The Human FallThe Human Fall

The human conditionThe human condition

People

Conscience

Evil mind

Goodness, joy

Evil, guilt

Struggle

““I do not understand my own actions. I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. For I know that the very thing I hate. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is in nothing good dwells in me, that is in my flesh. I can will what is right but I my flesh. I can will what is right but I cannot do it. cannot do it. For I do not do the good For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do.”what I do.”

Romans 7:15-19Romans 7:15-19

Hell on EarthHell on Earth

The mystery of evilThe mystery of evil

If everything God created was good, If everything God created was good, where does evil come from?where does evil come from?

If God is good, almighty and knows what is If God is good, almighty and knows what is going on, why does He allow people to going on, why does He allow people to suffer?suffer?

The story of Adam and The story of Adam and EveEve

Biblical languageBiblical language

Much of the Bible is written in metaphor and symbol.Much of the Bible is written in metaphor and symbol.We need to understand how the people who wrote itWe need to understand how the people who wrote itunderstood it.understood it.

E.g. A tree is a symbol for a personE.g. A tree is a symbol for a person

“For the vineyard of the Lord is the House of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting . . .”

Proverbs 11:30

“I am the vine, you are the branches.”John 15:5

What was the serpent?What was the serpent?

Serpent

Symbol?

Literal?

“Now the serpent was moresubtle than any other wildcreature that the Lord God had made.” Genesis 3:1

““And that great And that great dragon was thrown dragon was thrown down, that ancient down, that ancient serpent, who is serpent, who is called the Devil and called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver Satan, the deceiver of the whole world; of the whole world; he and his angels he and his angels were thrown down were thrown down with him.”with him.”

Revelation 12:9Revelation 12:9

Serpent = Devil = Angel Serpent = Devil = Angel LuciferLucifer

God’s commandmentGod’s commandment

““You may freely You may freely eat of every tree eat of every tree of the garden; but of the garden; but of the tree of the of the tree of the knowledge of good knowledge of good and evil you shall and evil you shall not eat, for in the not eat, for in the day that you eat of day that you eat of it you shall die.”it you shall die.”

Genesis 2:16-17Genesis 2:16-17

What was the fruit?What was the fruit?

Fruit

Symbol?

Literal?

“Here and understand: not what goes into the mouth defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

Matthew 15:10-11

Fruit in the Old Fruit in the Old TestamentTestament

““As an apple tree among the trees As an apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved of the wood, so is my beloved among young men. With great among young men. With great delight I sat in his shadow, and delight I sat in his shadow, and his his fruit was sweet to my taste.”fruit was sweet to my taste.”

Song of Solomon 2:3-5Song of Solomon 2:3-5

““A garden locked is my sister, A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a garden locked, a my bride, a garden locked, a fountain sealed. Your shoots are fountain sealed. Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates an orchard of pomegranates with all choicest fruits.”with all choicest fruits.”

Song of Solomon 4:12-13Song of Solomon 4:12-13

““Let my beloved come to his Let my beloved come to his garden, and eat its choicest fruits.”garden, and eat its choicest fruits.”

Song of Solomon 4:16Song of Solomon 4:16

““Under the apple tree I awakened Under the apple tree I awakened you. There your mother was in you. There your mother was in travail with you.”travail with you.”

Song of Solomon 8:3Song of Solomon 8:3

Eating a metaphor for Eating a metaphor for sexsex

““And to him who is without sense she And to him who is without sense she says, ‘Stolen water is sweet, and bread says, ‘Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.’ But he does eaten in secret is pleasant.’ But he does not know that the dead are there, that not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.”her guests are in the depths of Sheol.”

Proverbs 9:16-18Proverbs 9:16-18

““This is the way of the This is the way of the adulteress, she eats, and wipes adulteress, she eats, and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I have done her mouth and says, ‘I have done no wrong.’”no wrong.’”

Proverbs 30:20Proverbs 30:20

The meaning of the fruitThe meaning of the fruit

Trees multiply through fruitTrees multiply through fruit

People multiply through lovePeople multiply through love

The fruit represents sexual loveThe fruit represents sexual love

The Tree of the Knowledge The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evilof Good and Evil

The tree could produce either good or evil fruit dependingon whether love was God-centred or self-centred

‘‘To know’ a woman - a Biblical metaphor for sexTo know’ a woman - a Biblical metaphor for sex

When should the fruit be When should the fruit be eaten?eaten?

