Friday, October 1, 2010

What cause the fall of Adam

The bible gives a small story about the fall of Adam. (Gen3:1-12) Eve believed what the serpent saying about God’s forbidden fruit. Then she went and ate with him. Right after that, they were afraid of God, and Adam blamed his wife, Eve blamed serpent for the mistake. The story is very simple, it appears the reason they fall is because of she believes in serpent’s words. How can the serpent be so smart? But when you look carefully, you will see what God tells Adam not to do is slightly different from what Eve says to the serpent. Adam should know everything exactly as the serpent knows. Then why he still chooses to disobey God’s command? He knows the punishment, why he still takes risk to disobey God?

It is for sure nobody will know what he thought if the story actually happened. The bible describes God as an infinite spirit, and Adam is created by him and from his image. He is a finite creature. R. L. Dabney argued that finite creature can be indefectible only in dwelling and superintendence of infinite wisdom and grace. It guards the finite and fallible of soul against sin. When Adam was created, he also had a nature desire, which was not unlawful. There was no sin until finite and fallible attention allowed an overweening desire of nature to confer pleasure. Concupiscence is developed until the desire overrides the feeling of unlawfulness. Therefore it is not the holy will cause the negative. However, it is possible that the holy will in a finite creature admit the negative, and not being infinite. At last, Adam made his mind and disobeyed God’s command.

Well, but when we see God as an infinite spirit, we should not forget that he is the creator, and he is still in control of the whole nature. Then it is understandable that he knows and allows Adam to disobey him in the first place. In the mean while, whether the man has a free will depend on if he is capable of obeying and disobeying God’s will. As long as Adam listens to God, it seems like he does not have the chance to disobey God. So isn’t the fall of Adam the only way to show God’s love, power and wisdom? Because he offers the human beings truth free will.

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