Article 2 — The Fall of Man: Sin Enters the World
From the Garden of Eden to the Promise of Redemption
The biblical story of humanity's fall begins in the Garden of Eden.
God had created Adam and Eve and placed them in a perfect garden. They had fellowship with God and were given freedom to eat from every tree except one: the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
God commanded Adam:
“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it.”
— Genesis 2:17 (KJV)
The command was clear. But then the serpent entered the story.
The Serpent's Deception
The serpent questioned what God had said:
“Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”
— Genesis 3:1 (KJV)
The serpent then contradicted God's warning and told Eve that she would not die if she ate the fruit.
Instead, the serpent suggested that eating it would make them “as gods, knowing good and evil.” — Genesis 3:5 (KJV)
Eve saw that the tree was desirable. She took the fruit and ate it. She then gave some to Adam, and he ate as well.
Their disobedience changed everything.
Their Eyes Were Opened
Immediately, the Bible says:
“And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked.”
— Genesis 3:7 (KJV)
For the first time, Adam and Eve experienced shame and fear.
When they heard the voice of God walking in the garden, they hid themselves.
God called to Adam:
“Where art thou?”
— Genesis 3:9 (KJV)
God already knew where Adam was. The question revealed the broken relationship that had resulted from disobedience.
Adam blamed Eve. Eve blamed the serpent.
But the consequences of their rebellion could not be avoided.
Sin Enters the Human Story
God pronounced judgment upon the serpent, the woman, and the man.
Adam would now experience hardship in working the ground:
“Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life.”
— Genesis 3:17 (KJV)
Death also became part of humanity's condition:
“For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”
— Genesis 3:19 (KJV)
Adam and Eve were then driven out of the Garden of Eden, separated from the tree of life.
Humanity had fallen from the condition in which God had originally created it.
But the story does not end with judgment.
The First Promise of Redemption
In the midst of God's judgment, Scripture contains a remarkable promise.
Speaking to the serpent, God said:
“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”
— Genesis 3:15 (KJV)
This verse is significant because it introduces the biblical theme of a coming victory over the serpent.
The story of Scripture will continue to unfold this promise through generations.
Humanity will experience sin, death, rebellion, judgment, and separation from God—but God will also reveal His plan of redemption.
That plan ultimately leads to Jesus Christ.
Why the Fall Matters
The Fall explains why the biblical story is not simply about humanity trying to become better.
It is about humanity's separation from God and God's unfolding plan to bring redemption.
The apostle Paul later explains:
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men.”
— Romans 5:12 (KJV)
But Paul also points forward to the answer:
“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:22 (KJV)
The Garden of Eden introduced the problem.
The rest of the biblical story reveals God's answer.
The story continues.
Christ Above — ALL THINGS. ALWAYS.