Easter 2023

The Fall of Man

SUMMARY:

The reality that sin entered into the world is a sobering thought - it changed the course of humanity forever. While we may be tempted to think we are capable of attaining salvation through good works, the truth is we have all been found guilty in God's eyes because of our sinful hearts. We can never measure up or deserve heaven by any standard. Thankfully, there is incredible hope in this truly humbling revelation. Through Christ, each and every one of us can access salvation freely, without effort or deserving it. This amazing grace has opened up a pathway to eternal life despite our humble origins on Earth.

SCRIPTURE

Gen 3:6 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate

Ps 51:5 5Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me

Rom 5:12, 18-21 12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned…18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

THEOLOGY

The Bible refers to an event in the darkest recesses of time, beyond human experience, when sin became reality. An extraordinary creature, the serpent, was already confirmed in wickedness before “sin entered the world” through Adam (Rom. 5:12; see Gen. 3). This ancient serpent is met elsewhere as the great dragon, Satan, and the devil (Rev. 12:9; 20:2). He has been sinning and murdering from the beginning (John 8:44; 1 John 3:8). Pride (1 Tim. 3:6) and a fall of angels (Jude 6; Rev. 12:7–9) also are associated with this cosmic catastrophe.

Scripture also teaches of another Fall: Adam and Eve were created “good” and placed in an idyllic garden in Eden, enjoying close communion with God (Gen. 1:26 through 2:25). Because they were not divine and were capable of sinning, their continuing dependence on God was necessary. Similarly, they required regular partaking of the tree of life. This is indicated by God’s invitation to eat of every tree, including the tree of life, before the Fall (2:16), and His strong prohibition afterward (3:22–23). Had they obeyed, they may have been blissfully fruitful, developing forever (1:28–30). Alternatively, after a period of probation, they may have achieved a more permanent state of immortality either by translation into heaven (Gen. 5:21–24; 2 Kings 2:1–12) or by a resurrection body on earth (cf. believers, 1 Cor. 15:35–54).[1]

The Anguish of the Cross

The anguish of the crucifixion of Christ cannot be overstated – it was an excruciating and violent execution, described in vivid detail in Biblical texts. Yet His commitment to His Father's will was so strong that He was willing to endure any cost, no matter how severe. Despite his innocent suffering, Jesus never faltered in His love for all of humanity and even while the weight of its collective sin pressed down upon Him on the cross, He still cried out “Father, forgive them”. This selflessness and noble acceptance shows just what Jesus sacrificed and even today is a remarkable testament to the power of true love.

Crucifixion was a method of execution that was used by the ancient Romans for both slaves and non-citizens. It was considered a particularly brutal and inhumane form of punishment, and was used primarily for crimes such as rebellion, piracy, and treason.

The process of crucifixion began with the individual being flogged, or whipped, with a Roman flagrum, a whip with multiple leather thongs and metal balls or sharp objects attached. This was done to weaken the person and to increase the likelihood of death during the crucifixion. The person would then be forced to carry their own crossbeam to the site of the crucifixion, known as the crux, where they would be stripped of their clothes and nailed or bound to the cross. The nails or bindings were typically driven through the wrists, as the hands were not strong enough to support the weight of the body, and through the ankles. The crossbeam would then be lifted onto the upright post, called the stipes, and the person would be left to die. Crucifixion was typically done in a public place, such as a crossroads or along a main road, as a warning and deterrent to others. The person being crucified would be left hanging for several hours or even days, dying from exhaustion, asphyxiation, and dehydration. The body would typically be left on the cross as a warning to others.

Scripture

Theology

We need to look more closely at several aspects of Christ’s saving work. A number of biblical words characterize it. No one reading the Scriptures perceptively can escape the fact that sacrifice stands at the heart of redemption, both in the Old and New Testaments. The imagery of a lamb or a kid slain as part of the saving, redeeming drama goes back to the Passover (Ex. 12:1–13). God would see the sprinkled blood and “pass over” those whom the blood shielded. When the Old Testament believer placed his hands on the sacrifice it conveyed more than identification (i.e., this is “my” sacrifice); it was a sacrificial substitute (i.e., this I sacrifice in my place).[2]

The Lord is not a malevolent and capricious deity whose nature remains so inscrutable that one never knows how He will act. But His wrath is real. However, the Bible teaches that God in His love, mercy, and faithfulness to His promises provided the means by which to satisfy His wrath. In the case of New Testament teaching, God not only provided the means, He also became the means. First John 4:10 says, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice [Gk. hilasmos] for our sins.”[3]

The master theme of the Christian gospel is salvation. Salvation is a picture-word of wide application that expresses the idea of rescue from jeopardy and misery into a state of safety. The gospel proclaims that the God who saved Israel from Egypt, Jonah from the fish’s belly, the psalmist from death, and the soldiers from drowning (Exod. 15:2; Jon. 2:9; Ps. 116:6; Acts 27:31), saves all who trust Christ from sin and sin’s consequences.

As these earthly deliverances were wholly God’s work, and not instances of people saving themselves with God’s help, so it is with salvation from sin and death. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it [either faith as such or salvation and faith together] is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8). “Salvation comes from the Lord” (Jon. 2:9).

What are believers saved from? From their former position under the wrath of God, the dominion of sin, and the power of death (Rom. 1:18; 3:9; 5:21); from their natural condition of being mastered by the world, the flesh, and the devil (John 8:23–24; Rom. 8:7–8; 1 John 5:19); from the fears that a sinful life engenders (Rom. 8:15; 2 Tim. 1:7; Heb. 2:14–15), and from the many vicious habits that were part of it (Eph. 4:17–24; 1 Thess. 4:3–8; Titus 2:11–3:6).[4]

The Power of the Resurrection

The resurrection of Jesus is simply unthinkable—it’s a miracle that completely flips all understanding of the universe on its head. By rising from the grave, Jesus removed any chance of ever having to doubt, fear or feel hopeless. In a moment he overthrew Hell itself, forever changing eternity for humanity. Never before had a human died and come back to life in this way—freeing us all from the clutches of satan and ultimate death. Now we can walk with certainty into our future, knowing that the incredible victory of Jesus' resurrection will stay forever with us.