. It was never intended for Adam and Eve to obtain the glorious state within the confines of the garden scene. One key reason for this conclusion is the following condition.

The mortal condition of Adam and Eve is consistent throughout the story and does not change because of their transgression. Their creation began in Genesis 2:7 as being derived from the dust of the ground and made into mortal, living creatures (living souls). This same condition existed after their transgression as expressed by God’s clarification of the state they now find themselves in as a result of this independent act.

Genesis 3:19 – “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

Righteousness and Eternal Life 

These three conditions together result in rendering every human being in need of a Savior, who is Christ our Lord⁽²⁾. Quoting Dr. Heiser – “I affirm that Adam’s sin put all humankind in the position where they could only share eternity with the true God by virtue of a redemptive act on the part of the true God.” This leaves us concluding that it was always God’s intent to finish the creation of his children started within the physical/natural realm and completed through the redemptive work of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:45-50). This realization must include that the pathway to that completed, new creation, to salvation, comes through disobedience, death, and resurrection.

God established the circumstances of the garden scene as a test for humanity. Yet this test was not intended for their collective failure, as traditionally thought, but to lead them into maturity and the awareness of their need for a righteous Savior to fill the gap.

• Thanks to Adam and Eve, humanity has taken a necessary step in growing in the God-likeness to which we were initially created (Genesis 3:22)
• To resolve the condition their choice presented humanity with, God had fore-ordained that Christ would be the source of their redemption; by achieving righteousness and eternal life for them (Romans 3:21-26; Ephesians 1:3-14)

Conclusions

Though humanity has at times accepted the idea that we can achieve moral supremacy and even immortality on our own, this is a lie. This lie is at the root of the serpent’s deception in the garden, a subject we’ll dig into in a future article. Yet God allowed this deception to creep in as an ongoing test for humanity and for the revelation of his righteousness over it in Yeshua the Christ.

For it was God alone who subjected his creation, humanity included, to futility. But he did this not in futility, but in hope. And that hope was in Christ – the Lamb of God (Romans 8:20-23). Likewise, it was God’s mercy and forbearance that would always be greater than the sin of man, able to redeem from disobedience, through his abundant grace, those who would receive it (Romans 5:12-21).

Romans 11:32 – For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.

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Footnotes:

1. Due to the dispute over the authorship of the Fourth Gospel, traditionally attributed to John, I will refer to this book as the Fourth Gospel. I have concluded on the side of such authors like J. Phillips (ISBN13: 978-0-9702687-3-0) who has shown conclusively John could not be the sole author and instead attribute primary authorship to Lazarus – the disciple whom Christ loved.
2. The Doctrine of Original Sin – Part 5, Dr. Michael S. Heiser – internet article, miqlat.org