The Genesis of Sin and Atonement

                                             

Read Genesis Chapter 3

“Sin always produces the same result - separation from God”. - David Jeremiah

That Adam sinned (as did his wife) is a given. Let's think about what was Adam’s Sin? Disobeying God. What caused it? Symbolically speaking it was Gluttony (wanting/eating what you shouldn't) and avarice, or greed, in desiring wisdom and power (ambition).

Adam's sin has been inherited in us as well. In our greed, sometimes do we not overlook God and what He has said and advised?

They had the best of the best in every way, but their ambition to become what they were not meant to be brought about their downfall.

How did it happen? Presenting of Deception and half-truths by Satan (which he still does); rationalization by Eve, of what God said to suit her, thereby twisting and finally rejecting what God actually said. We do the same even today.

David Jeremiah explains the seriousness, consequences and effects of that sin (which hold true even today) in the Jeremiah Bible and we quote as below –

“when Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s command and fell into rebellion, they lost three God given privileges:

1. Their intimate communion was broken: Adam and Eve hid from God

2. (Prior to Sin, they knew God as He is. Their minds were not clouded by falsehoods and half truths.) “ When they believed Satan, their knowledge was corrupted and their understanding of God was damaged. What God had said became twisted in their minds.

3. Perhaps most importantly, instead of knowing life as they had once known it with God, they began to know death.”

Please note that while we are physically alive, separation from God brings an immediate effect: Spiritual death. Which is why Jesus said to Nicodemus that one would need to be born again. Again, a truth of today.

What started out as a beautiful journey for man, ended in tragedy. Though God did not curse Adam and Eve like He did the serpent (He had already blessed them), judgement was pronounced. A judgement carried forward till this day.

What happened afterwards is as significant and a fore runner of the need of Jesus.

Adam and Eve tried to cover their sin and themselves, but their efforts were insufficient. God's act of providing proper clothing (covering them with animal skin) shows that reconciliation with God requires His initiative and provision, not just human effort.

The "garments of skin" involved the sacrifice of animals. This is the first instance in the Bible where blood was shed, and it foreshadows the concept of atonement through sacrifice for sin.

Just as the animal's skin covered Adam and Eve's physical nakedness, later in the Bible, animal sacrifices would symbolize the covering of sin through the shedding of blood. This ultimately points forward to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of humanity and salvation. A sacrifice provided by God, for us, to remove our sin. This is also known as the "proto evangel" - the earliest announcement of the gospel message in Scripture (Gen 3:15). It is not only a curse on the serpent, but also a ray of hope for humanity.

Thus, Genesis is not only a historical account of creation but also the reason for what happened thousands of years later - when we crucified Jesus.

(In fact, in the Greek version (and some others) of Genesis 3:15 uses the term "he and his " indicating one man (Jesus) not the entire posterity of eve).

Just as God initiated reconciliation then, He also initiated reconciliation through Jesus years later, making a full and final atonement.

Let us remember everything that Adam lost in the fall is exactly what people lack today without Jesus Christ.