When Adam ate of the fruit of the forbidden tree, the result that occurred is often referred to as the “Fall of Man“. This is an appropriate name and for the most part is correctly taught. However, many specific details concerning this event are overlooked and because of this, error abounds and truth is lost.
In the creation summary of Genesis 1, God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” and it was so, as the next passage confirms, “So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them“.
Then, as we read the details of this event from Genesis 2, we discover that after God “formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life“, this man is said to have become a “living soul“.
It is evident that many have chosen to pick and chose certain passages and errantly apply these facts to the entire human race. If we turn a few pages to Genesis 5, we discover that these statements pertain only to the first man, Adam. The scriptures state that “In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him“, Adam was undoubtedly created in the likeness of God. But if this were true also for Adams descendants, would they not also be described in such a way? But instead we read that, “Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat [a son] in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth“. Adams offspring were begat in the likeness, and after the image, of Adam – not God. Sometime between these two events, Adam transgressed against God. He was changed in such away that he no longer conformed to the likeness and image in which he was created.
But what was the difference? What was the likeness and image of Adam at this point in time? To answer these questions, we must back up and examine the events which took place in the Garden of Eden.
Adam was warned of the impending outcome should he eat of the fruit of the forbidden tree. It is also evident in verses 3:2-3 that Adam fully understood the consequences, having also informed Eve of this vital information. The instructions which God gave were very clear and simple to understand, “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die“. Death was the end to which Adam would come, should he eat of this particular tree. Therefore, when Adam did eat, he was changed from a “living soul” into a dead or dying soul. God does not lie, and His word is true, “for in the day” which Adam did eat, he also did surely die.
Until the point which Adam transgressed, he had been eating from the “Tree of Life“. Had it not been for this transgression, he would have lived forever, never knowing any kind of death what-so-ever. But because he did eat, he died spiritually that very day, and would eventually die physically at some point in the future. His spiritual death becomes evident when we compare his mentality before and after the fact. Before the transgression, their thoughts were pure and holy without blemish, as evident in this description, “And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed“. Immediately after the transgression, we are provided with a different description of their mindset, one very contrary to the previous, “And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they [were] naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons“. The lust of the eyes is clearly seen in this passage bringing forth shame, and as a result death. Paul describes this very principle in his letter to the Romans, “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace.” In addition to his spiritual mind, Adam had now acquired a carnal mind, and with it the capacity to know “evil“. He now possessed the two natures often spoken of by Paul, one spiritual and one carnal. However, the opposite applies to Adam; it was the new carnal nature that he should never have put on. Instead of minding that which was spiritual, he gave himself over to the carnal, minding the things of the flesh. He lost the peace that he previously had with his nakedness and was consumed with death.
But despite his transgression, he remained in the Garden of Eden. Adam was still capable of eating from the “Tree of Life” and living forever, as revealed in verse 3:22, “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“. His transgression was not the means by which he was removed from the Garden Eden, but certainly the cause. Even though he became spiritually dead by being carnally minded, Adam had not yet become incapable. He still had accessibility to the means, by which he could live forever. By simply putting forth his hand, he could have taken and eaten the fruit from the “Tree of Life“.
But God does not reward disobedience. Therefore the LORD God said that Adam must be removed, “So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the Garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life“. And thus, Adam was removed from the Garden of Eden. The way of return was blocked by an angelic being and an angelic sword, such that no man could ever return. Cherubims, which normally guard that which is most holy and a sword, endowed with supernatural powers kept the entrance. A sword symbolizes power, punitive justice, and authority. It is used in battle to divide the body. Thus, it is my opinion that it is used here to represent a dividing asunder, the separation of God from man, as well as the separation of man from any ability of self-redemption.
It is now, at this point, that Adam has become incapable; incapable of returning to the Garden of Eden; incapable of eating the fruit from the “Tree of Life“; incapable of returning to the place of paradise and peace.
How does all this become a shadow of the New Testament Gospel?
Let’s outline what we have so far:
- A. Adam was created a “living soul” knowing only “good“, spiritually minded without any knowledge of “evil“.
- B. Adam transgressed and acquired the knowledge of “evil” while also spiritually dying, yet he remained in the Garden of Eden having the capacity to take of the “Tree of Life“.
