IT WAS God’s design that man should
enjoy everlasting life on the earth,
but it was necessary that he prove
his worthiness to enjoy the blessing
of life in his earthly home by
rendering obedience to Divine law.
The penalty for disobeying God’s law
was death.—Gen. 2:15-17; Rom. 6:23
God stated his law very simply and
thus made clear what the penalty for
disobedience would be. But Satan,
speaking through the “serpent,” said
to mother Eve that death would not
result from disobeying God’s
command.—Gen. 3:1-5
Through the ages since then, this
falsehood has been expressed in many
different ways, with the result that
few have believed that death is a
reality. Most religionists
throughout the heathen and professed
Christian worlds insist that “there
is no death.” Thus they agree with
the vicious falsehood perpetrated by
the Devil in the Garden of Eden.
Eve herself was deceived by the
Devil’s lie and partook of the
forbidden fruit. Then she offered it
to Adam and he partook. But Adam was
not deceived. He knew what the
result of his disobedience would
be.—I Tim. 2:14
It is quite possible, we think, that
Adam lacked faith in the Creator’s
ability to overrule Eve’s
transgression in a way that would be
to his benefit; so he deliberately
disobeyed, feeling that life would
not be worthwhile without his
helpmate, Eve. Whatever his
reasoning, his sin was willful, and
the Divine sentence of death fell
upon him. (Gen. 3:17-19) Eve shared
in this condemnation.
The transgression and condemnation
of our first parents were prior to
the birth of their children. This
meant that the process of dying had
already begun when their children
were born. Thus their offspring were
imperfect and automatically came
under condemnation to death.—Rom.
5:12
Thus the reign of sin and death
began, and has continued for more
than six thousand years. During this
time countless millions have
suffered and died. Sorrow, sickness,
and pain—mental and physical—have
been experienced by all, both young
and old, in every generation. This
long period of human suffering is
described in the Bible as a
nighttime of weeping which has come
upon the human race as a result of
God’s wrath, or condemnation,
resting upon the people because of
sin. (Ps. 30:5) However, in God’s
due time, as we shall see later,
there will be release from suffering
and death.
The Apostle Paul said that “the
wrath of God is revealed from heaven
against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness.” (Rom. 1:18) It is
revealed by everything which reminds
us of sickness and death. Truly, man
is learning the terrible result of
transgressing Divine law.
STUDENTS’ HELPS
Questions
In order to understand God’s plan
for the rescue of fallen man from
death, it is necessary to grasp
clearly just what happened in the
Garden of Eden. Can you answer these
questions?
What was the condition upon which
God’s perfect human creatures could
enjoy everlasting life on earth?
What is the Divine penalty for sin,
and what was Satan’s deception
concerning this?
Was Adam deceived by Satan
concerning the penalty for sin?
What may have been the reason that
Adam willfully transgressed God’s
law?
Explain why Adam’s offspring shared
in the death condemnation which came
upon him.
What is one of the ways by which the
Bible describes the reign of sin and
death?
How is the wrath of God revealed
from heaven?
Reference Material
“The Atonement Between God and Man,”
pages 407-409
Summary of Important Thoughts
Obedience to God’s law is the
condition upon which any of God’s
intelligent creatures can enjoy a
continuance of his favor and the
blessings of everlasting life.