The fruit

Mature and married

Immature and unmarried

Goodness

Suffering

God gave the commandment to protect Adam and Eve

What should have What should have happened?happened?

Adam and Eve should have achieved Adam and Eve should have achieved individual maturity – the First Blessingindividual maturity – the First Blessing

Then God would have blessed them in Then God would have blessed them in divine marriage – the Second Blessingdivine marriage – the Second Blessing

Then would have had children and Then would have had children and established a happy familyestablished a happy family

What did happen?What did happen? Adam and Eve had children – Cain and AbelAdam and Eve had children – Cain and Abel

It was not a loving family – Cain murdered AbelIt was not a loving family – Cain murdered Abel

Adam and Eve did not have a happy marriageAdam and Eve did not have a happy marriage

Adam and Eve had a sexual relationship without Adam and Eve had a sexual relationship without being blessed by God in marriagebeing blessed by God in marriage

Adam and Eve did not fulfil the First Blessing Adam and Eve did not fulfil the First Blessing before they had a sexual relationshipbefore they had a sexual relationship

What happened What happened at the Fall?at the Fall?

What was the sin of the What was the sin of the angel?angel?

““Remember too the angels, how some of Remember too the angels, how some of them were not content to keep the them were not content to keep the dominion given to them but abandoned dominion given to them but abandoned their proper home; and God has reserved their proper home; and God has reserved them for judgement on the great Day, . . . them for judgement on the great Day, . . . Remember Sodom and Gomorrah and the Remember Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbouring towns; neighbouring towns; like the angels, they like the angels, they committed fornicationcommitted fornication and followed and followed unnatural lusts; . . .”unnatural lusts; . . .”

Jude 6-7Jude 6-7

What was the sin of What was the sin of Lucifer?Lucifer?

Lucifer committed Lucifer committed fornication – illicit fornication – illicit sexual relationship – sexual relationship – with Evewith Eve

What was the sin of Adam What was the sin of Adam and Eve?and Eve?

Before the Fall:Before the Fall:““And the man and his wife were both And the man and his wife were both naked, and they were not ashamed.”naked, and they were not ashamed.”

Genesis 2:25Genesis 2:25

After the Fall:After the Fall:““Then the eyes of both were opened, and Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons.”themselves aprons.”

Genesis 3:7Genesis 3:7

Adam and Eve had an illicit sexual relationshipAdam and Eve had an illicit sexual relationship

Other evidence that the Other evidence that the Fall was an illicit sexual Fall was an illicit sexual

relationshiprelationship ‘‘Picking a fruit’ - euphemism for sexual lovePicking a fruit’ - euphemism for sexual love

God is love yet sexual love which is holy and God is love yet sexual love which is holy and wholesome is often thought of as shameful wholesome is often thought of as shameful

Sexual immorality led to the downfall of great Sexual immorality led to the downfall of great men and nationsmen and nations

Many social problems traced to broken homesMany social problems traced to broken homes

Why did the fall Why did the fall take place?take place?

God

Lucifer

Angels

Universe

God

Lucifer

Angels

Universe

God

Lucifer

Angels

Universe

Adam & Eve

Immature

Adam & EveI Cor. 8:3

What should have What should have happened?happened?

Adam was a child, not yet having Adam was a child, not yet having his understanding perfected. It his understanding perfected. It was necessary that he should was necessary that he should grow and so come to perfection.grow and so come to perfection.

SaintSaint Irenaeus (130-Irenaeus (130-200)200)

The motivation and The motivation and process of the Fallprocess of the Fall

Rebellion in heavenRebellion in heaven

““How you are fallen from How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of heaven, O Lucifer, son of the Dawn! How you are cut the Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you down to the ground, you who laid the nations low. who laid the nations low. You said in your heart, ‘I You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I above the stars of God I will set my throne on will set my throne on high; . . . I will make myself high; . . . I will make myself like the Most High.’”like the Most High.’”

