THE FALL AND REDEMPTION OF THE BRIDE
Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in transgression” (1 Timothy 2:13, 14).
SATAN’S METHOD
The Genesis account of the fall (ch. 3), Satan entered into the serpent of the field and approached Eve with the question, “Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree in the garden” (3:1b)? Satan in order to bring about the fall of Adam, approached Eve and dealt with on the basis of what God had said. Eve’s response and Satan’s action following her response are quite revealing. In answering Satan, Eve not only altered but added to the Word of God. Satan then cast doubt on the veracity of God’s Word, resulting in Eve’s sin, and the subsequent fall of Adam and the federal head of the new creation (vs. 2-6).
This is the first mention of Satan in Scripture, and several things stand out prominently in this first mention account surrounding Satanic activity: Satan’s ways are subtle, and he uses the Word of God.; and according to the rule of first mention in Scripture, Satan’s methods can only remain unchanged throughout all of subsequent Scripture. Satan has appeared down through the years as an “angel of light,” and his ministers appear as “ministers of righteousness” (2 Cor. 11:14, 15). His primary attack has always been against the people of God, through the Word of God. Thus, it is vitally important that Christians not only know exactly what God has said in His Word, but also know that God has spoken with finality. The final court of appeal must always be the Word of God, never man’s reasoning or interpretation.
Adam was brought into existence to have dominion over the earth (Gen. 1:26-28). This was the dominion which Satan possessed (Ezek. 28:14; Luke 4:5, 6). Satan knew that the supplanter - successor (Adam) was on the scene; and in order to retain his position as the earth’s ruler, he knew that Adam, through sin, must be disqualified. Satan, however, did not approach Adam directly. Adam, as Satan, knew exactly what God had said. And, Satan knowing this, knew that Adam could not be easily deceived in this respect. Thus, Satan, knowing the position which Eve occupied in relation to Adam (a part of Adam’s very being), approached and deceived Eve. Then Eve’s sin placed Adam in a particular position – (now disqualified because he could not rule without Eve to whom the command was given that they rule together as she was apart of Adam’s body) – having no choice other than to also partake of the forbidden fruit. God had given commands:
1. “Of every tree of the garden thou must freely eat” (2:16b).
2. “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it” (2:17a).
3. “A man ….shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (2:24).
In Genesis 2:16, 17, God’s commands allowed man to eat of every tree in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Among the trees provided for food was the tree of life. And though the eating of the fruit from this tree would have provided for man’s perpetual existence throughout the eternal ages, this was not the purpose for the tree of life. Man existed in a sinless, undying state prior to the fall. And in this condition, man had no need from the tree to prolong his life. Following the fall though, man was barred from the tree of life, for eating of this tree at this time could have place him in an undying state in his newly acquired sinful condition.
In this light, in reality, man’s initial act resulting in the fall, which became sin following the fall, was his failure to eat of the tree of life, as God had previously commanded. Had Adam eaten of this tree before the fall, the only logical conclusion which follows is that the fall could not have occurred (else man would have lived forever in a fallen state because he had previously eaten of the tree of life, preventing man from realizing the purpose for his creation).
Gen 2:9
9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden
KJV
Rev 2:7
7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
KJV
The tree of life first comes into view in the opening chapters of the Book of Genesis. This tree was one of the numerous trees in the Garden of Eden of which Adam was commanded to eat (Gen. 2:9, 16). Adam had been created for the specific purpose of assuming the rulership over the earth, and the fruit of the tree of life was a provision for Adam as he exercised this rule.
An evident connection between man’s rule and his partaking of the tree of life can be seen by noting the appearance of this tree in the Book of Genesis when man was in a position to rule; the absence of the tree during the entire period when man was not in a position to rule, and the reappearance of the tree in the Book of Revelation when man will once again be brought back into the position to rule (cf. Gen. 1:26-28; Rev. 2:26, 27). The period during which man have been banned from eating of the tree of life began following Adam’s fall, resulting in his disqualification to rule; and it will end following the issues of the judgment seat, at which time man will once again find himself in a position to rule.
Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in transgression” (1 Timothy 2:13, 14).
SATAN’S METHOD
The Genesis account of the fall (ch. 3), Satan entered into the serpent of the field and approached Eve with the question, “Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree in the garden” (3:1b)? Satan in order to bring about the fall of Adam, approached Eve and dealt with on the basis of what God had said. Eve’s response and Satan’s action following her response are quite revealing. In answering Satan, Eve not only altered but added to the Word of God. Satan then cast doubt on the veracity of God’s Word, resulting in Eve’s sin, and the subsequent fall of Adam and the federal head of the new creation (vs. 2-6).
