The Fall in the Garden of Eden
When we meditate on Romans 3, we remember that Adam and Eve allowed themselves to be led by the influence of the serpent, which was the most cunning of all the animals that God had created in the garden.
On one occasion, the serpent asks the woman: “Is it true that God said, ‘You shall not eat from every tree of the garden’?”.
The woman knew God’s ordinances and responded to the serpent: “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but from the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You shall not eat from it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’”
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23, NIV)
Temptation and Disobedience
The serpent induced Eve to disobedience by saying that they would not die. The serpent’s argument was that God knew that on the day they ate from the fruit, their eyes would be opened and they would be like God, knowing good and evil.
Disobedience removed Adam and Eve from the garden, and now all have sinned and were destitute of the glory of God.
The woman saw that the tree was attractive to her eyes and its fruit seemed delicious. Eve in her heart desired the wisdom that the fruit would give her.
Eve took from the fruit and ate it and, not heeding God’s ordinance, Eve besides eating from the fruit also gave it to Adam.
At that moment, their eyes were opened, and they realized they were naked. Therefore, they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.
We were destitute of the glory of God!
Sin Enters the World
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned. (Romans 5:12, NIV)
We know that all sinned before the law was given, but since the law did not exist, their sins were not charged against them. We know that from the time of Adam until Moses, all died, including those who did not disobey an explicit command from God, as Adam disobeyed.
Adam is a representation of the one who was still to come. We must highlight that there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gift. Through the sin of one single man, death came to many. Much greater than Adam’s sin is the grace of God and his gifts that came upon many through one single man, Jesus Christ.
Grace That Overcomes Sin
We understand that through Adam sin entered the world, but through Jesus Christ forgiveness, grace, and mercy entered the world. The result of God’s gift is infinitely different from the result caused by Adam’s sin. While Adam’s sin led to condemnation, God’s gift enables us to be declared righteous before him, despite our many sins.
Disobedience produced sin, therefore death reigned over many through the sin of one single man. Even greater is the grace of God and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will reign in life through one single man, Jesus Christ.
It is true that one single sin of Adam brought condemnation to all, but one single act of righteousness by Christ removed the guilt and brought life to all. Because of disobedience to God, many became sinners. But because of the obedience of one single person to God, many will be declared righteous.
The Law and the Abundance of Grace
The law was created so that all would perceive the gravity of sin. But as sin increased, grace became even greater. Just as sin reigned over all and led them to death, now grace reigns, which declares us righteous before God and results in eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
We are imperfect and sinners who seek to improve every day, and when we fail and recognize it, we confess and abandon it. God with his infinite mercy purifies us from our sins.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9, NIV)
The price of Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden distanced us from the Glory of God, but the obedience of Jesus Christ and his infinite-love inserts us again as children and heirs of the Kingdom.
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