Isaiah 14:12-14Isaiah 14:12-14

Lucifer and EveLucifer and Eve

The Spiritual FallThe Spiritual Fall

God

Lucifer Eve Adam

Felt less love

Wanted to rule humans

Wanted to experiencelove and become like God before time was ripe

Adam and Eve

The Physical FallThe Physical Fall

God

Lucifer Eve Adam

Rid herself of dreadand stand before God

What were the What were the consequences of consequences of

the Fall?the Fall?

God’s heart was brokenGod’s heart was broken

God lost object of his love, the very purpose for God lost object of his love, the very purpose for which He had created the universe which He had created the universe

Infinite love Infinite love infinite grief, sorrow, hurtinfinite grief, sorrow, hurt God was betrayed by Lucifer whom He had God was betrayed by Lucifer whom He had

trusted to take care of His childrentrusted to take care of His children God screaming at what happened to His childrenGod screaming at what happened to His children God weeps at the way His world isGod weeps at the way His world is

““You shall say to them this word: ‘You shall say to them this word: ‘Let Let my eyes run down with tears night and my eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not ceaseday, and let them not cease, for the , for the virgin daughter of my people is smitten virgin daughter of my people is smitten with a great wound, with a very with a great wound, with a very grievous blow. If I go into the field, grievous blow. If I go into the field, behold, those slain by the sword! And if behold, those slain by the sword! And if I enter the city, behold, the diseases of I enter the city, behold, the diseases of famine.’”famine.’”

Jeremiah 14:17-18Jeremiah 14:17-18

““The Lord saw that the wickedness of The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that he had And the Lord was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heartgrieved him to his heart.”.”

Genesis 6:5-6Genesis 6:5-6

Loss of the First BlessingLoss of the First Blessing

Sinful Person

Mind Body

SatanConflict between spirit and flesh

People born with original sin

“You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires.”

John 8:44

Object Subject

AddictionGreedLazinessLustDishonesty

Contradictory natureGood inclination vs evil inclination

Loss of the Second Loss of the Second BlessingBlessing

SocietySocietyNationNationWorldWorld

Fallen Family

Adam

Satan

Eve

“I will greatly multiply your pain in child-bearing; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband and he shall rule over you.”

Genesis 3:16

UnfaithfulnessAbuseTyrannyViolence

Loss of the Third Loss of the Third BlessingBlessing

Hell

Person Creation

Satan“Cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth to you.”

Genesis 3:17-19

MaterialismConsumerismEnvironmentaldegradation

How was the fall How was the fall possible?possible?

God wanted children not robotsGod wanted children not robots

God wanted relationships of loveGod wanted relationships of love

Love has to be freely and spontaneously givenLove has to be freely and spontaneously given

God gives His children freedomGod gives His children freedom

With freedom comes the possibility of evilWith freedom comes the possibility of evil

Why didn’t God prevent the Why didn’t God prevent the Fall?Fall?

God gave the God gave the commandmentcommandment

God respects usGod respects us

The Parable of the The Parable of the Prodigal SonProdigal Son

““Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord has spoken: ‘Sons have I for the Lord has spoken: ‘Sons have I reared and brought up, but they have reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its rebelled against me. The ox knows its owner, and the ass its master’s crib; owner, and the ass its master’s crib; but but Israel does not know, my people does not Israel does not know, my people does not understandunderstand.’”.’”

Isaiah 1:2-3Isaiah 1:2-3

““The more I called them, the more they The more I called them, the more they went from me; they kept sacrificing to went from me; they kept sacrificing to Baals, and burning incense to idols. Yet it Baals, and burning incense to idols. Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, I took was I who taught Ephraim to walk, I took them up in my arms; but they did not them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them. I led them with know that I healed them. I led them with cords of compassion, with the bands of cords of compassion, with the bands of love, and I became to them as one who love, and I became to them as one who eases the yoke of their jaws, and I bent eases the yoke of their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them.”down to them and fed them.”

Hosea 11:2-4Hosea 11:2-4

Immorality the worst sinImmorality the worst sin

““Shun immorality. Every other sin Shun immorality. Every other sin which a man commits is outside the which a man commits is outside the body; but the immoral man sins body; but the immoral man sins against his own body. Do you not know against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from Spirit within you, which you have from God?”God?”

I Corinthians 6:18-19I Corinthians 6:18-19