This is the first mention of Satan in Scripture, and several things stand out prominently in this first mention account surrounding Satanic activity: Satan’s ways are subtle, and he uses the Word of God.; and according to the rule of first mention in Scripture, Satan’s methods can only remain unchanged throughout all of subsequent Scripture. Satan has appeared down through the years as an “angel of light,” and his ministers appear as “ministers of righteousness” (2 Cor. 11:14, 15). His primary attack has always been against the people of God, through the Word of God. Thus, it is vitally important that Christians not only know exactly what God has said in His Word, but also know that God has spoken with finality. The final court of appeal must always be the Word of God, never man’s reasoning or interpretation.
Adam was brought into existence to have dominion over the earth (Gen. 1:26-28). This was the dominion which Satan possessed (Ezek. 28:14; Luke 4:5, 6). Satan knew that the supplanter - successor (Adam) was on the scene; and in order to retain his position as the earth’s ruler, he knew that Adam, through sin, must be disqualified. Satan, however, did not approach Adam directly. Adam, as Satan, knew exactly what God had said. And, Satan knowing this, knew that Adam could not be easily deceived in this respect. Thus, Satan, knowing the position which Eve occupied in relation to Adam (a part of Adam’s very being), approached and deceived Eve. Then Eve’s sin placed Adam in a particular position – (now disqualified because he could not rule without Eve to whom the command was given that they rule together as she was apart of Adam’s body) – having no choice other than to also partake of the forbidden fruit. God had given commands:
1. “Of every tree of the garden thou must freely eat” (2:16b).
2. “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it” (2:17a).
3. “A man ….shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (2:24).
In Genesis 2:16, 17, God’s commands allowed man to eat of every tree in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Among the trees provided for food was the tree of life. And though the eating of the fruit from this tree would have provided for man’s perpetual existence throughout the eternal ages, this was not the purpose for the tree of life. Man existed in a sinless, undying state prior to the fall. And in this condition, man had no need from the tree to prolong his life. Following the fall though, man was barred from the tree of life, for eating of this tree at this time could have place him in an undying state in his newly acquired sinful condition.
In this light, in reality, man’s initial act resulting in the fall, which became sin following the fall, was his failure to eat of the tree of life, as God had previously commanded. Had Adam eaten of this tree before the fall, the only logical conclusion which follows is that the fall could not have occurred (else man would have lived forever in a fallen state because he had previously eaten of the tree of life, preventing man from realizing the purpose for his creation).
Gen 2:9
9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden
KJV
Rev 2:7
7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
KJV
The tree of life first comes into view in the opening chapters of the Book of Genesis. This tree was one of the numerous trees in the Garden of Eden of which Adam was commanded to eat (Gen. 2:9, 16). Adam had been created for the specific purpose of assuming the rulership over the earth, and the fruit of the tree of life was a provision for Adam as he exercised this rule.
An evident connection between man’s rule and his partaking of the tree of life can be seen by noting the appearance of this tree in the Book of Genesis when man was in a position to rule; the absence of the tree during the entire period when man was not in a position to rule, and the reappearance of the tree in the Book of Revelation when man will once again be brought back into the position to rule (cf. Gen. 1:26-28; Rev. 2:26, 27). The period during which man have been banned from eating of the tree of life began following Adam’s fall, resulting in his disqualification to rule; and it will end following the issues of the judgment seat, at which time man will once again find himself in a position to rule.
But an issue beyond the though of regality in connection with the tree of life came into view following the fall. Adam, following the fall, was driven from the garden to prevent his partaking of the tree of life for another purpose. Adam could not be permitted to eat of this tree in a fallen condition, for had such occurred he would have lived forever in a fallen state. Thus, not only did God in His grace and mercy removed Adam from the garden, but “Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way,” were placed at “the east of the garden… to keep the way of the tree of life [to prevent fallen man from re entering the garden and partaking of this tree]” (Gen. 3:22-24).
Studying Gen. 3:22-24 apart from the context and related Scripture could lead one to believe that the purpose of the tree of life was to provide perpetuity of life for Adam in his un-fallen state. However, such could not have been the case, for “death” did not enter into the picture until after Adam’s sin, at which time he was barred from the tree of life. Adam had lived in an undying state prior to his sin, as he continued to live in an antithetical dying state following his sin; and to say that the tree of life was given to Adam in his un-fallen state to provide perpetuity of life, preventing death, cannot be correct (even though it could have provided such perpetuity of life following the fall).