- C. Adam was driven out from the Garden of Eden and was not, by his own means, able to return being forever separated from that place of paradise.
The Reverse Shadow
Let us now reverse our order and look at these things in relationship to the descendants of Adam.
Adam had eaten of the “Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil“, and in doing so he had become as one of them, knowing both “good” and “evil“. The definition for the Hebrew word translated “know” matches the definition for the Greek word translated as “see” in John 3:3. Keep in mind that we are now progressing in a reverse order. Adam had knowledge of “good” and then acquired the knowledge of “evil“. The opposite is true for his descendants, they know only “evil” and must acquire the knowledge of “good“. In the passage Jesus says, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God“. In other words, unless a man is born again, he does not have the power or faculty of the mind to perceive that which is “good“, and thus is spiritually incapable. Also, a previous study reveals that at regeneration the person is translated into the dominion of Christ. The Garden of Eden was sealed off in such away that no man could enter by his own means, and likewise, “No man can come to me, except the Father draw him“. Meaning that no man can “put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life” unless he has first been translated into the kingdom of Christ.
Being translated into Christ’s kingdom, a person has become spiritually capable of knowing “good“. The New Testament is almost entirely dedicated to providing the person with instruction on how he is to do this. A person is not naturally “good” in the sense that God’s word requires. A person cannot even read the Bible and live by its direction to be “good” as defined here. Paul makes this very clear in his epistle to the Romans when he teaches the following: “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace. Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” The righteousness of the law can only be fulfilled by a person who lives his life in accordance with “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus“. Until a person converts from that which is fleshly, he cannot be of the same mind and in agreement with the Spirit. “To be carnally minded is death“, being in opposition to God. Those who are in the flesh, who live in accordance with the world and in disobedience to God, cannot please Him. The person is not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, when the Spirit of God dwells within. How is this accomplished? Jesus said, “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” And from 1 John, “If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
Jesus said, “He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” The Greek word translated as “hath” means to take hold, as if by grasping with the hand. When we believe, we are putting forth our hand and taking possession of the fruit of the “Tree of Life“, and as a result become “living souls“, as was Adam before he transgressed. Jesus also said, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing“. By trusting and believing we receive the Holy Spirit, being endued with new and greater powers of life. True faith is more than a mere thought process; it requires trust and obedience, diligence, and perseverance. But having received the Spirit is not enough; we must then grow continually in the Spirit.
Having reached this point, we have returned to fellowship with God. We have attained to the place in which Adam once stood. Finally entering into the peace that Adam once knew, “For we which have believed do enter into rest… For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God [did] from his… Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief“. For we find no shame before God, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need“.
Let us now compare:
- C. All of Adam’s descendants begin here. No man can reach out his hand and take of the fruit of the “Tree of Life” unless the Father first translates him into the kingdom of Christ.
- B. Having been born again, a person will live forever, but does not possess life. At regeneration a person acquires the capacity to know “good“. This enables the person to “see“, so that he might also spiritually live, by putting forth his hand and eating the fruit of the “Tree of Life“. From here we are commanded to enter into the Holiest of Holies and receive the Holy Spirit.
- A. By converting to a life of obedience unto God, a person becomes a new creature, having put away the old. Putting forth his hand, he now possesses “life” which is provided by the fruit from the “Tree of Life“. Through faith, he becomes a “living soul” knowing that which is “good“, being spiritually minded and into conformity with the image of Christ.
In Review
We have seen Adam, who was created in the image of God and after His likeness, experience a miraculous change as the result of a single transgression against God. Being created in the image and likeness of God, meant that he was in essence, God’s counterpart. It meant they shared the same character and mind, with Adam living in agreement with God, without shame and in peace. This shadows Paul’s teachings from Romans 8, of the life we are called to live in accordance with the Holy Spirit. We are to mind the things of the Spirit, being in full agreement without opposition, having the same views and opinions. Its purpose is to be our purpose, its desire our desire. We are not to grieve the Spirit, nor quench its conversation with us. Hebrews speaks of entering into a rest, suggesting a place of peace, free from labor, thus was Adam before his transgression. As Jesus taught, “Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest… Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls“.
