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Answer
“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” «Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: », (Romans 5:12). The consequences of the Fall are extensive and profound. Sin has impacted every aspect of our existence. It has influenced our lives on earth and our eternal fate.
One immediate consequence of the Fall was the separation of mankind from God. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve enjoyed perfect communion and fellowship with God. When they defied Him, that fellowship was severed. They became conscious of their sin and felt ashamed before Him. They hid from Him (Genesis 3:8-10), and humanity has been avoiding God ever since. Only through Christ can that fellowship be restored, as in Him we are declared as righteous and free from sin in God’s sight, just as Adam and Eve were before their transgression. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” «For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.», (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Due to the Fall, death became a certainty, and all of creation became subject to it. All humans die, all animals die, all plant life dies. The “whole creation groans” «For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. », (Romans 8:22), anticipating the moment when Christ will come back to free it from the consequences of death. Because
Due to sin, death is an unavoidable reality, and nobody is exempt. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” «For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.», (Romans 6:23). Even worse, we not only perish, but if we pass away without Christ, we face eternal death.
Another consequence of the Fall is that humans have lost sight of the reason for their creation. Man’s primary goal and ultimate purpose in life is to glorify God and delight in Him forever (Romans 11:36;1 Corinthians 6:20;1 Corinthians 10:31;Psalm 86:9). Therefore, love for God is the foundation of all morality and goodness. Conversely, choosing self as supreme is the opposite. Selfishness lies at the core of the Fall, leading to all other offenses against God. Sin is essentially a self-centered turning inward, evident in our lifestyles. We draw attention to ourselves and our virtues and achievements. We downplay our faults. We strive for special treatment and advantages in life, seeking an unfair advantage over others. We are attentive to our own desires and requirements while disregarding those of others. In essence, we place ourselves on the throne of our lives, displacing God’s rightful place.
When Adam rebelled against his Creator, he forfeited his innocence, faced the consequences of physical and spiritual death, and his mind was clouded by sin, as are the minds of his descendants. The apostle Paul remarked about pagans, “Since they do not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind” «And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; », (2 Corinthians 4:4). Jesus stated, “I have come into the world as a light so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness” «I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. », (John 12:46). Paul reminded the Ephesians, “You were once in darkness but now you are in the light of the Lord” «For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: », (Ephesians 5:8). The purpose of salvation is “to open the eyes [of unbelievers] and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God” «to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. », (Acts 26:18).
The Fall resulted in humans experiencing a state of depravity. Paul mentioned those “whose consciences are seared” «speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; », (1 Timothy 4:2) and those whose minds are spiritually darkened due to rejecting the truth «because that, when they knew God, they glorified himNot as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” «(Romans 1:21). In this state, man is utterly incapable of doing or choosing that which is acceptable to God, apart from divine grace. “The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so” «Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. », (Romans 8:7).
Without the supernatural regeneration by the Holy Spirit, all men would remain in their fallen state. But in His grace, mercy, and loving-kindness, God sent His Son to die on the cross and take the penalty of our sin, reconciling us to God and making eternal life with Him possible. What was lost at the Fall is reclaimed at the Cross.