In Rev. 2:7, partaking of the tree of life has been promised to the overcomers from among those already possessing eternal life. Consequently, in this passage, the tree of life can have nothing whatsoever to do with perpetuity of life; and it is the same in the Genesis account when man was first brought upon the scene to rule and to reign.
The tree of life in both Genesis chapter two and Revelation chapter two appears in a different settings entirely. The tree of life reserved for Christians is associated particularly with a provision for those who will rule and reign as co-heirs with Christ; and viewing Adam’s position in the Genesis account – created to rule and reign, in possession of life, with the fruit of the tree of life at his disposal – the same would hold true. This would have to hold true, for that seen relative to the tree of life in Revelation chapter two is drawn from that which was first seen relative to the tree of life in Genesis chapters two and three. The fruit of the tree of life was in the past (seen in the Book of Genesis) and will be in the future (seen in the Book of Revelation) a provision for the rulers in the kingdom. This is an evident fact that must be recognized.
The fact then that Adam cleaved to his wife – as he was told to do in Gen. 2:24 – is with the view of realizing the purpose for which he was created, (as he could not rule alone); that is to redeem her. Once Eve had disobeyed God by partaking of the forbidden fruit, Adam was then in no position to eat of the tree of life. A part of his very being, Eve, who was bone of his bones, and flesh of his flesh (2:23), had eaten of the forbidden fruit and was in a fallen state.
Eve in her fallen state was no longer in a position to eat of the tree of life. Even though Adam hadn’t sinned, he was now incomplete without Eve, who had sinned. Thus, Adam, being incomplete without Eve, could not now eat of the tree of life.
Neither Adam nor Eve could eat of the tree of life after Eve had partaken of the forbidden fruit. Adam, in order to one day eat of the tree of life as a complete being, had no choice other than to cleave unto his wife by also partaking of the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Once Adam had partaken of the forbidden fruit, the complete being of Adam became in a fallen state. It is at this point the fall actually occurred – the federal head of the new creation himself partaking of the forbidden fruit. That which Adam did was the only course of action possible for him to take to bring about Eve’s redemption, allowing Adam, as a complete being (Adam, with Eve), to one day find himself in a position to eat of the tree of life.
Adam was not deceived, but sinned with a full knowledge of that which he was doing (1 Tim. 2:14). God then provided a blood sacrifice and clothed Adam and Eve – coats of skin (Gen. 3:21).
The subsequent removal of man from the Garden of Eden was not God’s judgment upon man for his sin; it was actually God’s mercy to prevent man from eating in a fallen state and therefore living forever in that state, not being able to fulfill the purpose fro which he was created, to rule and reign (Gen. 3:22-24). Here we have the original type of Christ’s redemptive work on the behalf of His bride is set forth in the act of Adam having seen a part of his very being in a hopeless state; cleaved to her to redeem her.
The First Adam found Eve in a fallen state. He then partook of sin to bring about Eve’s redemption, in order that both might one day be able to eat of the tree of life together.
The Last Adam, likewise, found His bride in a fallen state. He was then made “sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). “The Lord had laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:6). He “bare our sins in His own body on the tree” (1 Pet. 2:24). Jesus was made sin to redeem His bride in order that both might one day be able to eat of the tree of life together. In the first three chapters of Genesis, both the purpose and means of our salvation are set forth.
The First Adam was created to rule the earth, and Eve was removed from his body to rule as consort queen with him. But Adam, through an encounter with Satan, resulting in the fall, forfeited his right to rule the earth.
The Last Adam, through an encounter with Satan (Matt. 4:1-11), and His finished word on Calvary (John 19:30), has not only shown Himself fully qualified to rule the earth, but He has also redeemed that which the First Adam forfeited in the fall. And the Last Adam, as the First Adam, will have a bride taken from His body, destined to rule the earth as consort queen with Him.
“The secret of Adam is the secret of Messiah….As the first man was the one that sinned, so shall the Messiah be the one to do sin away.”
Studying Gen. 3:22-24 apart from the context and related Scripture could lead one to believe that the purpose of the tree of life was to provide perpetuity of life for Adam in his un-fallen state. However, such could not have been the case, for “death” did not enter into the picture until after Adam’s sin, at which time he was barred from the tree of life. Adam had lived in an undying state prior to his sin, as he continued to live in an antithetical dying state following his sin; and to say that the tree of life was given to Adam in his un-fallen state to provide perpetuity of life, preventing death, cannot be correct (even though it could have provided such perpetuity of life following the fall).
In Rev. 2:7, partaking of the tree of life has been promised to the overcomers from among those already possessing eternal life. Consequently, in this passage, the tree of life can have nothing whatsoever to do with perpetuity of life; and it is the same in the Genesis account when man was first brought upon the scene to rule and to reign.