But this experience was so drastic; it changed Adam’s perspective in many ways. Adam acquired the knowledge of “evil” and permitted this new carnal mind to consume him. He had forsaken the image and likeness in which he was created, having now become a dying soul. This is further expounded upon by Paul in Romans 8. If a person is not spiritually minded, the result is death. When a person is consumed with carnal things, tending to them rather than the things of the Spirit, the person is regarded as being spiritually dead, spiritually inactive, or even spiritually asleep. The Spirit is quenched, and its conversation is ignored. Paul teaches us that if we live after the carnal mind we will die, and instead we should take hold of the Spirit, using its power to mortify the deeds of the body, that we might live. This is spiritual life versus spiritual death. Therefore, we should “awake to righteousness, and sin not… Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light… For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”
Yet despite his departing from the likeness of God, and being consumed with this new carnal mind, Adam remained in the garden after his transgression. He was not immediately, or miraculously, transported outside its bounds. For this period of time, he continued to have access to the “Tree of Life“. He was spiritually dead yet had complete access to everlasting life. But why did he forego this opportunity? Was he now in the likeness of most born again children of God today? Was he also experiencing arrogance, considering himself to be “ok”, without need of a physician? “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God… Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life… that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The fact that he was spiritually dead while still having access to the tree of life is very significant. A vast number of God’s children reside in such a state. Consumed with the things of this world, having no regard or desire for the spiritual things of God, and many have been “once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost“, only to forsake these wonderful gifts and blessing of God for the carnal things of this evil world. These are the lost sheep often spoken of in scripture, those who have not yet discovered the way to life, having not yet received the Spirit of promise. “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost.” These separate themselves from the love of God, even though God has removed the division between Himself and them, having brought them across the great divide. “We love him, because he first loved us“, and hopefully they will learn to love Him. He chastens and scourges those that he loves, but they harden their hearts and refuse to be broken. “If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons… Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby“.
Another significant fact is that Adam was removed from the garden and was not able to return by his own means. Those mentioned above, do not understand how blessed they are to be there, and not described here, for this is the description of those who remain. Upon every man does this description fall, for upon all did the judgment of one condemn. Unable of themselves to return to the garden of paradise, described in the New Testament as the kingdom of Christ, for God guards the way. No man can come unless the Father translates the person across the great divide, delivering him from the dominion and power of darkness, into the care and power of Christ. These are those who are spiritually incapable, having not the ability to know God or the things which pertain to God. These are not lost, for they dwell in a different peace having only the knowledge of “evil“. Knowing neither chastening nor the wrath of God, for they are bastards and not His children.
Conclusion
Adam was created in the image of God, after His likeness. But when Adam transgressed, that likeness was put to an end. God is a living God, but Adam had becoming a dying soul. God is righteous, but Adam had become unrighteous. There was little if any likeness that remained. And to his descendants, Adam passed this likeness of his own image.
The resemblance of the “Fall of Man” to the doctrines which separate, and individually define, Regeneration and Conversion cannot be denied. Adam fell from grace into sin by his own means, and was then banished from the place of paradise by God. This resulted in two obstacles which must be overcome by his descendants, in order to return to the likeness of God. They must first be granted access to return to this paradise, unless a man is born again he cannot see – regeneration. Secondly, they must use the Holy Spirit to subdue the carnal man – conversion.
Overwhelming evidence suggests that those thought to be spiritually dead are in fact spiritually incapable. Only the regenerate person has access to the “Tree of Life“, but if he has not put forth his hand to eat the fruit thereof, he does not possess life and is therefore dead spiritually. The regenerate who live rebellious lives, in opposition to God, quenching the Spirit instead of the subduing the flesh, are the only ones who have the capacity to become spiritually alive. Consider that a person cannot be spiritually dead or alive without the spirit, otherwise he is spiritually incapable. Without an object you are incapable of having anything, you can have neither an active object nor an inactive object. Without a cup, you are incapable of drinking coffee because you do not even have an empty cup to fill.
The fact that Adam was removed from the Garden of Eden and was totally incapable to regain access, is the shadow of man’s incapacity to return without God’s direct intervention. A great divide was created by God which no man can cross, unless He, by grace, transports the person from one side to the other. For a person to have faith, he must already have access to the Tree of Life.