The tree of life in both Genesis chapter two and Revelation chapter two appears in a different settings entirely. The tree of life reserved for Christians is associated particularly with a provision for those who will rule and reign as co-heirs with Christ; and viewing Adam’s position in the Genesis account – created to rule and reign, in possession of life, with the fruit of the tree of life at his disposal – the same would hold true. This would have to hold true, for that seen relative to the tree of life in Revelation chapter two is drawn from that which was first seen relative to the tree of life in Genesis chapters two and three. The fruit of the tree of life was in the past (seen in the Book of Genesis) and will be in the future (seen in the Book of Revelation) a provision for the rulers in the kingdom. This is an evident fact that must be recognized.
The fact then that Adam cleaved to his wife – as he was told to do in Gen. 2:24 – is with the view of realizing the purpose for which he was created, (as he could not rule alone); that is to redeem her. Once Eve had disobeyed God by partaking of the forbidden fruit, Adam was then in no position to eat of the tree of life. A part of his very being, Eve, who was bone of his bones, and flesh of his flesh (2:23), had eaten of the forbidden fruit and was in a fallen state.
Eve in her fallen state was no longer in a position to eat of the tree of life. Even though Adam hadn’t sinned, he was now incomplete without Eve, who had sinned. Thus, Adam, being incomplete without Eve, could not now eat of the tree of life.
Neither Adam nor Eve could eat of the tree of life after Eve had partaken of the forbidden fruit. Adam, in order to one day eat of the tree of life as a complete being, had no choice other than to cleave unto his wife by also partaking of the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Once Adam had partaken of the forbidden fruit, the complete being of Adam became in a fallen state. It is at this point the fall actually occurred – the federal head of the new creation himself partaking of the forbidden fruit. That which Adam did was the only course of action possible for him to take to bring about Eve’s redemption, allowing Adam, as a complete being (Adam, with Eve), to one day find himself in a position to eat of the tree of life.
Adam was not deceived, but sinned with a full knowledge of that which he was doing (1 Tim. 2:14). God then provided a blood sacrifice and clothed Adam and Eve – coats of skin (Gen. 3:21).
The subsequent removal of man from the Garden of Eden was not God’s judgment upon man for his sin; it was actually God’s mercy to prevent man from eating in a fallen state and therefore living forever in that state, not being able to fulfill the purpose fro which he was created, to rule and reign (Gen. 3:22-24). Here we have the original type of Christ’s redemptive work on the behalf of His bride is set forth in the act of Adam having seen a part of his very being in a hopeless state; cleaved to her to redeem her.
The First Adam found Eve in a fallen state. He then partook of sin to bring about Eve’s redemption, in order that both might one day be able to eat of the tree of life together.
The Last Adam, likewise, found His bride in a fallen state. He was then made “sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). “The Lord had laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:6). He “bare our sins in His own body on the tree” (1 Pet. 2:24). Jesus was made sin to redeem His bride in order that both might one day be able to eat of the tree of life together. In the first three chapters of Genesis, both the purpose and means of our salvation are set forth.
The First Adam was created to rule the earth, and Eve was removed from his body to rule as consort queen with him. But Adam, through an encounter with Satan, resulting in the fall, forfeited his right to rule the earth.
The Last Adam, through an encounter with Satan (Matt. 4:1-11), and His finished word on Calvary (John 19:30), has not only shown Himself fully qualified to rule the earth, but He has also redeemed that which the First Adam forfeited in the fall. And the Last Adam, as the First Adam, will have a bride taken from His body, destined to rule the earth as consort queen with Him.
“The secret of Adam is the secret of Messiah….As the first man was the one that sinned, so shall the Messiah be the one to do sin away.”
1 comment:
I was intrigued by what I've read so far. Really interesting! Thank God for Bible-believing Pastors like you.
You mentioned in paragraph 13 that:
Even though Adam hadnt sinned he was now incomplete without Eve who sinned.
I make reference to Gen. 2:16-17
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
What I'm trying to say is that Adam according to the scripture was the first to be commanded "not to eat." Chapter 3:6 states that Eve took of the fruit and ate and also gave to her husband with her and he ate. Doesnt that means he was there when she was being deceived by the Serpent? He willingly partook of the fruit.
*Isnt this disobedience?
*Couldnt he at that point not be a part of the deception?
*Wasnt he in a position to remind his wife of the Lord's command been the stronger of the two?
I cant understand how he didnt sin.
Need your response. Thank you.
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